Fresh Summer Vegetable Bake

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Summer is well and truly here and with it an abundance of gorgeous summer fruit and vegetables. I’ve just joined a veg box scheme – which means I get a lovely box of fresh fruit and veg delivered to my door every Monday. First delivery is tomorrow, so I’m excited to see what recipes I can come up with! To get in the mood I decided to make a Fresh Summer Vegetable Bake!

Fresh Summer Vegetable Bake - with a tasty Garlic, Thyme and Lemon Sauce.
Fresh Summer Vegetable Bake – with a tasty Garlic, Thyme and Lemon Sauce.

 

This may sound odd, but generally as a family we don’t like dry meals. So a sauce or gravy is essential! For this Fresh Summer Vegetable Bake I made a delicious sauce using garlic, lemon, thyme and Olive oil. This was poured over the beautifully arranged veggies and WOW – even Snugs, our youngest daughter loved it!! Now she’s not exactly picky, especially compared to others the same age, however, let’s say her taste buds aren’t as accepting as the rest of our family. So for her to love this dish, well I knew I was onto a winner!

Fresh Summer Vegetable Bake - topped off with a generous grating of Parmesan.
Fresh Summer Vegetable Bake – topped off with a generous grating of Parmesan.

 

I used tomatoes, aubergines and green courgettes, but any squashes, potatoes, really any summer veg that you have an abundance of would work. Again the quantities I have given are for 4 adults, you could easily bulk this dish up with potatoes to make it go further, or even eat it as a main dish. The possibilities are endless!!

Fresh Summer Vegetable Bake - the thyme, garlic and lemon mix with the vegetable juices to create a sumptuous sauce.
Fresh Summer Vegetable Bake – the thyme, garlic and lemon mix with the vegetable juices to create a sumptuous sauce.

 

I’m excited to see what manner of unusual varieties of fruit and vegetables arrive in my veg box. I used to grow quite a few veggies with my lovely hubby’s help, one of the reasons being the ability to grow odd shaped squash or heirloom tomatoes. Most supermarkets only stock a scant supply of these during the summer months. Farmers Markets, however, are a treasure trove of different crops. I highly recommend, if you are able, to visit one. The experience itself is remarkable, with many stall holders happily sharing taste teasers of their wares. I’m waffling again……

Recipe : Serves 4 Adults as a Side

2 Medium Courgettes/Zucchini

2 Medium Aubergines/Egg Plant

6 Large Tomatoes

Juice of 2 Medium Lemons

Equal quantity of Olive oil (as lemons)

1 Clove Garlic – Crushed

Approx 1tbsp Fresh Thyme Leaves

Freshly Ground Black Pepper

1tsp Sea Salt

50g/2oz Parmesan Cheese – finely grated

Method : Preheat the oven to 190C/175C fan

Firstly to make the sauce.

Place the lemon juice, oil, garlic, thyme, salt and a good grinding of pepper into a jug. Whisk until combined.

The sauce will emulsify - give a quick whisk again prior to pouring over the vegetables.
The sauce will emulsify – give a quick whisk again prior to pouring over the vegetables.

 

Next prepare all your vegetables by slicing them to the same thickness – approx 1cm/ 1/2″.

Arrange the round slices, on their side in the baking dish.
Arrange the round slices, on their side in the baking dish.
Continue packing the veggies tightly, they will shrink slightly on cooking.
Continue packing the veggies tightly, they will shrink slightly on cooking.
Pack the dish full. It looks soo pretty!
Pack the dish full. It looks soo pretty!
Pour the sauce evenly over the vegetables....
Pour the sauce evenly over the vegetables….
The lemon juice not only makes the sauce taste delicious, it also stops the aubergines from turning brown.
The lemon juice not only makes the sauce taste delicious, it also stops the aubergines from turning brown.

 

Now you can grate over the Parmesan.

Your Fresh Summer Vegetable Bake is now ready for the oven.
Your Fresh Summer Vegetable Bake is now ready for the oven.

 

Bake for 1 – 1 1/4 hours, until the vegetables are tender. Then remove from oven.

Mmm delicious - Fresh Summer Vegetable Bake.
Mmm delicious – Fresh Summer Vegetable Bake.

 

This light vegetable dish is perfect to accompany a Roast Chicken, baked fish – if the oven’s on let it do all the cooking!!!

I’d love to know if you are part of a veg box scheme, grow your own or enjoy Farmers Markets?

Sammie x

 

 

 

 

 

 

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