A vegetable tian is a nutritious side dish loaded with vegetables and lots of flavor!
 
Traditionally tian is a layered dish that features thin vegetable slices atop a tomato sauce base. Overtime, other vegetables have been added, and some recipes also include various meats.
Most recipes use olive oil, but I prefer to only use olive oil for very low temperature cooking or drizzling because of it’s low smoking point. The ghee adds a nice buttery flavor and pairs well with the cheese.
While foil is helpful and sometimes needed in a recipe, I don’t like the foil to touch the food because of the potential for aluminum to get into the food. To remedy this, I use a piece of parchment followed by a piece of foil.
This vegetable tian pairs really well with Bacon-Wrapped Meatloaf, Lemon-Thyme Chicken Thighs, or Turkey Roulade.
Save RecipeIngredients
- 2 tablespoons ghee
- 2 large yellow onions, thinly sliced
- 1/2 teaspoon Celtic sea salt
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- 4 large zucchini, sliced into thin coins
- 6-7 small yukon or yellow potatoes, sliced into thin coins
- 4-5 Roma tomatoes, sliced into thin coins
- 1 tablespoon ghee, melted
- 1/4 teaspoon dried thyme
- Celtic sea salt
- Freshly ground black pepper
- 1/2 cup grated gouda or Pecorino Romano cheese (omit for dairy free)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees F and adjust rack to middle position. Heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the onions and salt and cook for about 10 minutes until soft and just beginning to caramelize. Add garlic and thyme and cook, stirring frequently, until fragrant, about 1 minute. Spread onion mixture in the bottom of an 10-inch diameter baking dish ( I used this dish ).
- Layer tomatoes, potatoes and zucchini in alternating layers (as shown in photo above). Drizzle with olive oil and season with thyme, salt and pepper. Sprinkle with cheese. Place a piece of parchment paper over dish followed by a piece of foil (I do this because I prefer that the aluminum doesn't touch the food). Wrap the foil tightly around the dish. Bake for 30 minutes, remove foil and parchment and bake for an additional 25 minutes, until golden brown and bubbly. Serve.
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