Golden Summer Squash Medley: Parmesan-Thyme Gratin 🌿🍅

Summer Squash Gratin with Tomatoes, Parmesan and Fresh Thyme 🍅🧀🌿

Overview:

Summer Squash Gratin with Tomatoes, Parmesan, and Fresh Thyme is a delightful veggie dish bursting with intense flavors. Whether you’re looking for a main course for a light meal or a sensational summer side dish, this recipe hits all the right notes. It’s a perfect combination of zucchini, squash, tomatoes, and savory Parmesan cheese, baked to golden perfection. A shallow oval gratin dish is ideal for this recipe, but a shallow casserole dish will work just as well. Make sure to cook it until the veggies have shrunk and the juices have reduced for the best results.

Recipe Information:

• Source: Fine Cooking
• Category: Vegetable
• Keywords: Low Cholesterol, Healthy, Weeknight, Oven, < 4 Hours
• Cook Time: 1 hour 10 minutes
• Prep Time: 30 minutes
• Total Time: 1 hour 40 minutes
• Calories: 332.3 per serving
• Fat Content: 24.4g
• Saturated Fat Content: 6.8g
• Cholesterol Content: 18mg
• Sodium Content: 1025mg
• Carbohydrate Content: 18.5g
• Fiber Content: 4.5g
• Sugar Content: 9.4g
• Protein Content: 13.4g

Ingredients:

Instructions:

1. Preheat Oven: Begin by preheating your oven to 375°F (190°C).

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2. Cook Onions: In a medium skillet, heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil over medium heat. Add the sliced onions and sauté until they become limp and golden brown, about 2 minutes. If they’re browning too quickly, reduce the heat to medium-low. Add the minced garlic and sauté for an additional 1 to 2 minutes until fragrant.

3. Prepare Gratin Dish: Spread the sautéed onions and garlic evenly in the bottom of an oiled 2-quart shallow gratin dish, preferably oval. Allow it to cool slightly.

4. Prepare Tomatoes and Squash: Place the tomato slices on a shallow plate to drain excess juices. Discard the collected juices. In a medium bowl, toss the zucchini and yellow squash slices with 1 1/2 tablespoons of olive oil, 2 tablespoons of fresh thyme leaves, and 1/2 teaspoon of coarse salt.

5. Assemble the Gratin:

   • Reserve half of the Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese for the top of the gratin.
   • Sprinkle 1 tablespoon of fresh thyme leaves over the onions in the gratin dish.
   • Starting at one end of the baking dish, lay a row of slightly overlapping tomato slices across the width. Sprinkle a portion of the Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese over the tomatoes.
   • Next, lay a row of zucchini slices, overlapping the tomatoes by two-thirds. Sprinkle with Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese.
   • Repeat the process with a row of yellow squash, followed by another layer of tomatoes and zucchini, until the gratin dish is full.
   • Season each layer lightly with freshly ground black pepper and the remaining 1/2 teaspoon of coarse salt.

6. Bake the Gratin:

   • Drizzle the remaining 1 1/2 tablespoons of olive oil over the assembled gratin.
   • Combine the reserved Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese with the remaining 1 tablespoon of fresh thyme leaves. Sprinkle this mixture evenly over the top of the gratin.
   • Bake in the preheated oven for 65 to 70 minutes, or until the gratin is well-browned all over, and the juices have bubbled and reduced considerably.

7. Serve:

   • Let the Summer Squash Gratin cool for at least 15 minutes before serving to allow the flavors to meld together.
   • This dish pairs wonderfully with a fresh green salad, crusty bread, or as a side to grilled meats or fish.
   • Enjoy the vibrant flavors of summer in every bite of this delicious and nutritious gratin!

Recipe Notes:

• You can use any combination of summer squash varieties for this dish, such as zucchini, yellow squash, or pattypan squash.
• For a crispier top, broil the gratin for an additional 2-3 minutes after baking.
• Leftovers can be refrigerated and reheated in the oven for a delicious next-day meal.

Final Thoughts:

Summer Squash Gratin with Tomatoes, Parmesan, and Fresh Thyme is a celebration of seasonal produce at its finest. 🌿🍅 The layers of zucchini, yellow squash, and tomatoes, all baked to perfection with savory Parmesan cheese, create a symphony of flavors and textures. Whether you’re serving it as a main course or a side dish, this gratin is sure to be a hit at your table. So gather your ingredients, preheat your oven, and get ready to savor the tastes of summer in every bite! 🌞✨