Summer Squash And Eggplant Tian Food

TOMATO, SQUASH AND EGGPLANT GRATIN

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Oil a 2-quart rectangular or oval baking dish.
• Combine the vegetables in a large bowl and season with salt and pepper. Add the olive oil, chopped rosemary and thyme leaves and toss gently.
• Arrange the vegetables in rows in the baking dish in this order: tomato slice, eggplant slice, tomato slice, squash slice, onion slice, tomato slice, eggplant slice, tomato slice, etc. Each slice of eggplant should have a tomato slice on either side. The vegetables should not be lying flat; they should be arranged in the dish as if you had stacked them, then lay the whole stack in the dish, all of the rounds slanting slightly to one side. Insert the herb sprigs into the dish. Pour any juice left in the bowl on top. Cover tightly with foil.
• Place in the oven and bake 1 hour. Remove the foil and continue to bake for another 30 minutes, until the vegetables are thoroughly tender and lightly colored on the edges.

SUMMER SQUASH AND EGGPLANT TIAN

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400°F; brush a baking dish, such as a 9x13-inch baking pan or a shallow earthenware casserole, with olive oil.
• To toast the breadcrumbs, heat 1 tablespoon of the olive oil over med-high heat in a small sauté pan.
• Add the dried bread crumbs and stir until the crumbs begin to brown and get crunchy, about 2 minutes.
• Remove from heat and let cool slightly; put the bread crumbs in a small bowl and stir in the garlic, thyme, parsley, and Parmesan; season bread crumbs to taste with salt and pepper; set aside.
• Cut the stem off the eggplant, then slice it into ¼-inch rounds.
• Cut the stems off the squash and slice them into ¼ inch rounds, slightly on the bias for zucchini-type or slender squash; set aside.
• Melt the butter in a sauté pan over medium heat.
• Cook the onions, stirring frequently, until soft, golden, and caramelized, about 15 minutes.
• Season to taste with salt and pepper.
• Spread the onions in the bottom of the baking dish; layer the eggplant and squash, in alternate rows, overlapping the vegetables and pushing the rows together a bit as you work to make more room.
• You may have a few slices left over, depending on the shape of your baking dish.
• Season the vegetables with salt and pepper and drizzle with the remaining 3 tablespoons olive oil.
• Bake, uncovered, until the vegetables are almost tender, about 45 minutes.
• Remove pan from oven and sprinkle the prepared bread crumbs evenly on top.
• Return pan to oven and bake until the crumbs are golden and the vegetables are completely tender, about 25 minutes.
• Serve immediately, directly from the baking dish.

SQUASH, EGGPLANT AND TOMATO TIAN

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Halve one peeled garlic clove and rub the bottom of a large baking dish with the cut side of the garlic. Coat the bottom of the dish with 2 tablespoons oil.
• Arrange vegetables in the dish, alternating them and overlapping them. Season with salt and pepper as you layer the vegetables. Scatter thyme on top and drizzle with remaining oil to coat generously. Add remaining garlic cloves, sliced, evenly over the top.
• Bake 25 minutes, then baste vegetables with the oil. Continue baking until tender and browned in places, about 25 minutes more. Serve warm.

TOMATO AND EGGPLANT TIAN

Steps:

• Position the oven rack in the center of the oven. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
• In a large saute pan, heat 1 tablespoon oil over medium-high heat. Add the eggplant slices, season with salt and cook until golden on both sides. Remove to a plate and repeat with the onion slices.
• Rub a small flameproof baking dish with the garlic clove. Layer the eggplant, onions, and tomato slices in rows in the baking dish. Drizzle a little more olive oil on top. Cover the baking dish with aluminum foil and bake until heated through and the tomatoes are soft but still hold their shape, about 20 minutes. Remove the baking dish and set the oven to broil. Sprinkle the tomatoes with the shredded cheese and broil to melt and brown the cheese, about another 2 minutes. Remove from the oven and serve.

SUMMER VEGETABLE TIAN

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Brush a large, shallow baking dish with olive oil.
• In a large sauté pan, heat olive oil over medium-high heat. Add the onion and cook 8 to 10 minutes or until beginning to soften.
• Add the garlic and cook 1 to 2 more minutes. Add half the thyme and salt and black pepper to taste.
• Drain off any excess oil. Transfer to the prepared baking dish and allow to cool while preparing the vegetables.
• Sprinkle half the cheese over onions.
• Slice the zucchini, tomatoes and potatoes into 1/4-inch slices.
• While the vegetables are on your cutting board, season with salt and black pepper.
• Layer vegetables alternately in the dish on top of the onions and cheese, fitting tightly to make one layer. If any vegetables are left, tuck them in wherever you can to use them up.
• Once they're arranged, sprinkle with more salt, black pepper and remaining thyme.
• Cover the dish with aluminum foil and bake 35-40 minutes or until potatoes are tender.
• Uncover the dish, sprinkle the cheese on top, and bake for another 15-20 minutes, or until lightly browned.
• Allow to rest 10 minutes before serving.

EGGPLANT AND SQUASH ALLA PARMIGIANA

Steps:

• Trim the stems from the eggplant and squash. Slice the vegetables lengthwise, no more than 1/4-inch thick. Spread the slices on one or more cooling racks, dust with salt on both sides and let sit for 30 minutes.
• Heat 1 tablespoon of the oil in a 2-quart saucepan. Add the onion and garlic and sauté on low until translucent, about 10 minutes. Increase the heat to medium, add the tomatoes, pepper and bay leaf and cook, breaking up the tomatoes, a few minutes. Reduce heat and simmer the sauce for 20 minutes more. Remove bay leaf and check seasoning.
• Rinse eggplant and squash slices and pat them dry. Dredge lightly with flour. Heat 3 to 4 tablespoons oil in a large skillet. Fry the eggplant and squash until lightly browned, in several shifts, placing fried slices on paper towel to drain.
• Heat oven to 350 degrees. Brush a 10-inch glass pie plate with oil. Spread a very thin layer of the tomato sauce in the pie plate. Add a layer of the eggplant, cutting slices to fit if necessary. Try to arrange them like spokes of a wheel. Spread a little more sauce over them, then the squash slices, then the mozzarella and another layer of eggplant. Finish with the remaining sauce, the Parmigiano-Reggiano and the parsley.
• Bake about 30 minutes, until bubbling and lightly browned on top. Let rest 10 minutes before serving.