Author Notes
On the hottest day of the year, when it's 100+ degrees in the shade of the mimosa and the briami is in the oven, my house smells like heaven - garlic, onion, tomato and basil heaven. The smell is divine, but the best part is (naturally) eating the roasty, toasty tomatoes and vegetables, Parmesan bits and herbs. The tomatoes roast and concentrate and mingle with the oil to create a kind of sauce for the other vegetables.
This dish has many fans and I think it’s because of the combination of potatoes and fresh tomatoes, taken interplanetary with melted cheese and herbs. I use basil, but you could also employ oregano and thyme, and other tomato-friendly herbs from the garden. I'm a fan of lovage, when I can find it, which some describe as having a celery kind of taste.
The recipe is adapted from my friend Evelyn who lives in Athens, Greece, and publishes her recipes at Recipezaar. She uses Greek cheeses like kefalograviera or myzithra, but recommends Parmesan as a substitute.
—Lucy Mercer
Ingredients
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4
medium tomatoes, diced into 1-inch pieces
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2
zucchini, peeled and diced into 1-inch pieces
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1
medium onion, peeled and diced into 1-inch pieces
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3
medium potatoes, peeled and diced into 1-inch pieces
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1/2
head garlic, cloves smashed
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2 ounces
Parmesan cheese, cut into 1-inch chunks
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1/2 cup
extra virgin olive oil
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1/4 cup
water
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handful
Herbs such as basil, thyme, oregano and lovage, roughly chopped
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Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper to taste
Directions
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Preheat the oven to 425º. Line an aluminum half-sheet pan with foil and spread out vegetables and chunks of cheese. Combine olive oil and water and herbs and then pour over all. Season with salt and pepper and toss until thoroughly coated. Place in oven and roast for up to an hour, stirring every so often, just to monitor that all is cooking evenly.
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The potatoes will be tender and the onions will be crisp and dark brown on the edges when the vegetables are done. Remove from oven. Serve vegetables on their own, or with a salad, or even as a sandwich filling with hummus. Store leftovers in fridge for up to 5 days.
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