Savory Asparagus Galette with Vegan Ricotta

This Savory Asparagus Galette with Vegan Ricotta is a new summer favorite in our house.

It’s an easy and rustic yet impressive recipe that’s perfect for summer al fresco dining, whether you serve it for dinner, at weekend brunch, or as an appetizer at a summer party.

Looking for a knockout sweet brunch recipe to pair this with for a weekend brunch party? Try my diner-style Vegan Pancakes or Vegan French Toast!

Table of contents:
1. Why you’re going to like this recipe
2. Ingredient notes
3. How to make this galette
4. Tips for making this recipe
5. Recipe card with notes

Why you’re going to like this recipe

Extremely delicious. If you’ve ever had some sort of cheesy or eggy savory pastry, you know how delicious they can be. This recipe is just that, but it’s 100% vegan. Flaky, buttery pie crust with a creamy and cheesy homemade ricotta, perfectly roasted asparagus, and lots of fresh herbs and lemon.

Easy to make. You don’t need to be an expert baker to bake a galette! It’s very free-form and doesn’t require any prior pie-baking experience.

Versatile. This savory galette is a great dinner idea (perfect with a lightly dressed side salad), but it’s equally delicious served at weekend brunch (serve with a side of fresh fruit). But you don’t have to serve it just as a main course. You can stretch it further by serving smaller pieces as an appetizer or side dish. If serving at dinner, serve alongside roasted tofu or a lentil salad. If serving at brunch, serve with fruit smoothies or yogurt + fruit bowls.

Rustic and imperfect. Making pie crust is stressful. Making galettes is not! Galettes are rustic and casual, and this recipe is quite easy to throw together. Best of all, it doesn’t have to look perfect and every single galette looks different and has its own character.

Low-effort, high reward. This is a treat that’ll impress your family and friends, but as I mentioned, it’s a very easy and simple meal to make.

Ingredient notes

The crust

Vegan Butter. With pie dough, when you want the lightest, flakiest texture and richest flavor, butter is the best option (as opposed to shortening or oil). Of course, we’re using vegan butter, but I promise you won’t notice the difference.

It is important to use cold (vegan) butter. I like to cut my butter into cubes, then stick that back in the freezer to get colder.

All-Purpose Flour. All purpose-flour makes the structure of most pie crusts, as well as galettes. It yields a tender, flaky crust and is my go-to for pie/galette dough.

Cornmeal. One of my favorite summer salads to make features grilled or charred corn with grilled or roasted asparagus. I just absolutely love the corn-asparagus combo, which is what inspired me to make this a cornmeal crust. It adds a slightly sweet, nutty almost-cornbread-like flavor that is incredible in this savory rustic galette. It also lends a delightful crunch and helps crisp the crust up to a nice golden color.

Ice Water. Ice water is often used in pie crust as well, so it’s a natural addition to this galette dough. Ice water (1) keeps the (vegan) butter cold so it doesn’t melt (melted butter = your crust won’t get flaky); and (2) sort of acts as a binder and helps the dough hold its shape when you roll it out.

The precise amount of ice water needed will depend on a few factors, including if you use a combination of all-purpose flour and spelt flour (as in the recipe) or just all-purpose flour, as well as the temperature and quality of your vegan butter. I recommend keeping a bowl or glass of ice water handy so you can measure out a teaspoon at a time.

Apple Cider Vinegar. I use a bit of apple cider vinegar in this galette dough because vinegar helps hydrate and tenderize the dough and can prevent the formation of too much gluten, which results in tough crusts. You could also use lemon juice.

Sea Salt. Absolutely essential in any pie or galette crust. No salt = cardboard crust.

Tofu Ricotta Filling

The inspiration for this galette is a savory cheesy galette, but of course I had to make it vegan. I chose to use my tried-and-tested and very-much-loved tofu ricotta recipe. I have a few variations of this recipe on my blog, but this recipe features my favorite version (used in the Vegan Lasagna recipe in my cookbook). I do add a little fresh dill to the ricotta, as the asparagus-dill pairing is really lovely and fresh.

The best part about this ricotta is that it’s incredibly easy, takes 5 minutes to make, and all you need is a food processor. No need to press the tofu and everything gets pureed in a food processor.

As I mention in the recipe, the tofu ricotta makes more ricotta than you’ll need to use. I recommend using between 1/2 and 2/3 of the ricotta. The leftovers stay good in the fridge for at least a week. Or, you can just cut the recipe in half.

Asparagus Filling

One of my favorite seasonal vegetables in spring-early summer is asparagus. It’s fresh and mellow yet distinctive and vegetal. Also, it’s so good for you and packed with vitamins.

Here, raw asparagus gets lightly coated in olive oil and seasoned with salt and pepper and added directly on top of the tofu ricotta filling. It couldn’t be easier!

I do recommend avoiding asparagus spears that are very fat or thick, as those won’t get roasted as nicely and as fully as skinny or medium-sized spears.

As you can see in the photos, I left the asparagus whole for presentation purposes, but for eating purposes, it’s a bit easier to cut and eat the galette if you cut the asparagus before adding it to the filling.

How to make this galette

Cold butter + water. First, cut your vegan butter into cubes, then stick that back in the freezer or fridge to get colder. Take it out of the freezer/fridge only once you’re ready to add it to the flour mixture. Meanwhile, mix some ice with water in a bowl or glass for your ice water mixture.

Cut the vegan butter into the flour mixture. Once the cubed butter is cold, add it to your flour/salt mixture. I use a pastry cutter (affiliate link) to cut the cold vegan butter into the flour until the butter is the size of peas. If you don’t have a pastry cutter, you can use a fork to mash the butter into the flour or use 2 butter knives to mix the butter into the flour mixture until well combined.

Add ice water and vinegar. Start by adding 2 tablespoons of ice water with the apple cider vinegar and stir to combine. Add more of the ice water as needed, just a teaspoon at a time, until the dough comes together when you squeeze it and you can form a ball that doesn’t crumble when you pull it apart. The dough shouldn’t be wet, and just ever so slightly sticky.

Chill the dough. This is when you cover the dough or wrap it in plastic, and then refrigerate for at least 1 hour. This crust is make-ahead, so you can prep it and store it in the fridge for up to 48 hours, or pop it in the freezer for a later time.

Roll out the dough. Once done chilling, remove the galette dough and let it sit at room temperature for 10-15 minutes to make it pliable enough to roll.

You have two options for rolling out the dough — rolling it on a floured surface and transferring it to your pan using a rolling pin, or rolling the dough directly on a piece of parchment paper. Both methods are outlined in the directions.

Add the filling. Spoon your tofu ricotta into the center of the dough and spread it out. Keep a border of 1 1/2 to 2 inches wide so you can fold the crust over. Then top with the olive oil-massaged asparagus.

Fold the dough. Fold the empty edges of the dough up over the filling to form a crust, ensuring the asparagus gets tucked into the dough.

Finish the dough. Brush the crust with a little plant-based milk, then sprinkle with flaky sea salt on top of the crust and filling. This is similar to brushing a pie crust with an egg white wash.

Bake the crust. After you pile on the fillings, bake the galette in a preheated oven at 400°F/200°C for 40-45 minutes. The crust should be slightly puffed up and golden brown. If your oven is much hotter in the back, try to rotate the baking sheet 180° halfway during baking

Tips for making this recipe

Keep everything cold. Keeping the (vegan) butter as cold as you can is important for a good flaky crust. If the butter is too warm it will make it hard to work the dough and the crust will be tougher than flaky.

First step – cool down your kitchen. If it’s summertime, turn on the AC. Next, cube your vegan butter and put it back in the freezer or fridge to chill (the freezer makes the chilling process quicker). After that, make your flour mixture, followed by the ice water.

If you have the space in your freezer or fridge, even chill the mixing bowl that you’ll make the dough in. Along with your pastry cutter or tool of choice. Only once you’ve mixed your flour mixture and made your ice water, remove the vegan butter from the freezer/fridge.

If your doughs feel warm after you roll out the galette, make space to chill it in in your freezer/fridge until cool to the touch before baking.

Sift the cornmeal (or not). Medium-grind cornmeal has crunchy bits in it, and personally, I love the crunchy bits. They add a nice texture to this already-rustic crust. But, if you are making this for someone with sensitive teeth or don’t want a few little crunchy bits throughout the crust, I recommend sifting the cornmeal first.

No rolling pin? Use a wine bottle. It works quite similarly to a rolling pin. And if your wine bottle is chilled, even better because you want to keep the dough cool while rolling so.

Don’t use all the tofu ricotta. As I mentioned above and in the recipe, you don’t need to or want to use all of the tofu ricotta that the recipe makes. If you try to use it all, the dough won’t make all the way through and the galette will turn wet and soggy. You can halve the tofu ricotta recipe but I think it’s easiest to make the whole recipe and enjoy the tofu ricotta leftovers. It stays good in the fridge for a week, and it’s versatile: spread it on toast, use it in pizzas or pastas, use it as a topping for grain bowls, etc.

Don’t skip the fresh herbs and flaky sea salt. The fresh herbs (basil and dill in the ricotta; basil, dill, and tarragon for garnishes) really perk up this dish and make it feel more summery. If you don’t have all three herbs, use at least one or two of them.

If you give this Savory Asparagus Galette with Vegan Ricotta recipe a try, be sure to tag me on Instagram with your recreations and please comment with your feedback below!

Savory Asparagus Galette with Vegan Ricotta

Nisha Vora

5 from 16 votes

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This Savory Asparagus Galette with Vegan Ricotta is an easy yet impressive dinner or weekend brunch idea, and perfect for summer al fresco dining. Asparagus and fresh peas pair perfectly with a flaky buttery crust and homemade vegan ricotta.

Prep Time: 1 hour hr 30 minutes mins

Cook Time: 1 hour hr

Total Time: 2 hours hrs 30 minutes mins

Course: Breakfast, Lunch

Cuisine: French-Inspired

Diet Vegan

Serving size: 6 as main dish

Ingredients

Galette

• ▢ 1 1/4 cups (150g) all-purpose flour + more for flouring your work surface
• ▢ 1/2 cup (75-85g) medium-grind cornmeal (Note 1)
• ▢ 1/2 teaspoon fine sea salt
• ▢ 10 tablespoons (140g) vegan butter, cubed and chilled until very firm
• ▢ 2-4 tablespoons ice cold water, plus more as needed
• ▢ 2 teaspoons apple cider vinegar
• ▢ Flaky sea salt and black pepper to taste
• ▢ 1-2 tablespoons plant-based milk
• ▢ 1 small or medium bunch of asparagus (try to choose spears that aren’t too thick or fat)
• ▢ 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
• ▢ Kosher salt and black pepper to taste

Tofu Ricotta (you’ll only need about 1/2 – 2/3 of this recipe) (Note 2)

• ▢ 1 (14-ounce / 400g) block extra-firm tofu
• ▢ 4 tablespoons nutritional yeast
• ▢ 2 garlic cloves, roughly chopped
• ▢ 2 tablespoons white or yellow miso paste
• ▢ 3/4 teaspoon onion powder
• ▢ 1 teaspoon kosher salt, plus more to taste
• ▢ 1/2 teaspoon freshly cracked black pepper
• ▢ 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
• ▢ 15 fresh basil leaves
• ▢ A small handful of fresh dill
• ▢ 1 medium lemon, zested and juiced (about 3 tablespoons juice)

Toppings (Note 3)

• ▢ 1 large handful of shelling peas, shelled
• ▢ 1-2 tablespoons fresh tarragon, thinly sliced
• ▢ A small handful of basil leaves, thinly sliced
• ▢ A few sprigs of fresh dill
• ▢ Lemon zest

Instructions

• Slice the vegan butter into cubes. Then place it in the freezer for 10-15 minutes to firm up.
• Make the crust. Mix the all-purpose flour, cornmeal, and salt in a large bowl. Add the chilled vegan butter and using a pastry cutter (or two knives), cut the butter into the flour mixture, until butter is about the size of peas.
• Mix 2 tablespoons of the ice water with the apple cider vinegar. Sprinkle it over the dough mixture, gently kneading the dough with your hands. Add more of the ice water as needed, just a teaspoon at a time until the dough easily comes together when you squeeze it and you can form a ball that doesn’t crumble when you pull it apart. The dough shouldn’t be too wet but a little sticky.

  1. NOTE: If the dough seems wet, add a little more flour into the mix. If the dough is not holding together or appears crumbly, add another more ice water, a tablespoon at a time.
• Shape the dough into a disc. Wrap the disc in plastic, or place in a bowl and cover it. Refrigerate for 1 hour, or up to 48 hours.
• Make the tofu ricotta. Drain and pat dry the tofu with paper towels (no need to press it). Add the tofu in chunks to a food processor, along with the remaining ingredients. Blend until the mixture is smooth, thick, and creamy. Taste for seasonings and adjust accordingly.
• Preheat the oven and prepare the pan. Once the dough has chilled, arrange a rack in the middle of the oven and preheat to 400°F/200°C, and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. You’ll need to bring the dough to room temperature for 10-15 minutes to make it pliable enough to roll.
• Prepare the asparagus. Snap off the tough woody ends off the asparagus at their natural breaking point. You can leave the asparagus whole like I did, but it’s easier to cut the galette if you slice the asparagus into pieces, especially if you plan to serve this as an appetizer. Toss the the asparagus with the 1 tablespoon oil and season with kosher salt and pepper.
• Roll out the dough: Place the disc of dough on a large piece of parchment paper. Cover it with a second piece of parchment paper. Using a rolling pin, roll the dough into a 12-to 14-inch (30-35 cm) round that’s between 1/4 and 1/8-inch thick (0.3 – 0.6 cm), dust the rolling pin with flour as needed. If the dough sticks to the surface, add a little bit of flour underneath the rolling pin. When you’re done rolling, slide the parchment paper + dough onto a large baking sheet; discard the top layer of parchment. (Note 4)
• Add the toppings. Dollop half of the tofu ricotta on top of the dough, leaving a 1 1/2 to 2-inch (4-5 cm) border around the edge (see photos in blog post). You can add up to 2/3 of the tofu ricotta mixture, but don’t add to much, or it’ll weigh down the dough and may ooze out of the crust during baking. Arrange the prepared asparagus over the ricotta.
• Fold the galette. Fold the edges of the dough up over the filling to form a crust. Brush the tops and edges of the dough with the plant-based milk. Sprinkle the filling and the crust with flaky salt and pepper. Carefully transfer the prepared galette to the baking sheet.
• Bake the galette for 40-45 minutes, or until the crust is nicely golden brown and the crust is sturdy when you tap it, and the asparagus is tender.
• Once the galette has cooled a bit, top with the shelled peas, fresh herbs, and lemon zest.

Notes

Note 1: Unsifted cornmeal has crunchy bits in it, so if you are making this for someone with sensitive teeth or don’t want a few little crunchy bits throughout the crust, I recommend sifting the cornmeal first.

Note 2: You won’t need (or want) to use all of the tofu ricotta. I recommend using between 1/2 and 2/3 of the ricotta. The leftovers stay good in the fridge for at least a week. Or, you can make just half of the recipe.

Note 3: These toppings are optional but recommended. If you can’t find fresh shelling peas, omit or add some sliced cherry tomatoes. The fresh herbs and the lemon zest at the end bring a really lovely fresh brightness to this galette, so don’t skip them. If you don’t have all three herbs (basil, tarragon, dill), just use what you have.

Note 4: Alternative method for rolling out dough. 

• Lightly flour a large working surface. Using a rolling pin, roll the dough into a 12-to 14-inch (30-35 cm) round that’s between 1/4 and 1/8-inch thick (0.3 – 0.6 cm), dust the rolling pin with flour as needed. If the dough sticks to the surface, add a little bit of flour underneath the dough.
• Roll dough onto the rolling pin, then unroll it on a sheet of parchment paper. Slide the paper onto a large baking sheet.

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Nutrition Info

Calories: 379kcal | Carbohydrates: 39g | Protein: 11g | Fat: 21g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 6g | Monounsaturated Fat: 9g | Trans Fat: 1g | Sodium: 673mg | Potassium: 422mg | Fiber: 5g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 1659IU | Vitamin C: 16mg | Calcium: 61mg | Iron: 5mg