Zucchini and Caramelized Onion Galette with Gruyere. Pure comfort food wrapped up in a buttery, flaky pastry. Vegetarian
Transitioning from summer to fall is a time to celebrate the many beautiful events and pleasures this time of year brings. The Canada Geese are flying over our home with their beautiful, nasally calls and whispers of their wings flapping against the air. Our vibrant American Goldfinches have molted and are preparing for their long flight back to their wintering grounds in the South. Fawns, with their beautiful spots, are arriving in the neighborhood to munch on the last of what our gardens have to offer. The temperatures are cooler at night and the morning fog is beginning to linger a bit longer in Puget Sound. This time of year is my favorite.
Zucchini is a transitional vegetable and one that I am up to my ears in, currently. Zucchini and caramelized onion galette with gruyere is definitely a comfort food and is a beautiful way to welcome the changing season. Hello Fall (almost)! Comfort food season is officially on as the long, leisurely days of summer start to wane.
I’m excited to share my go-to pastry dough recipe. I use it for galettes, pies, hand pies and quiches as well as pot pies and shepherd’s pie. It is over the top delicious and versatile. What makes it so delicious is the buttermilk (oh and lets not forget the butter) because it tenderizes the gluten strands in the flour and helps to relax the dough. The most important part of making pastry is to handle the dough as little as possible and to keep. it. cold. If at anytime your pastry starts sticking to your work surface or fingers, its time to pop it back in the fridge for at least 10 minutes.
I prefer to make the pastry one day before I need it because the longer the pastry rests in the fridge, the easier it is to work with. If you’re comfortable working with pastry, then you can make the dough the day you plan to use it. Just make sure you let it rest in the fridge for a few hours.
Tools I use to help me make pastry dough include a maple rolling pin and a bench scraper. The bench scraper helps me keep all the bits of butter and flour together and makes cleaning up my work space a snap. Also, a pastry cutter comes in handy when cutting the butter into the flour. It keeps the heat from your hands off the butter that you’re attempting to keep cold.
There are a few ways to prepare the shredded zucchini. I use a microplane grater to shred the zucchini, but a box grater will work too. After salting the shredded zucchini, I let it rest in a colander, then use a towel to squeeze out the liquids. An alternative method is to place the zucchini in cheese cloth over a bowl or large measuring cup. Then salt the zucchini, rest, and squeeze out the liquid through the cheese cloth.
Caramelizing the onions makes this recipe over the top delicious! The sweet, smoky, and creamy caramelized onions blend beautifully with the gruyere and spices and tie this galette together.
Remember, this is a rustic galette, so the uneven, craggy edges are ok! In fact, they are desired!
While the galette was baking (45 minutes of mouthwatering waiting!), I took a stroll through the back yard, where I found a sweet doe and rabbit taking a rest. I guess they were keeping each other company! It’s not uncommon to see deer in the back yard munching on something… flowers in particular. But I respect their space, and overlook that my roses are always preferred to the weeds. After all, they were here before I was and it’s a pleasure sharing this space together.
Back in the kitchen, the galette is finally ready! It can be served as a main dish or cut into small wedges and served as an appetizer. A hearty salad served along side this galette makes a satisfying and filling meal.
For a ‘covered’ dish, this zucchini and caramelized onion galette travels with ease. Wrap it in foil and place it on a large cutting board to carry it to your event. If needed, reheat it in an oven or mini oven at 350F right on the foil on a sheet pan, for about 15 minutes. Leftovers reheat easily too! Just never microwave any pastry, if you can help it.
Zucchini and Caramelized Onion Galette with Gruyere
Ingredients
For the Pastry:
- 1 1/4 C White Whole Wheat Flour *See Note 6 3/4 oz
- 1 1/4 C All Purpose Flour 6 1/4 oz
- 1/2 tsp Sea Salt
- 2, 8 oz Sticks of Butter cold
- 1/2 C Milk
- 1 Tbs Apple Cider Vinegar
- 2 Tbs Water ice cold
For the Galette Filling:
- 4 lbs Sweet Onions (about 4 smallish )
- 3 lbs Zucchini (about 6 small)
- 1 C Gruyere grated (8 oz)
- 1 Tbs Olive Oil
- 1 Tbs Butter
- 2 tsp Sea Salt divided
- 1 tsp Granulated Sugar
- 1/4 tsp Ground Pepper
- 1/8 tsp Red Pepper Flake dried, optional
- 1/4 tsp Tarragon dried
- 1/4 tsp Thyme dried
- 3 Sprigs Thyme fresh for garnish
- 1 Tbs Egg + 1 Water
Instructions
For the Pastry**:
- **Make one day ahead if time permits
- Cut the butter, into 1/4" slices using a knife, or a bench scraper. Pop the butter in the freezer for 5 minutes while you prep the rest of the ingredients.
- Measure out the milk and apple cider vinegar and mix together. Let set for 5 minutes to sour (this is your buttermilk).
- Mix the flour and salt together in a large bowl. Get the cold butter out of the freezer and drop it into the flour/salt mixture. Use a pastry cutter or a fork to cut the butter into the flour. Stop working the butter into the dough when the butter pieces are about the size of almonds, or slightly smaller.
- Make a well in the center of the bowl and add the milk mixture. Use your hands to mix the flour mixture with the milk mixture. Dump the mixture out on a floured surface when the mixture resembles a shaggy mass. Use a bench scraper to gather all the bits of flour together shaping it and pushing it together. Make a well in the center of the dough and add 2 Tbs of cold water. Use the bench scraper to start folding and pressing the dough over and on top of its self, working in the water. Work quickly so the dough stays cold. Fold it over on its self about 9-10 times shaping it into a circular mass as you go, using your hands as needed. Flatten it out using a rolling pin to about 1/2" making sure it is in a rounded shape. Wrap it securely in plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight or for at least two hours.
Zucchini Prep:
- Grate the zucchini using a microplaner or box grater, reserving 1/2 of one zucchini. Cut the reserved zucchini into 1/8" slices to be arranged on top of the galette before baking. Set aside. Place the shredded zucchini in a colander over the sink and add 1 tsp of salt. Mix well. Let sit for 25 minutes.
- Place zucchini, in 1 C batches, on a kitchen towel. Squeeze out the liquid and place the shredded zucchini in a large mixing bowl. Set aside.
For the Onions:
- While the zucchini is draining, cut the onions in half and slice length wise cutting in thin 1/2 moon shapes. Melt the olive oil and butter in a large non stick sauté pan over medium-low heat. Place the onions in the pan with 1 tsp salt, and sugar. These will take about 30 minutes to caramelize. Stir occasionally.
Roll out the Dough:
- Remove the pastry from the fridge. Have ready a sheet pan, plastic wrap, parchment paper, flour for dusting, a rolling pin and ruler.
- Dust the work surface with about 1 Tbs of flour. Place the pastry on the work surface. Use the rolling pin to 'condition' the pastry by beating it down by about 1/4". Turn the pastry as you work it.
- Flour the rolling pin and the top of the pastry to keep them from sticking to each other. Use the rolling pin to start rolling out the dough turning the dough 1/4 way around as you roll it out and the dough gets larger. Keep rolling, adding flour under and on top of the pastry as needed to keep the pastry from sticking. Work quickly, you want it to stay cold! If it's sticking too much, place the pastry on the parchment lined sheet pan and pop it in the fridge for 10 minutes. Roll the pastry out to 16" round. If there is a tear in the edge, tap your finger into a bit of water and seal up the tear.
Place plastic wrap completely around the pastry (if it is not covered well, it will dry out in the fridge!) Place the dough in the fridge to rest for at least 20 minutes; 30 is better! Preheat the oven to 400F.
For Zucchini/Onion Mixture:
- In the large mixing bowl with the zucchini, add the caramelized onions, ground pepper, red pepper flakes, tarragon, dried thyme and gruyere. Mix well and taste for adjustment in seasoning. Adjust if needed.
To Assemble the Galette:
- Mix the egg and 1 Tbs of water well. Have a pastry brush ready.
- Assemble the galette on a parchment lined sheet pan. Spoon the zucchini mixture in the center of the pastry leaving at least 2" of crust on the edges. Begin folding the pastry inward, over the zucchini mixture. The pastry will overlap all the way around.
- Lay the 1/8" cut zucchini in a decorative overlapping circle on the open part of the galette.
- Brush the egg/water mixture over the pastry.
- Bake the galette for 45 minutes on the center rack, turning 1/2 way through the bake time.
- Let rest for 5 minutes, then cut using a pizza cutter.
- Garnish with fresh thyme leaves and flowers (if available).
Recipe Notes
*All purpose flour can be used instead of white whole wheat flour. Use 2 1/2 C (13 1/4 oz) of All purpose flour and omit the white whole wheat flour.
**Making this pastry one day before you need it allows the dough to rest longer and yields a more pliable pastry to work with.
This galette serves 4-6 as a main or up to 16 as an appetizer.
The prep and cook time does not include the time it takes for the dough to rest.
Recipe adapted from The Smitten Kitchen Cookbook.
If you make this recipe, or any others on Vanilla And Bean, be sure to post it to Instagram, notify me @vanillaandbean and tag #vanillaandbean! I’d love to see what you’ve made! Also, if you like my content, please consider sharing it with three friends and/or family. Thank you!
Can this recipe be changed for a gluten free crust?
Hi Linda! While I’ve not tried it, you could certainly give it a go.
This Zucchini Galette looks super yummy and fairly healthy. I can’t wait to try it.
Traci, I made your zucchini & caramelized onion with Gruyere galette last night for dinner with friends. It is beautiful and absolutely delicious! We all enjoyed. Thanks for such a wonderful recipe.
Hooray Jude! I louuuuve this recipe so much and am so happy you love it too! Thank you for sharing and reminding me it’s time to make it again! xo
Can’t wait to try this. I have an onion upside down tart from Nigella Lawson which I love but the added zucchini sound delish!
Just wanted to point out a typo in the title of the recipe part- Gruyere is written Guryere. No big deal but I know I would like to have someone point it out.
Take care,
Alexandra
Oh I hope you’ll enjoy the recipe Alexandra! The upside down tart from Nigella sounds fabulous! Thank you for your note on my typo… my dyslexia is showing! :0
Hi Tracy,
Thank you for you thank you comment on my blog, I’m facing some bugs at the moment that don’t allow me to answer comments but wanted to let you know that I was so pleased to read your sweet words !
Have a lovely day,
Cheers
Fanny
Hi Fanny! Oh, I hope you get those bugs worked out soon. That can be such a time suck. Thank you for your sweet note.
Have a beautiful day, Fanny. Thanks for stopping by!!
Traci, I made this for dinner last night and all I can say is WOW. It was over the top delicious, and easy too! I agree, I think the caramelized onions really make the dish. Simple yet elegant – perfect for entertaining. I wonder if you’ve tried this with other veggies? I’m thinking it would make a wonderfully comforting winter meal, after the zucchini is gone. Just wondering, thanks.
Hi Jeri! Way to go! :D So glad you enjoyed the recipe! Thank you for sharing your success! I have made this recipe with butternut squash and would feel comfortable adding any seasonal vegetable along with the caramelized onions (I agree, they are key!). I’m thinking with the long bake it seems as some seasonal veggies would hold up well (like the zucchini… maybe corn w/ roasted pablano and cojita, or asparagus cut into 1-2″ pieces) uncooked before folding them into the caramelized onions. Others, like cubed squash, leeks, greens or mushrooms need to be roasted or sautéed’ before adding them to the caramelized onion. Dana (below) added roasted tomatoes. I would consider adjusting spices and cheeses to suite the veggie as well. Hope this helps, Jeri!
Yum, thanks for all the great ideas! I’ve been daydreaming about butternut squash…. :)
Thanks, Jeri! Let us know how you do! :D
Made this for lunch for the office. Rave reviews by all! It took a bit of time to make, but it was all worth it! It was so yummy. Only change I made was adding some roasted tomatoes to the top as I have a ton from my garden, it added an extra splash of color and flavor. Thanks!
Hi Dana! Oh this is fabulous! It’s so fun sharing delicious food! I’m thrilled that you and your office enjoyed the recipe and the addition of roasted tomatoes sounds absolutely delightful (straight from you garden no less!!)! I’ll make a note of it for the next time I make this galette. Thank you for sharing your success!
Galettes are the best, and yours looks so awesome!
Awww, thanks Shikha! :D I’m a big fan of galettes!
Can I make this with a store bough pie crust?
Hi Ellie! Thanks for asking. It’s been a long time since I’ve bought pre made pie dough but I’m thinking it will be difficult to get a 16″ rolled out piece of dough. This is a big galette and the store brands I’ve bought in the past, if I recall accurately, are smaller. You could try making less filling. Just fill the galette as instructed, leaving 2″ of dough all around for folding in. I hope this works out for you. Please let us know how you do. Thanks for stopping by!
This dish has my name written alllll over it! I’ve actually been craving a galette and would love to try and make one soon. I’ve never made one, but I really like the rustic look of the finished dish. It appeals to the pie novice in me. The onions with the zucchini would just be fantastic. And tarragon! I forgot about that herb -I really should use it more often. This recipe is just gorgeous, Traci! The deer in the backyard with the bunny really seals the deal for me hehe. Pinned it! :)
Hi, Allison! I forget about some herbs too… so lately, when I’m at the herb bulk section, I take a few minutes to browse. There’s so much to choose from! I really like fresh tarragon, but its hard to find and I’ve yet start that herb garden! I just recently tried fresh amaranth (look out for that). It is incredible! WOAH!
Love this galette Traci! I’ve been obsessed with caramelised onions of late, and you just rounded up all my favourites into one galette! Any left for me?!
Hi Jessica! I hear ya! Caramelized onions are pure magic in so many recipes. I try to incorporate them as much as possible. Thanks, Jessica!
Your homemade pastry looks delightful! Yum :)
Hi Medha! Thank you! :D
What an awesome post, Traci!! The recipe is great, but I’ve gotta say I love your deer picture on the backyard!! Very cool!
I also love your tutorial pictures. They make the recipe looks very easy! Thanks for sharing ;-)
Thanks so much, Olivia! It’s wonderful to see wildlife in the neighborhood, especially when they feel safe enough to rest in our back yard. What a joy!
What a delicious and pretty way to use zucchini! Your pastry recipe looks great, too – I can’t wait to try it out. This is my favorite time of the year!
Thank you, Julia! I hope you enjoy the recipe!
I have never made a savoury galette before.. definitely something that I need to do. This zucchini, onion and gruyere version looks and sounds delicious!
Hi Thaila! Thank you! I think you’d enjoy the process of making a savory galette, especially the pasty part! Handling the dough is so meditative.
I’ve been thinking about making a galette lately so these step by step photos are really helpful. Your galette looks delicious. Also, love that you just happen to have a deer AND a bunny in the backyard – just hanging out together. Thanks, Traci.
Hi Geraldine! Thank you! Sometimes we also have raccoons joining the party too! I can’t wait to see what kind of galette you create. Looking forward to it!
Love it! Such amazing flavor and simplicity out of this colorful, rustic dish. Went well with that scrumptious salad you made too.
I love that it’s also filling but light and paired with a salad it makes for a really great meal – and top it off with some wine. mmmmm…..
Thanks, Am! Mmmmmm… really good served with wine! Loved sharing this with you!
Noooo. Stop! This is SO beautiful I just can’t handle it. I can’t handle your blog apparently! The quality of light is so soft and lovely and the tart is so rustic yet elegant. Please come live in my backyard (and bring the deer), ok thanks.
Lol! You’re too much! :D . Ok, Cheryl. I’ll bring the deer if you provide the mojitos and ice cream :D !!
Such a deal.