Remember the idea behind Meatless Monday is to start the week off with a focus on health and awareness of the impact our meat consumption is having on the environment. So, if you do not have time to cook the Creole tomato gratin recipe, choose from our directory listing of Chicago Vegan and Vegetarian Restaurants.
Ingredients:
Serves 3-4
5 tablespoons of olive oil
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 cups fresh bread crumbs (french bread works best)
4 ripe tomatoes, peeled and cut into slices 1/2 inch thick
Salt and pepper to taste
2 tbsp minced fresh basil
2 tbsp minced fresh parsley
2 tbsp grated parmesan cheese
Directions:
(To peel tomatoes, make an X on the bottom and sit in boiling water for 30 seconds, the skin should peel easily)
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees fahrenheit.
Oil a gratin dish or other shallow 9 X 11 inch dish.
In a frying pan or skillet heat the oil, add garlic and sauté until tender (2 minutes). Remove from heat and stir in the bread crumbs until evenly coated with the olive oil. Spread about 1/4 of the bread crumb mixture evenly in the bottom of the prepared dish. Top with half the sliced tomatoes, sprinkle salt, pepper, 1 tbsp of basil, and 1 tbsp of parsley. Repeat process for next layer starting with another layer of bread crumb mixture. Then top with remaining bread crumb mixture and add parmesan evenly on the top.
Bake, uncovered, until browned and bubbly (approximately 1 hour).
Enjoy this vegetarian recipe from New Orleans, LA for your Meatless Monday.
