Briam (Greek Roasted Vegetable Medley)

About This Recipe

Briam is a summer vegetable bake found across Greek home kitchens, layering sliced zucchini, potatoes, and eggplant with tomatoes, olive oil, and herbs, then roasting slowly until everything turns soft and slightly caramelized at the edges. It's a naturally vegan main, hearty enough on its own with good bread. The technique is simple but benefits from patience: a generous amount of olive oil and a long, low roast lets the vegetables release and reabsorb their juices, concentrating flavor rather than steaming quickly at high heat.

Ingredients

Serves 6

• 3zucchini(sliced into rounds)
• 4potatoes(sliced into rounds)
• 1eggplant(sliced into rounds)
• 1onion(sliced)
• 4 clovesgarlic(minced)
• 400 gcanned crushed tomatoes
• 0.5 cupolive oil
• 1 tbspdried oregano
• 0.25 cupfresh parsley(chopped)
• 1.5 tspfine sea salt
• 0.5 tspblack pepper

Instructions

1. 1

   Preheat and prep

   Preheat oven to 190°C (375°F). Slice all vegetables into even rounds, about 6mm thick.

2. 2

   Layer the vegetables

   Arrange zucchini, potatoes, eggplant, and onion in a large baking dish, overlapping slightly.

3. 3

   Add sauce and seasoning

   Whisk crushed tomatoes, olive oil, garlic, oregano, salt, and pepper together, then pour evenly over the vegetables.

4. 4

   Cover and roast

   Cover with foil and roast 35 minutes.

5. 5

   Uncover and finish

   Remove foil and roast 20-25 more minutes until the vegetables are tender and the top is lightly caramelized.

   The dish should look glossy with reduced sauce, not watery — extend the uncovered time if needed.

6. 6

   Rest and serve

   Let rest 10 minutes, scatter with parsley, and serve warm or at room temperature.

Variations

• •

  Add sliced bell peppers for extra sweetness and color.

• •

  Top with crumbled feta in the last 10 minutes of roasting for a creamier finish.

• •

  Serve alongside grilled fish or chicken for a heartier meal.

Storage

Refrigerate for up to 4 days; briam tastes even better the next day, and reheats well in the oven or microwave.

Frequently Asked Questions