An enticing recipe, where you can get creative. A shortcrust pastry filled with eggplant, tomato, zucchini, red and green peppers, potatoes, onions, and Gruyère cheese. A tossed green salad, a crusty country bread, and a dry white wine or rosé are all you need to accompany this traditional dish from the South of France.
A good quality ready-made shortcrust pastry will considerably shorten the preparation time.
Yield: 8 servings
Time: 60 minutes using ready-made shortcrust pastry
Ingredients:
- 1 savory shortcrust pastry for a 10-inch (24 cm) tart pan with removable bottom
- 1 small fennel, about 1 cup (90 g), cut into 1-inch (2,5 cm) dices
- 1 small eggplant, about 1 cup (100 g), cut into 1-inch (2,5 cm) dices
- 1 medium zucchini, about 1 cup (140 g), cut into 1-inch (2,5 cm) dices
- 1/2 green pepper, cut into 1-inch (2,5 cm) dices
- 1/2 red pepper, cut into 1-inch dices
- 1 1/4 cup red potatoes, diced into 1-inch cubes (2,5 cm)
- 1 cup (140 g) onions, finely chopped
- 2 garlic cloves thinly sliced
- salt and freshly ground pepper
- 4 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil
- 5 eggs
- 6 Tbsp crème fraîche
- 3 medium tomatoes, sliced in rounds
- 1/4 cup (7 g) flat-leaf parsley, chopped
- 1/4 cup (7 g) basil leaves, chopped
- 1/2 cup (60 g) Gruyère cheese or any sharp Swiss cheese, grated
Preparation:
If you prepare your own savory shortcrust pastry let it rest in the fridge for a while – you find the recipe here. I normally use ready-made shortcrust pastry from Publix or Trader Joe’s.
Preheat the oven 400°F/200°C.
Place fennel, eggplant, zucchini, red and/or green peppers, potatoes, onion and garlic in a bowl. Add the 4 tablespoon olive oil and mix it well to coat all vegetables. Spread them on a baking sheet without crowding. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Roast them for about 15 minutes, turning them once in a while. Remove from the oven and let it cool.
Roll out the shortcrust pastry onto the bottom and sides of a 10 inch (25 cm) pie pan with removable bottom. Cut off excessive pastry hanging over the sides. Place the cooled vegetables in the pastry shell. Sprinkle vegetables with grated Gruyère cheese or any sharp Swiss cheese, it makes for a nice piquancy. Beat eggs with crème fraîche, season with salt and freshly ground pepper. Pour egg mixture carefully over the vegetables. Arrange the tomato slices on top and scatter the parsley and basil over it. Bake for 35-45 minutes or until it is puffed and golden.
Serve warm or at room temperature.
