Home Appetizer Three Cheese and Mushroom Galette

Three Cheese and Mushroom Galette

December 27, 2023

5.0 from 1 vote

Rustic Charm Meets Holiday Cheer: This Three Cheese and Mushroom Galette is the Perfect Appetizer for the Holiday Season

This holiday season, ditch the boring appetizers and embrace the rustic charm of this three cheese and mushroom galette. It’s the perfect way to celebrate the season in style and will become your new go-to for easy, elegant, and utterly delicious entertaining.

Sit back and envision a flaky, golden crust cradling a rich, creamy filling of melted cheeses, savory mushrooms, and a hint of fresh herbs. Better yet, there is no prerequisite of fancy pastry skills, this dish is effortless to prepare. It’s perfect for festive gatherings, cozy nights in, or even as a show stopping holiday party or Christmas Eve appetizer. So, grab your invite and get ready to bake up some holiday magic!

Is Galette French?

Gallete translates to pancake or flat pastry cake in English. Yes, these crusty cakes or pies are French

What is a galette?

This is a French term used to describe various types of flat, round or free-form pastries. Galettes are generally found within these two categories:

1. Savory:

This type is typically made with buckwheat flour and filled with savory ingredients like cheese, meat, vegetables, and eggs.
A famous example is the galette complète, a savory pancake filled with ham, cheese, and a fried egg.
Other savory galettes can be filled with mushrooms, spinach, onions, potatoes, and more.

2. Sweet:

This type is often made with pastry dough or puff pastry and filled with sweet ingredients like fruits, nuts, and chocolate.
The most common example in the sweet category is the galette des Rois, a king cake eaten on the day of Epiphany in France.
Other sweet galettes can be filled with apples, pears, berries, peaches, plums, almonds, hazelnuts, and more.

General characteristics of galettes:

Free-form: They are not baked in a pie dish, but rather shaped by hand on a baking sheet.
Rustic: They have a rustic appearance, with a rough, uneven crust.
Easy to make: They are relatively easy to make, requiring minimal ingredients and techniques.
Versatile: They can be served as an appetizer, main course, dessert, or snack.

This recipe is a hybrid possessing characteristics of both general categories. Our recipe is filled with cheese, which would fall into the “savory” category. This recipe also utilizes pastry dough, or pie crust as the shell, often found in the “sweet” category.

In summary, this is a versatile and delicious pastry that can be enjoyed in various forms and flavors. It’s a perfect option for a quick and easy meal or a special occasion dessert.

What are the differences between a galette and Crostada?

Crostata is the Italian term for this French entree. They are both free form pies made on a baking pan instead of a pie dish. They are generally the same and the terms are often used interchangably.

Are galette healthy?

Is this a treat or cheat? The crust of this free form pie is similar to pie crust, often heavy on lard or butter. And if we are being honest, the filling plays a role in its health profile too. The ricotta, pepper jack and smoked mozzerella filling will also add some fat and calories. This recipe uses a store-bought pie crust, which might be convenient and tasty, but it’s definitely not a low-fat low-calorie option.

But here’s the thing: as a dessert, galette doesn’t have to be a villain. Compared to other holiday treats, it’s not the worst choice. Plus, who says you can’t enjoy it in moderation?

However, if you’re looking for a healthy side dish or main course, this recipe isn’t the answer. It’s best reserved for those special occasions when indulging is part of the fun.

And speaking of fun, we love bringing a galette to holiday parties! In that festive atmosphere, health concerns often take a backseat. And guess what? We’re confident this galette will be one of the healthier and most delicious options on the table!

Can I make galette with puff pastry?

Absolutely! Puff pastry makes a delicious and flaky crust for a galette. But there’s a catch: its light and airy nature makes it more prone to sogginess from wet fillings. Pie crust, on the other hand, with its dense and sturdy consistency, will hold up better to heavier fillings. So, choose your crust based on your filling! If it’s juicy and wet, pie crust might be a safer bet. But for a dry or light filling, puff pastry will add a layer of irresistible texture and flavor. For this recipe, the mushrooms will add some moisture, so we would use a pie crust.

No matter which crust you choose, one thing’s for sure: a homemade galette is always a delicious treat!

What is Galette de Rois?

this is the most famous sweet version of this dish. The dish is also called King’s cake and is traditionally made in France for three kings day. It is a flat round cake filled with a frangipani, a creamy almond filling. Hidden inside is a prize, called a feve traditionally a porcelain figurine, today often a bean or nut. Whoever finds the prize ( a great game for children) is deemed king for the day. Additional details for those interested:

Origin: While its exact origins are unclear, it’s believed to have evolved from Roman festivities where a bean was hidden in a cake to choose a king.
Appearance: Galette des rois comes in two main styles:
- Northern France: Made with puff pastry and frangipane filling.
- Southern France: Made with a sweet yeasted dough and decorated with candied fruit.
- Both versions are usually brushed with egg wash and decorated with a crown-like design.
Taste: The puff pastry is flaky and buttery, the frangipane filling is sweet and nutty, and the hidden fève adds a fun element of surprise.

Are crepes and gallete the same?

It is understandable that some may confuse the two, however, be assured they are not the same. The crepe can be described as a pancake’s slim, stylish cousin. Made with a thin batter, crepes are dainty stars of the sweet world. They’re typically folded and filled with dreamy delights like fruit, chocolate, or even ice cream. Crepes are a great dessert or sweet breakfast.

Whereas, a galette can be viewed as a crepes’ bolder, more adventurous siblings. These larger treats ditch the batter for a thicker, doughy base. Instead of sweet fillings, they often embrace savory goodness like cheese, ham, and mushrooms. Imagine a rustic pizza with a free-form flair, perfect for a satisfying meal, side or appetizer.

How do I make this galette recipe?

To simplify this dish we use two store bought pie crusts that are rolled out to the proper circumference. This “cheat” allows this dish to be made by just concentrating on the filling.

The filling is comprised of mushroom and cheese. Sauté the mushrooms, onions and garlic until cooked. Remove them from heat and allow to cool.

Stack two pie crusts and roll out into a 16 inch circle. Place the rolled out dough onto a cookie tray. Mark a three inch border around the outside edge of the dough. Cover the dough with ricotta taking care not to place any ricotta within in that three inch boundary. Spread cheeses on top and top with red pepper.

Fold the dough from the uncoated edge over the cheese in sections (see illustration above). Coat dough with agg and place in 400F oven. Bake fro 25 minutes, remove and sprinkle with green onion. Return to oven and cook another 5-10 minutes or until browned.

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