Easy Yellow Squash Tian is not only beautiful and delicious but is also quick to make.
About Easy Yellow Squash Tian
You may have seen some semblance of a Tian if you saw the movie Ratatouille.
It was right at the end when the nasty restaurant critic took a bite of a delicious layered vegetable dish and he loved it.
The dish is called Ratatouille.
With that one bite, the restaurant critic immediately was reminded of his mother’s cooking.
At that point, his whole disposition changed.
Truth be told, the dish he was served was not Ratatouille, but a tian – a layered vegetable dish.
That’s why the normally messy dish turned into the beautifully presented tian that was served to the restaurant critic
It was all because of the fact that Chef Thomas Keller was one of the consulting chefs on the Ratatouille movie.
Any recipe he touches turns into a work of art.
I learned about tians years ago from Ina Garten and since then I have made many versions, because it usually depends on what vegetables I have on hand.
My latest version contains an onion, yellow squash, tomatoes and white cheddar cheese.
I call it Yellow Squash Tian and it’s the easiest one I have ever made and I think one of the best.
A typical tian contains eggplant, yellow squash, zucchini and tomatoes all layered according to color.
How many times I’ve layered slices of purple eggplant, yellow squash, green zucchini and red tomato around the perimeter of my baking dish eventually meeting in the middle.
Yes, it’s a bit labor intensive, but really a gorgeous presentation.
Typically a tian is cooked in an earthenware vessel.
My “earthenware vessel” is a cobalt blue, square Emile Henry.
I absolutely love it because it cooks and cleans perfectly, but it also makes a beautiful presentation with the colorful layered vegetables.
So first, let’s talk ingredients.
Ingredients of Easy Yellow Squash Tian
- Olive Oil
- Onions
- Yellow Squash
- Tomatoes
- Cheddar Cheese
How to Make Easy Yellow Squash Tian
Begin by preheating your oven to 375 degrees F
No matter what combination of vegetables I’ve used, the foundation of my tians is always the same.
Onions.
I always caramelize the onions first to not only give the vegetables great depth of flavor, but the onions also lend sweetness and fabulous juiciness to the dish.
Next, add olive oil over medium high heat.
When hot, add the sliced onions.
Stir the onions, about 6-7 minutes, as they begin to caramelize to prevent burning.
Then add the browned onions to baking dish.
Cut the yellow squash in 1/4”slices and layer one over the edge of another around the perimeter of the dish, spiraling to the middle.
Cut the tomatoes in 1/4” slices and tuck them in between the squash slices.
Grate 3/4 cup of white cheddar cheese and sprinkle over the entire dish.
Place in the oven and bake 35-40 minutes until browned.
Notes
With this recipe, I’m only using using yellow squash, but feel free to be creative by adding zucchini or eggplant.
The yellow, green, purple and red combination is really beautiful.
Also experiment with cheeses.
For instance, you could add Gruyere or for a spicier version, pepper Jack.
Have fun with this recipe.
Health notes: Clinical studies have found that squash, onions and tomatoes all powerful foods that help block cancer. See more at Natural Healing Foods.
Also try Vegetable Tian with Zucchini and Roasted Corn
Easy Yellow Squash Tian
Ingredients
- 1 Tbsp Olive oil
- 1 Yellow onion Chopped
- 2 Yellow Squash Sliced 1/4” thick
- 3 Medium Tomatoes Sliced 1/4 “ thick
- 3/4 Cup White cheddar cheese Grated
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees F
- Add olive oil to sauté pan and cook onions over medium high heat until brown and caramelized, about 7-8 minutes. Add onions into an oven proof dish and spread evenly.
- Cut yellow squash in 1/4 “ slices. Layer slices around perimeter of dish, continuing to spiral to the middle. Tuck tomato slices in between squash slices.
- Sprinkle cheese evenly over top.
- Bake 35-40 minutes until browned.