Here’s a great way to use those peak, juicy summer tomatoes: try a Savory Tomato Galette! This freeform French tart is usually associated with dessert, but you can make a savory galette too! Think of it as a quiche with tomatoes, or a ricotta pizza with pie crust. It’s irresistibly tasty, featuring juicy ripe heirloom tomatoes, a garlic and ricotta filling, and a golden flaky pastry crust. Eat it for dinner with a green salad, or as a lovely summer brunch idea. It was a huge hit in this house!
Ingredients for this tomato galette
A galette is a rustic French tart: a round pie made without a pie dish using a folded pastry crust. There’s no need for precise rolling and sizing of the dough. Simply roll it out, place on a baking sheet, and fold over the crust. Galettes are most often served as desserts (like a Peach Galette or Blueberry Galette), but galettes can be savory too (like a Mushroom Galette). It’s similar to quiche with vegetable and cheese fillings. Here’s what you’ll need to make this tomato galette:
Ripe tomatoes: make this recipe only when you have the juiciest, ripe summer tomatoes. You’ll want them perfectly ripe, not overripe (or they com out too watery). Ricotta cheese Pecorino Romano or Parmesan cheese Garlic Fresh thyme Flour Butter Granulated sugar Salt Baking powder Egg
Tips for galette dough
The most important part of making a tomato galette? The dough! This pastry dough is easy to work with, but it have a few challenging points if it’s your first time. Here are a few tips to keep in mind:
Spoon and level the flour (or weigh it in grams). Spoon the flour into the measuring cup, then level it with the back of the spoon. This provides most accurate measurement: scooping flour right out of the container can result in more flour per cup. Or better yet, use a food scale and weigh the flour out in grams. Use a pastry cutter or fork to cut the butter into the dough. Mash the butter into the dry ingredients until a pebbly texture forms. Add just enough water for the dough to come together. Usually it takes us about 5 tablespoons, though this depends on the exact flour amount (again; grams is most accurate). Chill 1 hour. This is important so that the butter can solidify. Otherwise, the crust can melt in the oven. Roll into a 12-inch circle, then add the filling. Flour your work surface first. Pick up the dough and add more flour to the surface as necessary if it’s sticking. Then add the ricotta filling and tomatoes. Gently fold it up to create a 2-inch crust. Overlap the folds to make a circle around the filling: see the photos. Brush with an egg wash and sprinkle with sugar. An egg wash makes a nice golden sheen on the crust.
For the cheese
If you can, we recommend finding Pecorino Romano cheese for this tomato galette. This aged Italian cheese is similar to Parmesan, but it has an even saltier, more savory flavor. It really makes the pie! Pecorino Romano becoming easier to find in American grocery stores: you can find it in blocks, shredded or grated. Can’t find it? Substitute Parmesan cheese and a pinch of extra salt. It will still taste incredible!
Serving this tomato galette
Once you’ve baked up this savory tomato galette, it will look and smell incredible! But don’t dig into it just yet: the cooling time is important!
Cool the savory galette to room temperature, about 1 hour. Then garnish it with thyme leaves and slice into pieces. Of course if you just can’t wait, you can cheat a little! It’s great as a simple dinner, with a green salad. It tastes a bit like pizza. It also works as a savory brunch. Since it’s like a quiche, it works well for brunch with banana nut muffins, grapefruit salad, yogurt parfaits and coffee.
Storage info
Got leftovers of this tomato galette? Place it in a storage container and refrigerate for up to 3 days. Want to make it the day before? Bake it and leave it out on the counter for about 30 minutes before serving to let it come to room temperature. You can also gently reheat it in a 350 degree oven.
More tomato recipes
Got summer tomatoes? When it’s the season, we love to make all the fresh tomato recipes. Here are some you’ll enjoy:
Go for this Amazing Tomato Pie or a Classic Tomato Sandwich. Make a batch of Marinated Tomatoes. Try Easy Bruschetta or Pan con Tomate. Opt for Caprese Salad, Caprese Flatbread or a Caprese Sandwich. Whiz up Classic Gazpacho or Tomato Vinaigrette.
This savory galette recipe is…
Vegetarian. 5 from 1 review
1 ½ cups [210 grams] all-purpose flour, spooned and leveled 1 tablespoon granulated sugar ¾ teaspoon kosher salt ¼ teaspoon baking powder 10 tablespoons cold unsalted butter (or vegan butter) 5 to 6 tablespoons cold water 1 egg, for the egg wash Turbinado sugar, for sprinkling
For the filling:
3 to 4 small heirloom tomatoes, sliced 1 teaspoon kosher salt, divided Fresh ground black pepper 1 cup ricotta cheese ½ cup shredded Pecorino Romano or Parmesan cheese 1 garlic clove, grated 1 teaspoon fresh thyme leaves
