Rustic Tomato and Whipped Feta Galette with Chilli Honey

Rustic Tomato and Whipped Feta Galette with Chilli Honey

A vibrant, flaky savoury tart featuring a herb-flecked homemade pastry base. Inside, a layer of creamy whipped feta provides a barrier against the juicy heirloom tomatoes, while fresh chilli and a post-bake drizzle of honey create an addictive sweet-spicy-salty finish.

1h 55mIntermediate1 large galette (4 servings)
Remix

Equipment

Large mixing bowl
Baking sheet
Parchment paper
Rolling pin
Paper towels
Pastry brush*

* optional

Ingredients

4 servings

Herb Pastry

  • 250 g all-purpose flour
  • 170 g cold unsalted butter, cubed
  • 5 g salt
  • 2 g dried thyme
  • 60 ml ice water
  • 5 ml apple cider vinegar

Whipped Feta Base

  • 150 g feta cheese
  • 50 g cream cheese
  • 1 garlic clove, minced
  • 3 g lemon zest
  • 1 g black pepper

Topping & Assembly

  • 400 g heirloom tomatoes, assorted colours
  • 3 g salt
  • 1 fresh red chilli, thinly sliced
  • 15 ml milk
  • 20 ml honey
  • 5 g fresh basil, torn

Nutrition (per serving)

Nutrition is estimated per serving. Nutrients without complete source data are omitted.

714
Calories
14g
Protein
59g
Carbohydrates
48g
Fat
4g
Fiber
9g
Sugar
1256mg
Sodium
Full nutrition
Calories
714 kcal
Protein
14 g
Carbohydrates
59 g
Fat
48 g
Fiber
4 g
Sugar
9 g
Sodium
1256 mg
Saturated Fat
29 g
Trans Fat
0 g
Monounsaturated Fat
13 g
Polyunsaturated Fat
2 g
Cholesterol
138 mg
Potassium
375 mg
Calcium
245 mg
Iron
2.0 mg
Magnesium
37 mg
Phosphorus
247 mg
Zinc
1.9 mg
Vitamin A
382 mcg
Vitamin C
15 mg
Vitamin D
0.2 mcg
Vitamin E
1.3 mg
Vitamin K
18 mcg
Vitamin B6
0.2 mg
Vitamin B12
0.8 mcg
Thiamin
0.14 mg
Riboflavin
0.40 mg
Niacin
1.2 mg
Folate
33 mcg
Water
64 g

Sources: Aggregated Public Data, USDA FoodData Central

Method

01

Combine flour, salt, and dried thyme in a large bowl. Add cold cubed butter and use your fingertips to rub the butter into the flour until the mixture resembles coarse breadcrumbs with some pea-sized pieces remaining.

5m
02

Mix the apple cider vinegar with the ice water. Drizzle over the flour mixture gradually, tossing with a fork until the dough just starts to clump together. Do not overwork.

3m
03

Gather the dough into a disc, wrap tightly in plastic wrap or eco-wrap, and refrigerate for at least 45 minutes to relax the gluten and chill the butter.

45m
04

While dough chills, slice the tomatoes into 5mm rounds. Lay them on paper towels and sprinkle with 3g salt. Let them sit for 20 minutes to draw out excess moisture, then pat dry with more paper towels.

20m
05

In a small bowl, mash the feta, cream cheese, minced garlic, lemon zest, and black pepper together until creamy and spreadable.

3m
06

Preheat your oven to 200°C (400°F). Roll out the chilled dough on a sheet of parchment paper into a rough circle about 30cm (12 inches) in diameter and 3-4mm thick.

07

Spread the whipped feta mixture over the dough, leaving a 4cm (1.5 inch) border around the edge. Arrange the dried tomato slices over the cheese in an overlapping pattern.

08

Fold the edges of the dough over the tomatoes, pleating as you go to create a rustic crust. Scatter the sliced chilli over the tomatoes. Brush the exposed pastry border with milk.

09

Transfer the galette (still on the parchment) to a baking sheet. Bake for 35-40 minutes until the crust is deep golden brown and the tomatoes are roasted.

40mLook for: Deep golden brown crustFeel: Crust feels firm and crisp
10

Remove from the oven and let rest for 10 minutes. Drizzle with honey and garnish with fresh torn basil before slicing.

10m

Chef's Notes

  • The vinegar in the pastry helps inhibit gluten formation, resulting in a more tender, flaky crust.
  • Do not skip the tomato salting step. Galettes are free-form and leak easily; removing water from the vegetables is the secret to a crisp base.
  • For a 'Hot Honey' shortcut, warm the honey with a pinch of dried chilli flakes in the microwave for 10 seconds before drizzling.
  • If you have a pizza stone, place the baking sheet on top of the preheated stone to ensure an extra crisp bottom.

Storage

Refrigerator: 3 daysCrust will lose crispness over time. Re-crisp in oven.

Freezer: 1 monthFreeze unbaked assembled galette. Bake from frozen, adding 10-15 minutes.

Reheating: Reheat in a 180°C (350°F) oven for 10-15 minutes. Do not microwave.

Troubleshooting

Soggy bottom crust

Cause: Tomatoes released too much liquid during baking

Fix: Bake on the lowest oven rack for an extra 5-10 minutes with bottom heat only if available

Prevention: Ensure tomatoes are salted and thoroughly patted dry before assembling; ensure cheese layer covers the base completely

Pastry is tough or shrinks

Cause: Dough was overworked or not rested enough

Fix: Cannot be fixed once baked

Prevention: Handle dough minimally and ensure it chills for the full time

Cultural Context

The galette is a French term for various types of flat, round, or free-form crusty cakes. While originally associated with Breton buckwheat pancakes, the term now popularly refers to rustic free-form tarts. This version marries French technique with Mediterranean flavours (feta, tomato, olive oil profile), typical of modern fusion bistro cuisine.

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