(First, please pardon the blinding glare in the subsequent photos…) Now then, let’s strike an impertinent little pose, shall we? One that beckons hither and yon and says, “Come ‘n get me!” – in a nice way, of course.
Or, in Okie terms… pull up a chair and dig in!
Quick aside… My original plan was to make a traditional Galette des Rois with almond paste filling, but the farthest I got was blanching the almonds. Have you ever tried to peel a blanched almond?
I enlisted The Man Of Few Words to help (ain’t he sweet?) and we sat on opposite sides of the counter with a pile between us. It soon became a game of Tiddlywinks. (Remember those?) One or the other of us would accidentally “shoot” an almond airborne and I’ve never giggled so much over a mundane task. Laughter truly is the best medicine!
But, I finally abandoned my galette-making plan for another day – I also went with a savory version. (At that point in my “cold recovery,” I needed flavor, and lots of it.) For a marvelous ”how-to” on the traditional galette, click here. (Thank you, Becoming Madame!) And, for a lovely fruit and cheese variation with pears, pecans, and Gorgonzola, click here. (Thank you, basilmomma!)
Okay, here’s my take…
Pizza Pie, Oh My!
Preheat oven to 400° F.
For the crust:
1 prepared pie crust (everybody has their favorite – use whatever works for you)
Extra virgin olive oil
For the sauce:
1/2 to 1 whole head of garlic, roasted*
1 tsp. Kosher salt
2 Tbsp. tomato paste
2 Tbsp. water
1 Tbsp. olive oil (or butter… or both)
Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
* Obviously, it’s easier to roast a whole head of garlic than a half… Cut off the top, drizzle a little olive oil over it, wrap it in foil, and roast it in a 400° oven for 15 to 20 minutes until it’s soft; set aside to cool. Use as much as your tastebuds can handle. (Reserve the rest for later and leave your oven on.)
For the filling:
1 Tbsp. extra virgin olive oil
1/2 lb. Italian sausage, casings removed
1 med. sweet onion, chopped
1 roasted red pepper, chopped (I used the “jarred” kind – yes, I resort to convenience now and then…)
4 to 6 oz. Italian blend shredded cheese (yes, fresh is better, but see above)
Freshly grated Parmesan cheese (this, I will not budge on)
To prepare crust: Roll as thinly as possible and place on a pizza pan or stone. Brush lightly with olive oil to approximately 2″ from edges; set aside.
To prepare sauce: Squeeze desired amount of roasted garlic onto a cutting board. Sprinkle with salt. Mash together with a fork to form a paste. In a small saucepan, combine tomato paste, water, olive oil (or butter… or both) and garlic paste. Season to taste with pepper. (This is a very basic sauce, so as not to compete with the toppings.) Cook over low heat until warmed; set aside.
To prepare filling: Brown the sausage in olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Break it into fairly good-sized chunks as it cooks. Remove sausage to a paper-towel-lined plate. Do not drain skillet.
Add onion to drippings; saute until translucent. Add roasted red pepper; saute briefly. Remove with a slotted spoon to aforementioned paper-towel-lined plate. (It’s okay if it gets cozy with the sausage; it will eventually anyway.)
Meanwhile, spread a thin layer of sauce over the crust to within 2″ of edges. (Is there more than one edge when it’s a circle? Never mind.) Sprinkle grated Parmesan over the sauce, followed by half the Italian blend cheese.
Next, scatter the sausage, onions, and peppers about at random. (Preferrably over the sauce and crust…) Top with remaining shredded cheese.
Now then: Carefully (and artfully) fold crust edges over filling, leaving the middle exposed. (The pizza, not yours…) Crimp loosely to form a “galette.” If desired, (which I did, but forgot), lightly sprinkle the crust with Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper.
Bake 20 to 25 minutes or until crust is golden brown. (Hint: Start with the middle rack in your oven. If needed, move pan to a higher rack to sufficiently the brown the “top” crust without fricaseeing the bottom.)
Before serving, grate additional Parmesan cheese over the top. Pizza Pie? Oh My!
Enjoying galette gloriousness,
~ Kim
Kimby, u’re so talented! I’ve not baked a pizza myself, it’s always eat-out. Lol! Hope I’ll have the chance to sample your food one day :)
By: Shirley Tay on January 19, 2012
at 8:30 am
That would be so much fun, Shirley — if you make some of your food for me to sample, too! :)
By: Kimby on January 20, 2012
at 10:32 am
Hey Kim, just found my blog under your ‘Delightful Reading” list. I’m so honoured! Thks so much for reading my humble posts, dear!
By: Shirley Tay on January 30, 2012
at 10:48 pm
Pizza is my favorite! Actually, anything with tomato and cheese is my favorite. But this sounds delicious. I hope to hear more about the galette des rois, too. Maybe that’s my favorite. :)
By: Shary Hover on January 19, 2012
at 8:55 am
Shary, I still plan to make a Galette des Rois some day, but if you want instant gratification, just click on Becoming Madame’s link in my post! :)
By: Kimby on January 20, 2012
at 10:34 am
P.S. My “favorites” change all the time, too, lol!
By: Kimby on January 20, 2012
at 10:35 am
I just visited Becoming Madame and had to subscribe to her posts, too. I’m very much a francophile. I think I accidentally subscribed as Lola, though. I hope she won’t think that’s weird. :)
By: Shary Hover on January 22, 2012
at 9:57 am
Why, yes! Yes, I HAVE wondered how to peel a blanched almond! You are a hoot, Sweet Sis! :)
By: Laurie Fredrickson on January 19, 2012
at 8:56 am
Laurie, I can “hear” you saying that — made me smile! I miss ya, Big Sister…
By: Kimby on January 20, 2012
at 10:36 am
Oh! Roasted garlic is so divine. =) And I’ll make a note to always buy pre-blanched almonds, heh heh (though laughter is indeed good medicine).
By the way, I don’t mind the “glare” in your pics at all–I like the lighting, in fact! It makes the food look 3-dimensionally scrumptious.
By: Jenna on January 19, 2012
at 9:56 am
Jenna, peeling almonds didn’t take long with the “unexpected” fun added, but I’ll warn ya — they’re slippery little buggers! And yes, roasted garlic is practically a food group for me as well…
Thanks for the comments on my pics, too!
By: Kimby on January 20, 2012
at 10:39 am
This is glorious, no doubt! I am on the fence these days about the crust of pizza. It seems either too dry and thin or too thick-more bread than topping. Coming across this savory galette does seem to be the answer to my present dilemma. I have saved this recipe so I can enjoy at my house. Delicious creation.
By: Tina@flourtrader on January 19, 2012
at 11:39 am
Tina, we have the pizza crust “debate” at our house, too — thin or thick? Bread-y or cracker-y? You’re right about having a good topping ratio, too — this galette definitely doesn’t lack for that — but you do have to eat it with a fork. (However, I don’t mind foregoing the hand-held method of eating pizza now and then…)
By: Kimby on January 20, 2012
at 10:51 am
Kim!
I Make pizza too @ home and just love homemade ones. I love the flavors u’ve used in it tomatoes, sausage, peppers and cheese. I am sure this thin crust too must hv tasted great.
By: Gursahiba @ Exquisite Niche on January 19, 2012
at 12:06 pm
Flavor is the name of the game, yes?! Thanks for coming to my “kitchen” to visit again, Gursahiba! I’ll see you shortly over at yours! :)
By: Kimby on January 20, 2012
at 10:57 am
You are a hoot! Thank you for the mention and THANK YOU for this awesome recipe! Your shots are mouth watering!!
By: Heather with Basilmomma on January 19, 2012
at 4:08 pm
Your galette has been calling my name, Heather… thanks for letting me share!
By: Kimby on January 20, 2012
at 10:59 am
Honestly this is much easier than trying to pull and stretch a pizza dough. I really like this idea.
By: Dawn on January 19, 2012
at 7:09 pm
Thanks, Dawn! It’s kind of like a “pizza quiche” — could probably make it in a pie plate and forego the “free form” edge to make it even easier. I’ve had bouts with lopsided pizza dough, too, lol!
By: Kimby on January 20, 2012
at 11:02 am
This looks better than anything I’ve eaten in a week. wow!
By: Maureen on January 19, 2012
at 7:54 pm
Many thanks, Maureen!
By: Kimby on January 20, 2012
at 11:04 am
Oh I love it!! I’d love to make it my own too! I’ve never made pizza crust or pie myself… it looks so delicious. I like your choices of toppings too. If I make one I’d definitely follow your recipe. My family probably need two of this at least..=)
By: Nami | Just One Cookbook on January 19, 2012
at 11:30 pm
Pizza is a fun food to make, Nami — plus you can “personalize” it with whatever toppings you want, if you’d like. Thanks for coming by to comment!
By: Kimby on January 20, 2012
at 11:07 am
Oh Kim, what a fabulous idea to to make a ‘rustic’ looking pizza pie! :) I like to do this with fruit pies, especially when I know my shortcrust dough isn’t holding up… I just tell everyone galettes are supposed to look rustic! Didn’t they know?! LOL :D Your blog is one that I read through from start to finish for each entry just because you are such a good writer, and you make me laugh! Thank you for that! :D The pizza pie looks absolutely delicious! Next time we have pizza night, I’m going to have me a pizza galette while my husband chomps down a boring thin crust! :D
By: theharriedcook on January 20, 2012
at 7:29 pm
Thanks, Marsha — I appreciate your comments! That sounds like a good (and delicious) plan — life’s a lot more tasty when you treat yourself now & then — enjoy!
By: Kimby on January 21, 2012
at 7:55 am
Hi Kimby! The pics are terrific and the pizza is wowza! Delicious! I may be wrong, but I thought I read somewhere that you could blanch almonds and then peel them by rubbing them in a towel. I didn’t read the other comments, so if I’m duplicating the info – I apologize!
By: Ann on January 21, 2012
at 10:07 pm
Dear Kimby,
What a fab idea with this recipe since you’re getting a pie and a pizza all in one! I would not budge on the parmesan too as I think its taste and flavour are just awesome and irreplaceable!
By: ChopinandMysaucepan on January 23, 2012
at 7:35 am
What a fantastic idea to make a pizza in a pie crust! I love it – a pizza galette! It looks SO SO incredible! You should market this, Kim!
By: Lisa on January 23, 2012
at 9:12 pm
I love galettes they are so easy to make and I LOVE pizza so this is a must try!
By: Jenny @ Savour the Senses on January 24, 2012
at 8:26 pm
I’m glad you enjoyed this galette “gloriousness,” y’all. It was a treat having you visit here — come back to the lake anytime! :)
By: Kimby on January 27, 2012
at 8:19 am
Kim,
I love making pizzas! And these looks so rustic and drool-worthy :D
By: Kiran @ KiranTarun.com on January 27, 2012
at 3:48 pm
You are talking my language! This pizza looks great. Do you share your pie crust recipe?
By: cloudsfullofrain on February 1, 2012
at 9:51 pm