An easy summer rustic tart that makes the most of ripe and juicy seasonal tomatoes. This tomato galette has a beautifully crisp and flaky pastry. It’s topped with a layer of basil pesto which is then covered in colourful cherry tomatoes. Delicious served either warm from the oven or cold next day.
Galettes are now my favourite form of tart to bake, be they savoury or sweet. They’re just so much easier to make than a classic tart or pie. There’s no need for any pre-cooking before the tart is assembled and goes into the oven. No tin is required either, which means less faffing about and less washing up – hooray!
What’s a Galette Anyway?
The word galette is a French noun derived from galet, which means pebble. It’s usually used to describe a form of flat round dough. This could be a cake, biscuit, crèpe, bread or pastry. These days, the term mostly refers to a rustic tart, as in this tomato galette, which you free-form into a round rather than shape in a tin.
You may or may not fold the pastry up over the edges. In fact, I’ve sometimes made this particular galette as a completely open tart, as in the photo below.
As you can see, this tomato galette is easily adaptable. For this one, I didn’t use a rolling pin at all, just my hands. I also used a few less tomatoes but added some spring onions. The Italians refer to this type of free-form tart as crostata.
Tomato Galette with Basil Pesto
In the summer months, I often make this rustic French inspired tomato tart. As tarts go, it’s a pretty easy one to make. It can be on the table from start to finish in less than an hour. It’s a good one to make for friends as, despite its rustic appearance, it has a wonderful aroma, looks really appealing and is absolutely delicious. We tend to enjoy it with a large serving of zingy green salad.
Tomatoes and basil are a classic pairing and there’s a good reason for it. They seem to both compliment and bring out the flavours of the other at the same time. They are paired all over the Mediterranean, but particularly so in France and Italy it seems. One of Italy’s most famous salads features tomatoes, basil and mozzarella cheese. Here’s my version of it, Caprese salad bowl for one.
I’ve used wholemeal spelt pastry in this recipe. It’s delicious and always produces a gorgeous flaky result. But if you’re in a real rush or just can’t be bothered, use shop-bought pastry. Likewise homemade pesto is generally much nicer than the commercial stuff and it’s really easy to make. But again, sometimes life just gets in the way, so you can easily substitute bought pesto for homemade if you need to.
You’ll probably find it hard to resist finishing this tomato galette immediately; it’s especially good warm from the oven. However, any leftovers will perk up the morrow’s lunch box no end, so if you can muster up some restraint, it’ll be worth it.
Tomato Galette: Step-By-Step
Wholemeal Spelt Pastry
This pastry recipe is my absolute favourite homemade pastry. It’s easy to make, rolls well and produces a beautiful flaky crust. The secret to its success, is wholemeal spelt flour and yoghurt. The yoghurt binds the dough together, but keeps it light and the spelt gives a nutty and slightly sweet flavour.
I’ve added some ground cayenne pepper to the pastry to give it a little additional oomph, but this is entirely optional.
Homemade Basil Pesto
You don’t need to use lots of expensive ingredients to make pesto. Parmesan-style cheese and pine nuts are delicious, but I find good old cheddar cheese and almonds can work really well too. These are the ingredients I’ve used in this particular homemade basil pesto recipe.
The amount of pesto given in this recipe is more than you’ll need for the tomato galette. But it will keep in the fridge for a few days and you can use it in any number of ways. It’s perfect for pasta, of course, but it’s also delicious in sandwiches, forked through rice or quinoa, mixed into cooked vegetables or simply spread on crackers.
All you need to do, is add the pesto ingredients into a blender and whizz it into a paste. I used my power blender for this pesto, but you can easily use a food processor instead.
Homegrown Tomatoes
We’ve managed to grow quite a few tomatoes this year and all of them outdoors. They’re the most delicious tomatoes I’ve had in a long time and we’ve saved them specifically for eating just as they are or in a salad. CT grew the cherry tomatoes, pictured below, at work. They’re also very good and are perfect for making this tomato galette.
Cherry tomatoes work particularly well in this type of tart. They’re small enough so that you can just cut them in half. And if you place them skin-side down, they’ll mostly contain their juice. On the other hand, you’d have to slice large tomatoes which would allow the juice to leek out all over the dough and the edges of the tin. This not only creates an awful mess, but it produces a wet and soggy dough.
For me, chilli and tomatoes are a match made in heaven. This means I invariably sprinkle a few chilli flakes over the top of this tomato galette. The same goes for this though as it does for the pastry, any chilli is entirely optional. Reduce or increase the amounts depending on how ‘hot’ you like your food.
More Galette Recipes You Might Like
- Double blackberry chocolate galette
- Gooseberry galette
- Green vegetable galette
- Rhubarb galette with orange flaky pastry
- Roasted beetroot galette (with puff pastry)
More Pesto Recipes You Might Like
- Carrot top pistou with lemon (vegan)
- Fat hen & chickweed pesto
- Hedgerow pesto with hazelnuts
- Parsley & almond pesto
- Walnut basil pesto (vegan)
- Wild garlic pesto
Keep In Touch
Thanks for visiting Tin and Thyme. If you make this tomato galette, I’d love to hear about it in the comments below. And do please rate it. Have you any top tips? Do share photos on social media too and use the hashtag #tinandthyme, so I can spot them.
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If you’d like more tart recipes, follow the link and you’ll find I have quite a lot of them. All delicious, of course.
Choclette x
Tomato Galette. PIN IT.
Tomato Galette with Homemade Pesto – The Recipe
Tomato Galette with Homemade Pesto
Equipment
Ingredients
Pastry
- 250 g wholemeal spelt flour
- 150 g unsalted butter
- pinch sea salt
- 3 tbsp natural yoghurt
- ½ tsp ground cayenne pepper or chilli powder of choice (optional)
Basil, Almond & Cheddar Pesto
- 50 g basil
- 50 g almonds
- 50 g mature cheddar cheese
- 1 clove garlic
- 1 pinch sea salt
- 50 ml extra virgin olive oil + a little for drizzling
- 35 cherry tomatoes halved (multi-coloured ones are fun)
- ½ tsp chilli flakes (optional)
Instructions
Pastry
- Cut the cold butter into the flour, cayenne (if using) and salt with a knife, then either rub between finger tips or pulse in a food processor until the mixture resembles coarse breadcrumbs.250 g wholemeal spelt flour, 150 g unsalted butter, pinch sea salt, ½ tsp ground cayenne pepper
- Stir in the yoghurt with a knife until the mixture comes together into a ball.3 tbsp natural yoghurt
- If the dough is too soft to roll immediately, cover and leave to rest in the fridge or a cool place for ½ hr. I generally have a cool kitchen, so I tend to roll mine out straight away.
- Roll out on a floured surface into a rough circle, about 4mm in thickness.
- Place on a baking tray lined with baking parchment.
Basil, Almond & Cheddar Pesto
- Blitz the basil, almonds, cheese, garlic and salt in a blender or food processor until roughly ground.50 g basil, 50 g almonds, 50 g mature cheddar cheese, 1 clove garlic, 1 pinch sea salt
- Add the olive oil and blitz again until you have a rough paste.50 ml extra virgin olive oil
- Spread a thin layer of pesto over the pastry leaving a border of about 1 cm.
- Cover the pesto with the tomato halves cut side up, but leaving a border of about 1 cm from the pesto edge. Drizzle a little olive oil over the tomatoes and scatter the chilli flakes on top if using.35 cherry tomatoes, ½ tsp chilli flakes
- Fold the 2 cm edges inward over the filling, tucking the pastry in as you go. You should have a large (ish) open centre with the tomatoes shining out..
- Bake in a pre-heated oven at 200℃ (400℉, Gas 6) for about 25 minutes when the tomatoes should be cooked and the pastry crisp and golden.
Notes
Nutrition Estimate
Sharing
I’m sharing my tomato galette with Jo’s Kitchen Larder and Apply to Face Blog for #BakingCrumbs. I’m also sending it to Chipa by the Dozen for #CookBlogShare.
Kathy Love says
Special thanks for the pastry recipe! I’ve been looking for a good wholemeal pastry that isn’t too hard to make. I’ll definitely try this!
Choclette says
I love this pastry. I use it for pretty much everything now. You’ll see a heap of recipes with it on the blog. Hope it lives up to expectations.
Eb Gargano | Easy Peasy Foodie says
Great recipe! I am also a big fan of the galette. Much easier and less faff than a standard tart and I love the rustic appearance. My mouth is watering at the idea of filling one with pesto and cherry tomatoes! Eb x
Choclette says
Thanks Eb. That tart is mouth watering indeed. I’ve just had supper but the thought of it has me wishing I could have a slice to finish the evening off.
Cathy says
I’ve made a galette a couple of times – I think it’s the only time I’ve made pastry, so easy! If my tomatoes in the garden ever go red, I will be trying this one 🙂
Choclette says
Surely with the summer we’ve had Cathy, you’ll get some red tomatoes. We’ve had quite a few. Crossing fingers for you.
All That I'm Eating says
This looks so good and I love the sound of your flaky wholemeal pastry. What a lovely thing to make to mark the end of summer.
Choclette says
It’s tomatoes all the way at the moment. This is a bit more effort than our normal one pot type dishes, bit it’s so delicious. Definitely worth it.
Jenny Walters says
Galettes always seem so sophisticated in a chic way. I have always wanted to bake one but never have. This looks perfect for a virgin bake! I adore tomatoes with a salty passion. Just delicious anyways but especially baked with pastry. Delicious. Thank you so much for sharing with #BakingCrumbs
Choclette says
Thanks Jenny. I like the idea of a sophisticated and chic rustic tart. Looking forward to seeing yours.
Kat (The Baking Explorer) says
This looks yummy, I’m bookmarking it for a future dinner!
Choclette says
Hope you like it Kat, it’s a firm favourite with us.
johanna @ green gourmet giraffe says
I love how easy galettes are to make too – love your pointer about using the cherry tomatoes – this looks delicious
Choclette says
Thanks Johanna. I haven’t made a “classic” tart now for a very long time. Galettes are so much easier and I love the look of them.
Helen - Cooking with my kids says
I’ve never had or made a gallete but this looks great. I especially love the look of it with your colourful tomatoes!
Choclette says
It’s a delicious tart whatever, but the differently coloured tomatoes make it look more interesting. Do let me know what you think if you do make a galette.
Monika Dabrowski says
How incredibly gorgeous! I could eat pesto every day (tonight’s dinner was pesto pasta actually) and this dish looks amazing!
Choclette says
Pesto is one of those things I now wonder how I ever lived without. Along with avocados and spelt flour among many other things. It’s hard to remember now, just how few food items were available back along.
Corina Blum says
I love the sound of that pastry! I definitely need to get myself some spelt flour soon so I can try it out.
Choclette says
This pastry is my absolute favourite. I use it for most recipes requiring pastry now.
angiesrecipes says
Those cherry tomatoes are so beautiful. The galette looks rustic and very yummy.
Choclette says
Yes, they are. I love summer tomatoes. The contrasting colours are particularly good.
Byron Thomas says
Oh, Choclette, that galette is stunningly gorgeous! I love the contrast of the brightly coloured tomatoes with the rustic look of the spelt pastry. And then you made your own pesto too? Bravo – looks delicious!
Choclette says
Thanks Byron. This tomato galette forms part of my summer repertoire, but it’s taken me a while to blog the recipe.
GUNJAN C Dudani says
Its an interesting recipe. I have never made tomato gallete . Definitely trying it!
Choclette says
It’s a really popular recipe Gunjan and as long as you like tomatoes, you should love it.
Jo Allison / Jo's Kitchen Larder says
I love the beautiful rustic look of your galette. There isn’t a better combination than tomatoes and basil pesto. Pop these on top of pastry and you are in heaven! 🙂 I will have to try making my pesto with almonds and cheddar next time as I’m usually sticking to pine nuts or walnuts and parmesan. Delicious recipe Choclette!
Choclette says
Thanks Jo. You’ve probably gathered by now that sSimple and rustic is my style 😀
Leslie says
I have never heard of this kind of pastry before. I’m totally intrigued. I be it’s absolutely delicious! Thanks for sharing!
Choclette says
Well, I probably would say this, but really, you should try it. It’s so easy and so delicious.
Lizet Bowen says
Yum! I’ve only had the sweet kind. Yours sounds amazing.
Thanks for sharing at #CookBlogShare!
Choclette says
Fruit galettes are delicious, but I do like savoury ones too.
Peter Unsworth says
What can I do with dual coloured gooseberries and effervescence??! xx
Choclette says
Well hello Peter. How are you? Surely the only thing to do is to take pictures and put them on Instagram 😀
Peter Unsworth says
Hi Nicette,sent you a Fb message