French Recipe: Tian De Courgettes

A tian is the name given to a shallow baking dish and anything cooked in it. This is a very simple and traditional recipe from the south of France, sometimes made with cheese and rice. Baking the courgettes brings out their sweetness and makes a lovely accompaniment to meats, such as lamb or chicken – the perfect dish to get you in the mood for the summer months ahead!

Ingredients (serves Four People)

  • 400g aubergines
  • 500g tomatoes
  • 300g courgettes
  • 1 onion
  • 6 garlic cloves
  • 50g butter
  • 1 tablespoon of olive oil
  • Provencal herbs*
  • Salt and pepper

Method

  1. Preheat the oven to 180°C (Gas Mark 6) and butter an oval-shaped baking disk.
  2. Peel the garlic cloves and the onion and chop the onion and one of the five garlic cloves into small pieces.
  3. Bake the sliced onion and garlic clove in the oven for ten minutes and leave to cool.
  4. Slice the vegetables into slices of the same thickness and diameter.
  5. Add these slices to the dish on top of the baked garlic and onion.
  6. Arrange the vegetables in rows: tomato, courgette, tomato, aubergine, tomato and continue this pattern until the dish is full. Intersperse the five remaining garlic cloves.
  7. Add salt and pepper, drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle with Provencal herbs.
  8. Bake for ninety minutes.

Bon appétit !

 

* Provencal herbs refer to a mixture of dried herbs typical of the Provence region of southeast France, usually containing savory, marjoram, rosemary, thyme, oregano, and other herbs.