A great meal isn’t just food; it can also be a symbol. Eating together, after all, is a sign of closeness. Sometimes, a great meal can show just how much you can and want to support a loved one going through a tough time. Lean-On-Me Casserole is that symbol, as delicious as it is meaningful. This is a tender mix of roasted garden vegetables, including hearty potatoes, sweet yams, and juicy zucchini, with all the brightness and wholesomeness a good meal can provide. It can certainly brighten up people’s day with its crunchy breadcrumbs and sharp parmesan. Lean-On-Me Casserole tells whoever you share it with “I’ve got you, don’t worry.”
Ingredients
- 1 medium potato, peeled and cut into 1/2-inch pieces
- 1 medium yam, peeled and cut into 1/2-inch pieces
- 1 red bell pepper, seeded and cut into 1/2-inch pieces
- 2 carrots, peeled and cut into 1/2-inch pieces
- 5 tablespoons olive oil, divided
- salt, to taste
- pepper, to taste
- 1 red onion, thinly sliced into rings
- 2 small or 1 large zucchini, cut crosswise into 1/4-inch-thick pieces
- 2 large tomatoes, ripe and cut crosswise into 1/4-inch-thick slices
- 1/2 cup parmesan, grated
- 2 tablespoons dried Italian-style breadcrumbs
- basil sprigs, to taste and for garnish
Directions
Step 1 –Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
Step 2 –In a 13×9-inch baking dish, toss the potato, the yam, the bell pepper, the carrots, 2 tablespoons of the oil, the salt, and the pepper until coated.
Step 3 –Spread the coated veggies evenly over the bottom of the baking dish.
Step 4 –Arrange the onion slices over the veggie mixture.
Step 5 –Arrange the zucchini over the onion and drizzle with 2 tablespoons of the oil.
Step 6 –Sprinkle the oil-drizzled zucchini with the salt and the pepper.
Step 7 –Arrange the tomato slices over the seasoned zucchini.
Step 8 –In a small bowl, combine the parmesan and the breadcrumbs.
Step 9 –Sprinkle the breadcrumb mixture over the veggie mixture and drizzle with the remaining oil.
Step 10 –Bake until the veggies are tender and the topping is golden-brown, about 40 minutes.
Step 11 –Garnish with the basil sprigs.
Step 12 –Serve.
