Briami (Greek Oven-Roasted Vegetables)

A traditional Greek vegetarian dish. Delicious and easy. Great to do when you have a bumper crop of zucchini on hand. Olive oil adds a great flavour element to the dish, and also adds extra calories as Briami is considered a 'main dish' here in Greece. If you choose to serve it as a side, you can cut back some on the olive oil.
by evelyn/athens

4-5 servings          2 1/2 hours 30 min prep

5 large zucchini, washed and scrubbed and cut crosswise into 1/4 inch thick slices
4 large potatoes, peeled and cut crosswise into 1/4 inch thick slices
3-4 garlic cloves, sliced thin
1 large onion, peeled, cut in half, each half cut into thirds, large wedges (Spanish or Bermuda)
2 large tomatoes, peeled and quartered
1/4 lb hard cheese, cut into large chunks (I use 'kefalograviera or 'myzithra' which you may not have, something like Parmesan would be excellent)
1/2 cup olive oil
1/4 cup water
1 tablespoon oregano
2 tablespoons fresh spearmint, minced (or 1 tsp dry)
2 tablespoons cut cilantro (optional)
Salt and pepper

Preheat oven to 420 degrees F.
Put everything in a very large baking pan. Pour water, olive oil on top and add herbs. Season generously.
Put your clean hands in the pan and give all the veggies a toss so herbs, and oil and salt and pepper go on everything.
It looks like a lot but don't worry - it'll 'melt' down considerably during cooking.
Roast for a couple of hours, stirring everything up a couple of times to allow veggies on bottom to come up and brown nicely too.
This is delicious with good crusty bread (lovely juices) and feta cheese on the side- like we eat it.
Will probably serve 6 hungry people, or maybe not. We go through it fast. It's even better the next day.