Vegetable Tian: a Provençal Side Dish Recipe
Let’s Eat the World · Provencal Recipes · Side Dish · TasteThis vegetable tian recipe from Provence is one that you want to make repeatedly. Made by roasting seasonal vegetables, a tian is a provencal favourite. The word tian refers to the cooking dish, typically an earthenware baking dish, and the cooking method. Our recipe below includes some of the same ingredients as ratatouille – tomatoes, eggplant, zucchini, and onion. A tian is a versatile side dish. You can make it in advance and serve at room temperature for a picnic or buffet. Or serve warm as an accompaniment to grilled meat (lamb, chicken, pork) or fish. Join us soon on a Let’s Eat the World culinary adventure.
Bon appétit!

Vegetable Tian Provençale
Make this versatile side dish in advance and serve it at room temperature for a picnic or buffet, or warm it as an accompaniment to your favourite grilled meat.
Equipment
- tian (earthenware baking dish from Provence) or a ceramic baking dish
Ingredients
- 1 eggplant (aubergine)
- 2 zucchini (courgette)
- 2 onions
- 2 cloves garlic
- 3 tomatoes
- 2 tbsp herbes de Provence
- salt and pepper to taste
- 10 leaves basil
- 4 tbsp olive oil
Instructions
- Peel and cut the onion into large slices, smash the garlic cloves, and cut all the vegetables into 1-centimetre-thick slices.
- Sauté the onion and the garlic with 1 tbsp of olive oil. When cooked, remove, and pour into a tian dish or uncoloured ceramic baking dish.
- Make a bed with the onions and alternate the vegetable slices until your baking dish is full (see picture).
- Spread the herbes de Provence and insert the basil leaves. Sprinkle with salt, pepper, and olive oil. Cover with aluminum foil (or parchment paper) to keep the moisture inside and bake for 30 minutes at 180ºC (350ºF).
- Let cool down and rest 20 minutes before serving.
Notes
Vegetable tian pairs perfectly with lamb, roasted chicken, or grilled fish.
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!
More Tian Dishes
Vegetable Flower Tian Provencal
This tian recipe makes one pie, perfect for a lunch dish with a green salad and some fresh baguette. Tian Provencal tastes like summer and is best enjoyed when warm, either with polenta or potato wedges. This tart version is nothing complicated just a little patience, you’ll end up with a flower design.
Check out this recipe
Ratatouille Tian Estival
This tian is easy to prepare. It can be served hot from the oven or at room temperature. This baked ratatouille casserole is a variation on the traditional Provencal recipe.
Check out this recipe
Eggplant and Lamb Tian
This one-pan baked dish is a delicious main course with slow-cooked flavours.
Check out this recipe
Legal
All rights reserved. Perfectly Provence articles and other content may not be published, broadcast, rewritten (including translations into other languages) or redistributed without written permission. For usage information, please contact us.
Syndication InformationAffiliate Information
As an Amazon Associate, this website earns from qualifying purchases. Some recipes, posts and pages may have affiliate links. If you purchase via these links, we receive a small commission that does not impact your price. Thank you in advance for supporting our work to maintain Perfectly Provence.
Related Provence Articles
Aix-en-Provence Vegan Meals and Language Lessons at Anticafé
June 28, 2018
I wonder if you have visited Anticafé Aix yet? Founded two years ago, its principle is that customers pay per hour. Your 5 euros per hour gets you as much coffee or tea as you like, plus there are breakfast cereals, bread to toast with jam, or later in the day other snack food. Recently, …
Vegetarian Moroccan Tagine a Recipe from Marrakesh
April 27, 2020
The word tagine describes two things a heavy earthenware dish with a conical lid, and a slow-cooked stew. The following recipe for Vegetarian Moroccan Tagine is one from our Pitcher & Powell Cuisine & Culture trip to Marrakesh in 2019.…
For Foodies Marseille Provence Gastronomy MPG2019
March 21, 2019
“A Year to Savour” is the tag line for a year of culinary highlights cooking under the banner of Marseille Provence Gastronomy 2019 (#MGP2019). The Bouches du Rhône tourism group (Provence Tourism) together with a team of devoted food ambassadors in the region have crafted a program of events to celebrate the local food and …
Carrot Flan a Savoury Side Dish
May 22, 2019
Carrot Flan was inspired by a recipe in Cuisine et Vins of France. Easy to make and perfect for a light lunch with a green salad…
No Comment