Name: Savory Tomato Galette
Prep time: 30 min
Cook time: 40 min
Total time: 1 h 10 min
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 1½ cups all-purpose flour, spooned and leveled; ½ teaspoon sea salt; 10 tablespoons cold unsalted butter, cut into ¼-inch pats; 3 tablespoons ice water; 1 teaspoon cold apple cider vinegar; 1 pound colorful heirloom tomatoes, thinly sliced; ½ teaspoon sea salt; 4 ounces goat cheese; 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil; 1 tablespoon chopped chives; 1 tablespoon fresh thyme leaves; 1 garlic clove, grated; ½ teaspoon lemon zest; 1 large egg; 1 tablespoon water; Fresh basil, for garnish; Flaky sea salt, for sprinkling; Freshly ground black pepper

There is just something truly soul-soothing about rustic baking, isn’t there? It feels honest and timeless—like pulling something beautiful out of the oven without the fuss of rigid molds or perfect edges. That’s why I’m so thrilled to share my absolute favorite way to celebrate the peak of summer produce: the Savory Tomato Galette. This isn’t just an easy baking recipe; it’s a centerpiece that asks you to slow down for a moment.

This dish is my nod to those calm, familiar late afternoons in the kitchen, where the tomatoes were bright red and the pastry dough felt comforting in your hands. A galette doesn’t demand perfection—it welcomes those little imperfections, turning them into rustic charm. It’s humble, yet it always ends up looking incredibly elegant on the table. It’s the kind of timeless food that connects everyone sitting around it.

Why This Savory Tomato Galette is Your New Favorite Recipe

I know what you’re thinking—another pastry recipe? But trust me, this one is different. It’s the ultimate combination of easy baking with a stunning visual payoff. If you’re looking for simple, elegant homemade desserts that celebrate the best of what’s growing, you’ve found it. It truly shines as a flexible main course or brunch offering. This is exactly why it’s one of my go-to easy family dinner recipes when summer hits!

It’s forgiving! Those rustic, folded edges mean you never have to stress over being perfect.
It turns simple summer ingredients into something truly memorable.
It’s quick enough for a weeknight meal but special enough for guests.

Forgiving Pastry for Easy Baking Recipes

When I talk about easy baking recipes, I mean it! You don’t need pie domes or crimping skills here. The beauty of this pastry recipe is that you just fold the edges over until the filling is contained. If some tomato juices bubble up, that’s a good sign—it just adds to the charm, making it feel authentically homemade.

Celebrating Peak Seasonal Ingredients

This galette forces you to use the best produce available, which is just good cooking sense, really. When you pile those juicy, colorful heirloom tomatoes onto the goat cheese, they become the main event. This is seasonal cooking at its finest—letting ripe, delicious food speak for itself!

Gathering Ingredients for the Savory Tomato Galette

Okay, let’s talk about what you need! Since this is where the tomato flavor really sings, I insist on using colorful heirloom tomatoes if you can find them—they just have a depth of flavor that canned stuff can’t touch. But don’t stress if your market only has Romas; those work perfectly well too! Keep everything for the pastry super cold, and you’ll see why this is such a reliable quick budget-friendly dinner option.

For the Flaky Pastry Dough

This is where we lay the foundation for that crumbly, buttery texture. Remember, the butter has to be ice cold for the pastry to flake up nicely. I always measure my flour by spooning it into the cup before leveling—it keeps the crust from getting tough!

1½ cups all-purpose flour, spooned and leveled
½ teaspoon sea salt
10 tablespoons cold unsalted butter, cut into ¼-inch pats
3 tablespoons ice water
1 teaspoon cold apple cider vinegar

For the Savory Tomato Galette Filling

The filling is rustic but relies on strong, fresh flavors. You’re building layers of tangy cheese, savory herbs, and then those beautiful, thin tomato slices. We’re using goat cheese because its tang cuts through the richness of the pastry beautifully.

1 pound colorful heirloom tomatoes, thinly sliced
½ teaspoon sea salt
4 ounces goat cheese
1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
1 tablespoon chopped chives
1 tablespoon fresh thyme leaves
1 garlic clove, grated
½ teaspoon lemon zest
1 large egg
1 tablespoon water
Fresh basil, for garnish
Flaky sea salt, for sprinkling
Freshly ground black pepper

Step-by-Step Instructions for Your Savory Tomato Galette

Alright, this is where the magic really happens. Don’t rush this, but also don’t worry about it being fussy. I always feel calmer when I break big cooking projects down into manageable chunks like this. We start with my favorite part: building that incredible, tender pastry base for our sourdough bread recipe alternative here—we want maximum flakiness for this savory baking!

Preparing the Perfect Pastry Base for Your Savory Tomato Galette

We’re using the food processor for a super quick, cold dough. In your processor, pulse the flour and salt, then scatter those cold butter pats over the top. Pulse it until it looks like coarse sand with some pea-sized buttery clumps still visible. Don’t overdo it—honestly, those little butter chunks are future flakes! Then, sprinkle in your ice water and vinegar. Now, ditch the machine! Transfer it to a bowl and use a spatula—or your hands, if they’re cold—to gently press and fold it until it just holds together in a shaggy ball. Pat it into a disk, wrap it tight, and it has to chill for at least two hours. That rest time is non-negotiable for perfect pastry recipes!

Assembling and Baking the Savory Tomato Galette

Once chilled, roll that disk out onto parchment paper—keep it rustic, aim for about a 12-inch rough circle. Spread that tangy goat cheese over the dough, leaving about a two-inch border empty around the edge. Now layer your sliced tomatoes artfully over the cheese. Sprinkle them generously with salt, the olive oil, chives, thyme, garlic, and lemon zest. This is where the herbaceous flavor really builds for these oven baked recipes. Next, carefully fold those empty pastry edges up over the tomatoes, crimping slightly as you go. Mix that egg and water for your wash, brush it onto the folded crust edges, and sprinkle with flaky sea salt. Pop it into a hot oven and bake for about 40 minutes until that pastry is deep golden brown!

Two slices of a golden, flaky Savory Tomato Galette topped with red and yellow tomatoes, served on a wooden board.

Expert Tips for a Stunning Savory Tomato Galette

Even though I keep telling you this is forgiving, there are a few little tricks I’ve learned over the years that take this from great to absolutely unforgettable. Remember what I said about imperfection? Well, we can afford to be a little fussy with the tomatoes themselves! I always pair this recipe with a nice, bright soup, maybe my roasted tomato soup recipe, but that’s only possible if the galette crust stays crisp.

Managing Moisture in Your Savory Tomato Galette

The biggest enemy here is a watery galette bottom. Before you layer those gorgeous tomatoes over the cheese, lay them out on some paper towels right after slicing. Sprinkle them with a little salt—not too much!—and let them sit for about 10 minutes. The towels will wick away that extra surface moisture so your bottom crust stays flaky.

A slice cut from a rustic Savory Tomato Galette, showing layers of baked tomatoes and flaky crust on a wooden board.

Achieving Golden Brown Edges

That simple egg wash—just one egg mixed with a splash of water—is your shining moment! Don’t be shy when brushing it onto the folded crust edges. It gives you that deep, burnished, rich golden color that makes people think you worked way harder than you actually did. Make sure you get the wash right up to the very edge of the pastry!

A slice cut from a rustic Savory Tomato Galette with flaky golden crust and layered heirloom tomatoes.

Ingredient Substitutions for Your Savory Tomato Galette

Look, I love my goat cheese, but sometimes you just don’t have it on hand, or maybe you just want to mix things up! That’s totally fine. A good recipe should be flexible. I always try to give my readers options because cooking should be intuitive, not restrictive. Since this is built around great savory baking flavors, swapping out one component for another similar one usually works out beautifully.

Cheese and Herb Variations in Savory Baking

If goat cheese isn’t your jam, try crumbling in some salty feta cheese, which offers a great bite. Or, if you prefer something creamier, a good dollop of whole milk ricotta works wonders underneath the tomatoes. For the fresh herbs, if you can’t find chives or fresh thyme, use about half the amount of dried herbs instead. Just remember, dried herbs pack a stronger punch, so ease up a little bit!

If you need more ideas on building flavor with simpler ingredients, check out my recipe for feta and cranberry chickpeas—it uses that bright, salty profile too!

Serving Suggestions for Your Savory Tomato Galette

This galette is so sturdy and flavorful it can really stand on its own, but I love serving it alongside something bright and fresh to cut through the richness of the pastry. It makes a fantastic light lunch or brunch centerpiece. For a comforting meal, I often pair it with a warm bowl of soup, like my sweet potato and lentil soup.

If you’re serving it on a warmer day, you cannot beat it with a simple, crisp green salad. Toss some fresh field greens with a sharp vinaigrette—think lemon and Dijon—and maybe some toasted nuts for crunch. You can find some of my favorite simple dressings in my salad recipe archive! It’s a perfect representation of delightful homemade desserts, only savory!

Three slices of a rustic Savory Tomato Galette showing layered, colorful tomatoes and flaky pastry, garnished with herbs.

Storage and Reheating the Savory Tomato Galette

Don’t worry if you have leftovers, because honestly, I think they taste even better the next day! Once completely cool, wrap any remaining galette tightly in plastic wrap or keep it in an airtight container. It stays lovely in the fridge for about three days. When you want to bring it back to life, please, please skip the microwave!

To keep that crust crisp, reheat slices individually on a baking sheet in a 350°F oven for about 8 to 10 minutes. That low and slow heat will crisp up the pastry again without drying out the tomatoes too much. It’s the best way to enjoy this rustic treat later!

Frequently Asked Questions About Savory Tomato Galette

I always get questions when I post savory baking recipes, which just tells me you all are getting brave in the kitchen! These are some of the things I hear most often. If you need more help, especially with dough work, definitely check out my tips on easy baking recipes!

Can I make the Savory Tomato Galette crust ahead of time?

Absolutely, and I highly recommend it! Cold dough is happy dough. You can easily make the dough, wrap it tightly, and stash it in the fridge for up to two full days. When you’re ready to bake, just let it sit on the counter for about 15 minutes to soften just enough so you can roll it out without too much wrestling.

What kind of tomatoes work best for this recipe?

You want tomatoes that are fragrant and firm enough to slice thinly but still juicy. Heirloom tomatoes are my first choice because they usually offer the best flavor complexity. If you can’t find those, use beautiful, ripe Roma tomatoes. Just make sure you salt them first to draw out that excess water!

Is this considered a Baked Dessert Recipe alternative?

That’s a fun way to think about it! While this galette uses a beautiful pastry that certainly could hold a sweet filling, this specific recipe is entirely savory. Think of it as the perfect elegant counterpart to all those sweet pies and homemade desserts—it fills that pastry craving right when you need something hearty!

Share Your Savory Tomato Galette Creations

Now you have everything you need to make this wonderfully rustic, flavorful galette. I really, truly hope you give it a try, especially when the tomatoes are at their peak for the season!

When you finally slide that golden-brown beauty out of the oven, don’t hesitate to snap a picture and share it! Tag me on social media or leave a quick note in the comments right here on the site. Seeing your creations, whether they are perfectly rustic or even a little wonky, is the best part of sharing these recipes.

If you loved this simple, yet elegant dish, I’d be so grateful if you could take two minutes to leave a star rating on the recipe card above. Your feedback helps other home cooks find confidence in trying new things like this wonderful savory baking! Happy cooking, and I hope this galette brings as much calm and joy to your table as it does mine.