Vibrant Vegetable Tian Recipe

Abundantly colorful, packed with juicy vegetables, and seasoned to perfection, Vibrant Vegetable Tian is one of our favorite summer side dishes...or really, any time of year! The perfect healthy and fancy-but-not-stuffy dish, Tian is made up of just two to four vegetables and sprinkled with herbs, spices, and cheese, making it easy to whip up for any weeknight gathering.  

  

What is a Tian? 

 

A Tian is a classic French dish made of thinly sliced vegetables. Usually packed with zucchini, squash, and tomatoes, the dish is seasoned with a delightful number of mixed spices, including herbs, garlic, and olive oil. Super customizable, you can swap out vegetables according to what’s in season or your own personal preferences. Baked au gratin until it reaches golden brown perfection, this dish is visually appealing and oh-so-delicious...as well as oh-so-simple to make.

 

Why Why We Love Vibrant Vegetable Tian

 

We love Vibrant Vegetable Tian for many reasons: 

• Tians can be made with a wide variety of vegetables, allowing us to use whatever seasonal and local produce we like. 
• This dish is packed with nutritious vegetables, making it a healthy dinner option. 
• Tians are aesthetically pleasing as they pack a powerful color punch - especially when served in one of our Ruffled Pie Dishes or Casserole Dishes to frame the rainbow spiral or rainbow rows. 

A Few Key Ingredients for Vibrant Vegetable Tian 

 

• Sweet potatoes – Bright orange sweet potatoes add a pop of color and the perfect amount of starch to the dish.  
• Gruyère cheese – Creamy and smooth, Gruyère cheese gives the dish a nutty, slightly sweet, and rich finish.  
• Olive oil – High–quality olive oil is a must–have in this dish as it helps the vegetables stay rich, moist and caramelize.  

Tips for Preparing Vibrant Vegetable Tians  

 

Follow these tips when preparing your own Vibrant Vegetable Tian:  

• Use a julienne tool: Thanks to the julienne tool, the preparation of this dish is deceivingly simple -- so long as you can bear to slice dozens of tiny slices and layer!  We love this julienning tool from Amazon.
• Invest in a protective glove or sleeve: This will keep your fingers safe when julienning the vegetables. 
• Pre-cook some vegetables: Some vegetables, like eggplant, can benefit from being pre-cooked or salted and drained to remove excess moisture and bitterness before being added to the Tian. 
• Allow the Tian to rest for just a few minutes after baking: This helps the flavors meld together and makes it easier to serve neat portions. 

Vibrant Vegetable Tian Recipe 

Serves 4-5 

Ingredients  

• 2 sweet potatoes 
• 2 yellow squashes 
• 2 zucchinis 
• 2 red onions 
• 4 tomatoes 
• 2 tablespoons chopped garlic 
• 2 tablespoons chopped rosemary 
• 2 tablespoons chopped thyme 
• 2 tablespoons chopped basil 
• 4oz. Gruyère cheese 
• Good quality olive oil 
• Kosher salt 
• Freshly ground black pepper 

Instructions 

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  
2. Thinly slice all vegetables in evenly super-thin slices and set aside taking care to keep each vegetable in separate groups until a later stacking step. 
3. Finely chop garlic, rosemary, thyme, and basil together and place in a small bowl. 
4. Start stacking the vegetables in small handfuls in whatever order you please. Just ensure that your order stays consistent as you stack to create the prettiest spiral.  
5. Grease the bottom and sides of a 9” pie dish. 
6. As the stack in your hand is completed, set the finished stack on its side on the outer edge of a pie dish, continuing as you spiral your way inward depending on the size of your pie dish until you’ve filled the dish fully. 
7. Drizzle with olive oil and scatter the herb mixture on top and in between the vegetable slices to maximize flavor. 
8. Bake for approximately 40 minutes, or until vegetables are tender. 
9. Add the grated Gruyère cheese and bake for an additional 20 minutes to melt. If your vegetables become too dark or cheese starts to burn, cover with a single layer of aluminum foil. 
10. Serve immediately. 

Watch How To Make Vibrant Vegetable Tian 

 

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Coton Colors (@cotoncolors)

 

How to Store Vibrant Vegetable Tian 

 

You can store Vibrant Vegetable Tian for up to 4 days in the refrigerator in either an airtight container, or in its dish with plastic wrap or aluminum foil covering it.  

Pro tip: Allow the Tian to cool to room temperature before storing. This helps prevent condensation, which can make the vegetables soggy. 

 

 

Substitutions for Vibrant Vegetable Tian 

 

Some of our favorite variations to this recipe include the following ingredients: 

• Potatoes 
• Eggplant 
• Sweet onions 

 

Favorite Things to Serve with Vibrant Vegetable Tian 

 

Many appetizers and sides pair perfectly with Vibrant Vegetables Tians. Some of our favorite things to serve with this dish are: 

• Hummus with crudites  
• Roast thyme potatoes 
• Stuffed mushrooms 
• Bruschetta  

Prepare it In 

To allow ample space for your Tian to bake, it’s important to choose a dish that’s shallow. We recommend arranging your sliced vegetables in one of our stylish and functional pie dishes. You may want to use a smaller or larger dish depending on the number of people you expect at the gathering. We offer these pie dishes:  

8-inch pie dishes: 

• Signature White 8 Ruffle Pie Dish 
• Iris Blue Burst 8 Ruffle Pie Dish   

9-inch pie dishes:  

• Iris Blue Drop 9 Ruffle Pie Dish 
• Signature White Ruffle Pie Dish  

Serve It Up 

To cut a generous portion of Vibrant Vegetable Tian for your guests {or yourself}, use a Signature White Knob Serving Spoon or Signature White Knob Serving Fork. We love to use salad plates, like our Iris Blue Burst Ruffle Salad Plates for smaller portions {leftovers for lunch, anyone?}, or dinner plates, like our Iris Blue Drop Ruffle Dinner Plates, for a sit-down dinner when we serve Tian.