For this version, carrots and fennel are roasted until they just begin to caramelize then I tuck them into whole wheat pastry dough to bake. The vegetables develop sweetness and depth as they cook — flavors that pair beautifully with fresh herbs and tangy goat cheese. It’s nourishing, satisfying, and really quite delicious especially during the cold weather months. The fact that this only takes about 35 minutes of hands-on time is a big bonus.
How to Make Easy, Wholesome Galette Crust
I’m crazy about the crust in this recipe. The entire thing gets whizzed up in a food processor and is easy to roll out. Half the flour in the dough is whole-wheat, which gives it a boost of fiber and nutrients and a lovely deep color, while still remaining tender and flaky. Even though this pastry is easy, it’s important to be attentive to a few factors: ● Measure properly: Be sure to spoon your flour into the measuring cup and level it off with the edge of a knife. Don’t jam your measuring cup into the flour bin or pack it down. ● Use cold butter and ice water. Keeping your pastry cold is part of what makes a flaky crust. ● Chill the dough before baking: Be sure to make the dough first and get it into the fridge before you prep and roast the vegetables. That will give it a good 45 minutes to get cold before you assemble the galette.
Swaps and Substitutions
As far as recipes go, this one has built-in flexibility. Here are a few suggestions: ● Tinker with the ratio of vegetables listed or swap them out completely. Love fennel? Use a bit more and scale back the carrots. ● Consider other hearty vegetables, such as sliced delicata squash, cubed or sliced sweet potatoes, halved radishes, sliced parsnips, or shallots in place of red onion. The roasting time for the vegetables may vary, so keep an eye on the oven and cook until just tender. ● In spring and summer use asparagus, tomatoes, and zucchini, vegetables that are tender enough to bake right along with the crust. ● Add leafy greens. Toss a handful of chopped Swiss chard or kale in with the roasted vegetables as soon as they’re out of the oven. ● Swap the cheese. Feel free to use feta instead of chevre. Alternatively, spread one cup of good-quality ricotta on the bottom of the crust two inches from the edge before piling on the cooked vegetables. ● Make the crust entirely with all-purpose flour if you prefer.
Make-Ahead Tips
This galette is a great make-ahead meal. Pastry dough in general works well when made ahead and refrigerated and vegetables are easy to roast and store, which means you can assemble this galette for dinner, brunch or lunch without too much fuss. ● For the dough: If you keep the dough in the fridge for more than an hour, cover it with plastic wrap. You can also double the dough recipe and stash half in the freezer for a rainy day. ● For the Vegetables: You can absolutely roast and refrigerate them a day in advance.
How to Store a Galette
Savory tarts in my house never last more than a day, but if that happens with you, cover the leftovers and stash in the fridge. Reheat in a 350 oven or toaster oven until the pastry is crisp.
What to Serve with Vegetable Tarts
A colorful salad makes a perfect dinner companion for this galette. For fall and winter, I like dark leafy green salads built on baby arugula or kale. Fresh pear or apple, dried fruits, and toasted nuts would also be tasty in there, too. Try this Kale Salad to go along with your galette and you’ve got a picture perfect vegetarian supper on your hands.
Hold the Meat: More Vegetarian Pastry Recipes!
● Rustic Onion Tart ● Tomato Galette With Parmesan Whole Wheat Crust ● Tomato Ricotta Tart ● Root Vegetable Pot Pie ● Cheesy Artichoke Pie ● Vegetable Pot Pie
