This delightful vegetable tian is a colorful and healthy dish that showcases the natural flavors of fresh produce. Perfect as a side dish or a light main course, it combines layers of zucchini, yellow squash, and tomato with a fragrant base of onion and garlic. The result is a visually stunning and deliciously satisfying meal.
If you don't typically stock zucchini, yellow squash, or thyme in your kitchen, you may need to make a trip to the supermarket. These ingredients are essential for achieving the authentic flavor and texture of this vegetable tian. Look for fresh, firm vegetables and high-quality dried herbs to ensure the best results.
Ingredients for Vegetable Tian Recipe
Olive oil: Used for sautéing the onion and drizzling over the vegetables to enhance their flavor and prevent sticking.
Onion: Adds a sweet and savory base to the dish when cooked until softened.
Garlic: Provides a fragrant and slightly spicy undertone to the onion mixture.
Zucchini: A tender and mild-flavored vegetable that pairs well with the other ingredients.
Yellow squash: Similar to zucchini, it adds a slightly different texture and color to the dish.
Tomato: Brings a juicy and slightly acidic element that balances the sweetness of the other vegetables.
Salt: Enhances the natural flavors of the vegetables.
Black pepper: Adds a mild heat and depth of flavor.
Thyme: A dried herb that imparts a subtle earthy and slightly minty flavor to the dish.
Technique Tip for This Recipe
When slicing the zucchini, yellow squash, and tomato, try to keep the slices uniform in thickness. This ensures even cooking and a visually appealing presentation. Using a mandoline slicer can help achieve consistent slices quickly and safely.
Suggested Side Dishes
Alternative Ingredients
olive oil - Substitute with avocado oil: Avocado oil has a similar smoke point and neutral flavor, making it a good alternative for cooking and sautéing.
onion - Substitute with leek: Leeks offer a milder flavor and can add a slightly different but pleasant taste to the dish.
garlic - Substitute with shallots: Shallots provide a subtle garlic-like flavor with a hint of sweetness, suitable for those who prefer a less intense garlic taste.
zucchini - Substitute with eggplant: Eggplant has a similar texture and can absorb flavors well, making it a good stand-in for zucchini.
yellow squash - Substitute with butternut squash: Butternut squash has a slightly sweeter flavor and a firmer texture, which can add a different but enjoyable element to the dish.
tomato - Substitute with red bell pepper: Red bell peppers provide a sweet and slightly tangy flavor, offering a different but complementary taste to the dish.
salt - Substitute with soy sauce: Soy sauce can add a depth of umami flavor while still providing the necessary saltiness.
black pepper - Substitute with white pepper: White pepper has a slightly different flavor profile but can still provide the necessary heat and spice.
dried thyme - Substitute with dried oregano: Dried oregano offers a robust and earthy flavor, which can complement the other ingredients well.
Other Alternative Recipes Similar to This Dish
How to Store / Freeze This Dish
Allow the vegetable tian to cool completely before storing. This ensures that condensation doesn't form inside the storage container, which could make the vegetables soggy.
Transfer the cooled vegetable tian to an airtight container. If you don't have a container large enough, you can use a baking dish covered tightly with plastic wrap or aluminum foil.
Store the container in the refrigerator. The vegetable tian will keep well for up to 4 days, maintaining its flavor and texture.
To reheat, preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Place the vegetable tian in an oven-safe dish and cover with aluminum foil. Heat for about 15-20 minutes, or until warmed through.
For freezing, first, ensure the vegetable tian is completely cooled. This prevents ice crystals from forming, which can affect the texture when reheated.
Wrap the vegetable tian tightly in plastic wrap, ensuring there are no air pockets. Then, place it in a freezer-safe container or a heavy-duty freezer bag. Label with the date to keep track of its freshness.
The vegetable tian can be frozen for up to 3 months. When ready to enjoy, thaw it in the refrigerator overnight.
Reheat the thawed vegetable tian in a preheated oven at 350°F (175°C) for about 20-25 minutes, covered with aluminum foil to prevent drying out.
For a quicker reheating option, you can use the microwave. Place a portion of the vegetable tian in a microwave-safe dish, cover with a microwave-safe lid or plate, and heat on medium power for 2-3 minutes, checking and stirring halfway through.
How to Reheat Leftovers
Oven Method:
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
- Place the leftover vegetable tian in an oven-safe dish.
- Cover the dish with aluminum foil to prevent drying out.
- Heat for about 15-20 minutes, or until the vegetables are warmed through.
- For a slightly crispy top, remove the foil during the last 5 minutes of reheating.
Microwave Method:
- Place a portion of the vegetable tian on a microwave-safe plate.
- Cover with a microwave-safe lid or another plate to retain moisture.
- Heat on medium power for 2-3 minutes, checking halfway through to stir and ensure even heating.
- Continue heating in 30-second intervals until the vegetables are hot.
Stovetop Method:
- Heat a non-stick skillet over medium heat.
- Add a small amount of olive oil or vegetable broth to the skillet.
- Place the leftover vegetable tian in the skillet.
- Cover and heat for about 5-7 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables are warmed through.
Air Fryer Method:
- Preheat your air fryer to 350°F (175°C).
- Place the leftover vegetable tian in the air fryer basket.
- Heat for about 5-7 minutes, shaking the basket halfway through to ensure even heating.
- Check for desired warmth and crispiness before serving.
Best Tools for This Recipe
Skillet: A flat-bottomed pan used for cooking the onions and garlic until they are softened and fragrant.
Baking dish: A dish used to layer the cooked onions and garlic with the sliced vegetables for baking.
Knife: Essential for thinly slicing the onion, zucchini, yellow squash, and tomato.
Cutting board: A surface used to safely chop and slice the vegetables.
Measuring spoons: Used to measure the olive oil, salt, black pepper, and dried thyme accurately.
Aluminum foil: Used to cover the baking dish during the initial baking period to help the vegetables cook evenly.
Oven: Preheated to 375°F (190°C) for baking the vegetable tian.
Spatula: Useful for spreading the onion and garlic mixture evenly in the baking dish.
Serving spoon: Used for serving the warm vegetable tian once it is cooked.
How to Save Time on Making This Dish
Pre-slice vegetables: Slice the zucchini, yellow squash, and tomato in advance and store them in the fridge.
Use a mandoline: A mandoline slicer ensures uniform slices quickly, saving prep time.
Pre-cook onions: Cook the onion and garlic mixture the night before and store it in an airtight container.
Batch seasoning: Mix the salt, black pepper, and dried thyme together in a small bowl before starting.
Foil efficiency: Use pre-cut aluminum foil sheets to cover the dish, reducing time spent on preparation.
Vegetable Tian Recipe
Ingredients
Main Ingredients
- 2 tablespoon Olive oil divided
- 1 large Onion thinly sliced
- 2 cloves Garlic minced
- 1 medium Zucchini thinly sliced
- 1 medium Yellow squash thinly sliced
- 1 medium Tomato thinly sliced
- 1 teaspoon Salt
- 0.5 teaspoon Black pepper
- 1 teaspoon Dried thyme
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C).
- In a skillet, heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil over medium heat. Add the sliced onion and cook until softened, about 5 minutes. Add the minced garlic and cook for another minute.
- Spread the onion and garlic mixture on the bottom of a baking dish.
- Arrange the sliced zucchini, yellow squash, and tomato on top of the onion mixture, alternating and overlapping them.
- Drizzle the remaining olive oil over the vegetables. Sprinkle with salt, black pepper, and dried thyme.
- Cover the dish with aluminum foil and bake for 30 minutes. Then, uncover and bake for an additional 10 minutes, until the vegetables are tender and slightly browned.
- Serve warm.
Nutritional Value
Keywords
Suggested Appetizers and Desserts for This Dish
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