Be warned: this is a project. It probably took me three hours start to finish but it was so worth it.
If you’ve ever wanted to eat pie for dinner but just could not come up with a way to justify it, I think I can help you. Make it out of vegetables. You’re welcome.
Of course, it’s not that simple. The dough needs to be adjusted so that it’s easier to work with and can withstand the vegetables’ tendency to leak all over everything. This is accomplished by substituting some of the white flour with just the right amount of whole wheat flour. How did the good people at Cook’s find “just the right amount”? If you really want a dissertation on the relative hydrating properties of flour read the article. I’m ok knowing that they probably made 45 of these things and I can skip the organic chemistry lesson.
I was lucky enough to find already peeled and cut-up butternut squash thus saving me from one of the least favorite kitchen tasks. I also recommend making the dough ahead to make this at least seem like less than an entire afternoon’s worth of work.
The Butternut Squash Galette with Gruyere, along with Mushroom and Leek Galette and Potato and Shallot Galette with Goat Cheese, are in the January/February 2012 issue of Cook’s Illustrated.
Butternut Squash Galette with Gruyere
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Adapted from Cook’s Illustrated, January/February 2012
Serves 6
Dough
1-3/4 cups (6-1/4 oz.) all-purpose flour
1/2 cup (2-3/4 oz.) whole-wheat flour
1 tablespoon sugar
3/4 teaspoon salt
10 tablespoons unsalted butter, cut into 1/2″ pieces and chilled
7 tablespoons ice water
1 tablespoon white vinegar
Filling
6 oz. baby spinach
1-1/4 lbs. butternut squash, peeled and cut into 1/2″ cubes
5 tablespoons olive oil
1 red onions, sliced thin
1/2 teaspoon minced fresh oregano
3 oz. gruyere cheese, shredded (3/4 cup)
2 tablespoons creme fraiche
1 teaspoon sherry vinegar
salt and pepper
1 large egg, lightly beaten
kosher salt
2 tablespoons minced fresh parsley
For the Dough:
1. Pulse flours, sugar and salt in the food processor until combined, 2-3 pulses. Add butter and pulse until it is in pea-sized pieces, about 10 pulses. Transfer to a medium bowl.
2. Sprinkle water and vinegar over mixture. With rubber spatula, fold mixture until a loose mass forms with some dry flour remaining. Transfer to a sheet of plastic wrap, shape into a thick square and wrap tightly. Refrigerate at least 45 minutes.
3. Transfer dough to a lightly floured work surface and roll into an 11×8″ rectangle. Using a bench scraper, fold in threes like a business letter. Turn and roll again into an 11 x 8″ rectangle and fold into thirds again. Repeat by turning and folding one more time and then fold in half to create a 4″ square. Press top of dough to seal, wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 45 minutes or up to two days.
For the Filling:
4. Adjust oven rack to lower-middle position, place pizza stone on rack and heat to 400 degrees.
5. Place spinach and 1/4 cup water in a large microwave-safe bowl. Cover with a large dinner plate and microwave on high 3-4 minutes, or until spinach is reduced by half. Using potholders, carefully removed from microwave and keep covered for 1 minute. Carefully remove plate and transfer spinach to colander. Gently press spinach against sides of colander to release liquid. Transfer to cutting board, chop roughly and return to colander to press again. Add squash to now empty bowl and microwave until tender, about 8 minutes.
6. Meanwhile, heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a 12″ skillet over medium heat until shimmering. Add onion and oregano, cover, and cook until onions are tender and beginning to brown, 5-7 minutes, stirring frequently. Remove from heat, add onion mixture to squash along with spinach, cheese, creme fraiche and vinegar and stir gently to combine. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
Assemble and Bake:
7. Remove dough from refrigerator and let stand for 15-20 minutes. Roll out on generously floured work surface (or directly onto a sheet of parchment) to a 14″ circle. Transfer to a (parchment-lined) rimmed baking sheet. With a plastic straw or paring knife, cut five small holes into dough — one in the center and four evenly-spaced midway from center to edge of dough. Brush top of dough with 1 teaspoon olive oil.
8. Spread filling evenly over dough leaving a 2″ border around the edge. Drizzle remaining teaspoon olive oil over filling. Carefully grasp one edge of dough and fold up outer 2″ over filling. Repeat around circumference of tart, overlapping dough every 2-3″. Gently pinch pleated dough to secure. Brush dough with egg and sprinkle evenly with kosher salt.
9. Lower oven temperature to 375 and bake until crust is deep golden brown and filling is beginning to brown, 35-45 minutes. Cool tart on baking sheet on wire rack for 10 minutes. Carefully slide tart off parchment onto cutting board. Sprinkle with parsley, cut into wedges and serve.
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Kate-
Love the idea of a veggie pie and the combination of the gruyere, spinach and squash. Could you have taken a big short cut and used a Pillsbury Ready made pie crust? And where did you find the cut up squash- The Jewel, Dominics, Marianos , Sunset?
Ginger,
I often make a “personal” mushroom galette, and always use the pre-made pie crust. I brush the inside bottom with a little mustard and sprinkle on some crushed nuts, then add the filling and it works fine. I would think it would still work for a “full-size” pie.
Kate, I just made a butternut squash galette, but I used leeks and goat cheese — it was delicious. My galette was easy to make because I cheated on the pie dough (thanks, Trader Joe’s) and bought already cubed butternut squash (thanks, Costco). Ginger, both TJ’s and Costco have cubed butternut squash.
The crust is the main thing with a galette. It’s the chocolate in a peanut butter cup! I would no more use a supermarket crust for a galette than I would make a block of steamed tofu when the guests were expecting roast turkey. Trader joe crusts are great for pies n pot pies though:-)