Those who know me well know that I love doing things myself. I’ve never gotten my hair done, hired movers and painters or taken an article of clothing to a tailor. I would much rather bake a fresh loaf of bread from scratch (mostly for the smells) than pick out a pre-packaged, processed loaf from the supermarket. That being said, I certainly appreciate when taking the scenic route ends up being surprisingly easy. Enter the galette. This freeform French tart uses all the delicate flavors of typical French desserts without any of the fuss. No need for perfectly shaped dough or complicated fruit arrangements or countless hours combing through painfully technical steps. Think of it as the Easy Mac of fruity desserts – at the end of the day, it’s still damn delicious.
I started with some leftover pre-made pie crust and added in some sliced Asian pears and ginger. I personally prefer using Asian pears over regular Bartlett or Bosc pears for desserts because they are naturally sweeter and less gritty, resulting in an exquisite melt in your mouth texture once cooked. The ginger adds a warming kick, perfect for a chilly autumn afternoon. And the best part of all – it took me less than a minute to fold in the crust. The freestyle crust gives the galette a rustic feel without the painstaking effort, which of course is perfect for a hipster millennial like me. Half an hour later, my apartment is perfumed with sweetness and my stomach is filled with delight.
