Ingredients
- 7 tbsp extra virgin oil plus more for baking dish
- 3 yellow onions (halved and sliced)
- 1 large fennel bulb (halved, cored, and sliced)
- 2 cloves of garlic (thinly sliced)
- 2 sprigs of fresh thyme
- kosher salt
- 1 eggplant, 1.25-1.5 lbs
- 1 lb zucchini
- 1 cup parmesan cheese (freshly grated)
- ¾ cup fine fresh bread crumbs
- ¼ cup fresh basil (coarsely chopped)
- ¼ cup flat leaf parsley (finely chopped)
- ½ cup scallions, green parts only or chived (thinly sliced)
- 1 tbsp fresh thyme (coarsely chopped)
- freshly ground pepper
- 1½ lb large tomatoes (sliced 1/4 in thick)
Directions
Step 1
Preheat the oven to 400˚F. In a large, wide pot, heat 3 tablespoons of the olive oil over medium heat. Add the onion, fennel, garlic, thyme sprigs, and a pinch of salt. Cook until the vegetables are golden, soft, and sweet, about 30 minutes. Remove the thyme sprigs.
Step 2
Trim the ends of the eggplant, peel it, and slice crosswise 1/4- to 1/3-inch thick. Trim the ends of the zucchini and slice on the diagonal as thickly as the eggplant. Place the eggplant slices on a heavy baking sheet. Sprinkle both sides with salt, using a total of 1 tablespoon. Let rest for about 20 minutes to draw out moisture. With paper towels, blot the eggplant on both sides.
Step 3
In a bowl, combine the cheese, bread crumbs, basil, parsley, scallions, thyme, salt to taste, and several grinds of pepper. Mix well with your hands.
Step 4
In a 16- by 10-inch oval gratin dish, or a shallow baking dish of similar capacity, spread the fennel-onion mixture in an even layer. Sprinkle with one quarter of the breadcrumb mixture. Top with half of the eggplant slices, overlapping them slightly, then with another quarter of the breadcrumb mixture, the remaining eggplant slices, and another quarter of the breadcrumb mixture. For the final layer, make overlapping rows of sliced zucchini and tomato, pressing them firmly into place. Season with salt and pepper. Top with the remaining breadcrumb mixture. Drizzle with the remaining 4 tablespoons olive oil.
Step 5
Bake the gratin for 1 hour, then remove from the oven, tilt the baking dish slightly and spoon some of the juices over the surface. Return to the oven until the gratin is nicely colored on top and the zucchini are tender but not mushy, about 10 minutes longer. The gratin is best when allowed to rest for at least 1 hour before serving. Serve warm or at room temperature.
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