Provence is a region in southern France, known for its mild climate, olive trees and lavender fields. So beautiful and scenic, its landscape has attracted the likes of artists such as Vincent Van Gogh and Paul Cezanne… to name a few. Though there’s reason enough to visit the south of France for the scenery and lavender breeze alone, Provence might actually be recognized more for its signature cuisine. Vegetable Tian is one of my favorite regional specialties. It’s a simple and rustic dish that means roasted, layered vegetables with cheese. You might recognize it from that cute, animated Pixar film about Rémy, the rat turned chef. It’s called Ratatouille.
Vegetable Tian is a variation of the better-known Ratatouille, usually comprised of eggplant, zucchini, tomatoes, and peppers. But there are no real rules when it comes to recreating it. The name Ratatouille comes from the combination of words, “rata,” stew, and “touiller,” to stir. The version below calls for potatoes, tomatoes, and zucchini. And instead of stirring these veggies into a stew, they are sliced and layered into a circular dish. Though it originated as a “peasant” dish due to its inexpensive and accessible ingredients, the finished product is stunning. After all, it’s good enough to silence Anton Ego, the harshest, most unforgiving food critic in Paris. Ratatouille’s finicky villain can’t help but to clean his plate.
Vegetable Tian can be prepared ahead of time, and baked just before serving. The vivid colors and small round shapes of the vegetables provide a perfect opportunity to include your little helper in the assembly. If it’s tasty enough to bring a tear to Anton Ego’s eye, it might even inspire the tiny food critics in your kitchen to love their vegetables too!
Bon Appétit!
(**Tip: To make this dish look its best, choose potatoes, zucchini, and tomatoes that are about the same diameter)
Make and Taste 