Layered Excel-Inspired Vegetable and Cheese Bake

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-08-04 · Updated 2026-08-04

A colorful vegetable bake layered with creamy cheese and herbs, inspired by the concept of filtering and selecting layers like Excel FILTER functions. This Mediterranean vegetarian recipe, ready in about 45 minutes, pairs zucchini, eggplant, and red bell pepper for a weeknight-friendly dinner. Each serving lands at about 220 calories and feeds 4, so it slots cleanly into a weekly meal plan and pairs well with a quick salad or grain on the side. Tap "Build a week of meals around this recipe" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.

Ingredients

• 2 medium zucchini, sliced into 1/4-inch rounds
• 1 medium eggplant, sliced into 1/4-inch rounds
• 1 large red bell pepper, sliced into 1/4-inch strips
• 1 large yellow bell pepper, sliced into 1/4-inch strips
• 3 tbsp olive oil
• 3 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 tbsp fresh thyme leaves
• 1 cup ricotta cheese
• 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
• 1 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp black pepper
• 1/4 cup fresh basil leaves, chopped

The pan we’d use for this → Best Nonstick Cookware for 2026: Top 5 Skillet Picks + Buying Guide

Instructions

1. Step 1: Preheat the oven to 375°F. Brush 3 tbsp olive oil evenly on both sides of 2 medium zucchini slices and 1 medium eggplant slices, then season with 1 tsp salt and 1/2 tsp black pepper.
2. Step 2: In a large skillet over medium heat, add 1 tbsp olive oil and sauté 3 minced garlic cloves with 1 tbsp fresh thyme leaves for 1-2 minutes until fragrant.
3. Step 3: Layer the vegetables in a greased 9x9 inch baking dish in the order: zucchini, eggplant, red bell pepper strips, yellow bell pepper strips. Spread 1 cup ricotta cheese evenly over the top layer.
4. Step 4: Sprinkle 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese over the ricotta layer, then bake uncovered for 25-30 minutes until vegetables are tender and cheese is golden.
5. Step 5: Remove from oven and garnish with 1/4 cup chopped fresh basil leaves before serving warm.