Zucchini Ricotta Galette

Name: Zucchini Ricotta Galette
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 45 min
Total time: 60 min
Ingredients: 1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour (chilled in the freezer for 30 minutes); 1/4 teaspoon salt; 8 tablespoon butter (cold unsalted, cut into pieces and chill again (1 stick)); 1/4 cup sour cream; 2 teaspoon lemon juice (fresh); 1/4 cup ice water; 1 large zucchini (or 2 smaller ones, sliced into 1/4 inch thick rounds); 1 tablespoon olive oil; 1 teaspoon garlic (minced, roasted, fresh works as well); 1/2 cup ricotta cheese; 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese (grated); 1/4 cup mozzarella (mozzarella); 1 teaspoon basil (dried); 1 egg yolk (for brushing)

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by: Joanna Cismaru

03.14.22

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This Zucchini Ricotta Galette is made with a creamy three-cheese filling and an incredibly easy buttery pastry made from scratch. While this galette looks gorgeous, it requires just 15 minutes of prep! Perfect for your busy weeknights.

overhead shot of a zucchini ricotta galette fresh out of the oven on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper

Close your eyes, take a bite of this cheesy galette, and you’ll be transported to a cafe in France with the warm wind blowing through your hair. Have I sold you on this recipe yet? I love making galettes. They’re so simple to make, plus you just can’t beat those fresh flavors.

While it may be tempting to grab some homemade pie crust as a shortcut to make this recipe, I highly recommend making my homemade galette pastry dough. The lemon and sour cream create a perfect tangy pairing with that creamy ricotta filling.

What is a galette?

This French specialty is actually quite a broad term. It simply refers to a flat round pie made with a flaky pastry. It can be filled with both sweet and savory ingredients.

Many times you’ll see fresh fruits in the center of these beautiful and rustic pies. Today I’ve created a savory version loaded with 3 types of cheese! I guarantee this will be a winner at your house.

process shots showing how to assemble a galette

Ingredients

I used a homemade pastry for this recipe, but you can use pie crust if you’re crunched for time. If you can, however, this tangy and easy homemade pastry will really take your galette to the next level.

Keep scrolling down to the recipe card for a list of FULL ingredient amounts and instructions or click the “Jump to Recipe” button at the top of the page!

For the pastry:

Flour – All-purpose flour works best. You can mix in some whole wheat flour as well.
Salt – Season to taste.
Butter – We want nice and cold butter to create flaky pockets in the pastry. Lard or shortening will work as well, but not margarine.
Sour cream – Greek yogurt can be substituted.
Lemon juice – I always like to use freshly squeezed!
Ice water

For the filling:

Zucchini – Use 1 large or 2 small zucchinis.
Olive oil – Avocado, safflower, sunflower, or vegetable oils will work.
Garlic – You can use more or less garlic as you prefer.
Ricotta – Mascarpone would be great as well. You can use cream cheese, but keep in mind it is thicker and has a saltier, stronger flavor.
Parmesan cheese – Grana Padano will work too. Want it cheesier? Add more than what’s called for!
Mozzarella – Cheddar or Monterey Jack are great stretchy cheeses to use as well.
Basil – I used dried basil but you can use fresh if you have it handy.
Egg yolk – The yolk will be brushed on the pastry before baking to make it beautiful and glossy. You can use milk instead.

side view shot of a zucchini ricotta galette on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper fresh out of the oven

What else can I add to my zucchini galette?

This can be a great opportunity to clean out some ingredients from you fridge! You can also top your galette with fresh peppery greens like arugula after it’s done baking. Drizzle with a good quality olive oil, a balsamic glaze, or some freshly cracked pepper!

Tomato slices
Fresh herbs such as rosemary, thyme, or oregano.
Mushrooms
Onions or leeks
Ground meats or sausage, fully cooked

How to make zucchini ricotta galette

Make the pastry: Mix the flour and salt in a bowl. Add the butter pieces to the bowl. Use a pastry blender or two knives to cut and mix the butter into the flour until pea-sized pieces form. Mix the sour cream, lemon juice, and water in a separate bowl. Add this mixture to the flour and combine with your hands or a wooden spoon; don’t over-work the dough. Form the shaggy dough into a ball, cover with plastic, and refrigerate.
Prep the filling: Place the zucchini slices on paper towel, sprinkle salt over them, and let them sit for 30 minutes, then pat off excess moisture. Mix the cheeses and basil together, then mix the olive oil and garlic in a separate small bowl. Add 1 tsp of your garlic oil to the cheese mixture, season with salt and pepper, and mix well.
Assemble the galette: Preheat the oven to 400F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Roll the pastry dough to a 12-14″ round. Spread the cheese mixture over the pastry, leaving a 2″ border. Arrange the zucchini slices over the cheese mixture. Drizzle the remaining garlic oil over the zucchini. Fold the border over the filling leaving the center open. Brush the crust with egg yolk, then bake for 45 minutes, or until golden brown.

side view shot of a zucchini ricotta galette on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper fresh out of the oven with a slice cut out

How to serve

Savory galette is, essentially, France’s answer to pizza. It’s a wonderful meal all on its own. You can serve it for brunch, lunch, or dinner! If you want a bit more sustenance, you can serve this ricotta zucchini galette as a side to your favorite mains. Give some of these recipes a try!

How to store

Galette is best enjoyed freshly baked. If you end up with leftovers, wrap them well with plastic or store the slices in an airtight container. This zucchini galette tastes just as delicious cold as it does hot! You can zap it in the microwave or toast it up in the oven, but I like to just pull a piece straight from the fridge and enjoy.

If you want to make a few galettes and freeze some for later, I would freeze them un-baked. Wrap them well with plastic and a layer of foil. They’ll last 3 months frozen. Take the galette out of the freezer, brush with egg yolk, and bake at 375F for about 1 hour, or until golden brown.

side view shot of a zucchini ricotta galette on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper fresh out of the oven with two slices cut out

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Recipe adapted from Smitten Kitchen

Meet Joanna Cismaru

I’m Joanna (Jo for short) and this is my blog where I share with you my culinary adventures. Here you will find a variety of recipes using simple everyday ingredients and creating wonderful, delicious and comforting meals, including some decadent desserts.