Vegetable Casserole with Fresh Herbs, Lemons and Cured Black Olives

Vegetable Casserole with Fresh Herbs, Lemons, and Cured Black Olives
Vegetable Casserole with Fresh Herbs, Lemons and Dry-Cured Black Olives

Potato, Zucchini, Yellow Squash, Tomato
Lemon, Onion, Garlic, Parmesan, Dry-Cured Black Olives
Thyme, Oregano, Basil

The mandoline seems to be my go-to kitchen tool of choice these days. Thinly sliced vegetables and lemons are drizzled with olive oil and layered with fresh herbs, then baked for 40 minutes. Dry-cured black olives, Parmesan, and basil finish the dish. The result is a light fresh casserole that can be enjoyed warm or at room-temperature, easily wrapped up and whisked off to a picnic or the beach (or both). And would be equally fitting served as part of a fancy buffet dinner.

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Fresh Vegetable Casserole Recipe

Vegetable Casserole with Fresh Herbs, Lemons, and Cured Black Olives

Grease a casserole dish with olive oil. Place a layer of over-lapping thinly sliced potatoes in the casserole dish. Lightly drizzle with olive oil. Season with Kosher salt and fresh ground pepper. Sprinkle with fresh thyme and oregano. Repeat with a layer of thinly sliced zucchini and yellow crook-necked squash.

Top the squash layer with thinly sliced lemons (seeds removed) and colorful sliced cocktail tomatoes. Bake uncovered in a 375° convection oven for 20 minutes.

Vegetable Casserole with Fresh Herbs, Lemons, and Cured Black Olives
Meanwhile toss thinly sliced onion with minced garlic, olive oil, salt, pepper, thyme and oregano. After the casserole has cooked for 20 minutes. Spread the onion mixture over the top of the casserole and bake for another 20 minutes, or until the potatoes are tender and the onions are browned and starting to crisp.

Colorful Vegetable Casserole with Fresh Herbs and Cured Black Olives

Right when the casserole comes out of the oven, dot the top with dry-cured black olives so that they warm up.

Vegetable Casserole with Fresh Herbs, Lemons, and Cured Black Olives

 Finish with shaved or crumbled Parmesan and plenty of fresh basil.

Vegan Version

Vegetable Casserole with Fresh Herbs, Lemons, and Cured Black Olives

A vegan version simply omits the cheese.

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Vegetable Casserole with Fresh Herbs, Lemons, and Cured Black Olives

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13 thoughts on “Vegetable Casserole with Fresh Herbs, Lemons and Cured Black Olives”

  1. Your photos are absolutely beautiful! What camera do you use? I’m in the market for a new one to use for food photography on my blog. I currently use a Canon Elf one shot, but it’s time for an upgrade. Lovely post and I can’t wait to try this recipe.

  2. What a beautiful casserole so interestingly prepared in its two stages . . . Do not think it has anything to do with the seasons . . . I’ll enjoy it soonest . . . .

  3. Thanks for sharing your recipe. I don’t have a convection oven. Any tips on converting it for a conventional oven?

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