Julia's Summer Nectarine + Blueberry Galette

Stone fruit and berry season means it’s galette season too! A rustic, free form tart is so simple to prepare and really quite versatile. You can change the fruit, depending on what you have one hand – blackberries, raspberries and strawberries are all great. As are plums, peaches and apricots. In the cooler months, an apple galette is great, and I am rather partial to a rhubarb one too. It is one of my absolute go-to recipes!

Here, I’ve prepared a quick almond frangipane base, which creates a little more interest, but truly, it can even do without. For an even simpler version, simply pile the fruit straight onto the tart. Be sure to toss the fruit in the flour though, which will help thicken the juices as they cook (a necessary step when using berries).

This is also a great make-ahead dessert as it can be prepared from start to finish, refrigerated and then just popped in the oven a few hours before you want to eat it. Let it cool and you are ready to go.

Julia’s Nectarine + Blueberry Galette

Serves 6-8

Flaky sweet pastry

250g (1 ⅔ cup) plain flour, plus extra for dusting
1 tbsp caster sugar
Pinch of sea salt
150g cold unsalted butter, cubed
2 tsp white vinegar
80 – 100ml iced water

Frangipane

75g unsalted butter, softened
75g caster sugar
1 tsp vanilla bean extract or paste
75g almond meal
1 egg
1 tbsp plain flour

Nectarine + blueberry filling

6 yellow nectarines, halved and stones removed, sliced
200g blueberries
2 tsp plain flour
1 tbsp caster sugar
1 egg, for egg wash
Demerara sugar, for sprinkling
Crème fraîche, to serve

Method

To make the flaky sweet pastry, place the flour, sugar and salt in a large bowl or on a clean work surface. Add the butter and toss to coat. Rub the butter into the flour using your fingertips until the mixture is pebbly. You want to rub the butter into flatter pieces rather than into something that resembles breadcrumbs, Sprinkle in the vinegar and enough iced water to just bring the dough together. Use as little water as possible. Fold the dough onto itself, flatten, then fold again and shape into a rough disc. Wrap and refrigerate for 1 hour.

To make the frangipane, place the butter, sugar and vanilla in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment. Beat on high speed for about 4 minutes, until creamy and pale. Beat through the almond meal, egg and flour until combined. Chill in the fridge for 30 minutes.

Remove the pastry from the fridge and let sit at room temperature for 10 minutes to make it easier to roll. Line a 30 cm round baking tray with baking paper.

Roll the dough on a lightly floured work surface into a large circle, about 1.5 mm thick. Drape the pastry over the prepared tray. Spread the frangipane onto the base of the pastry, leaving a 2-3 cm border. Set aside.

Place the fruit into a bowl and toss in the flour and sugar. Arrange onto the frangipane base.

Fold the pastry edge towards the centre of the tart, pinching to secure each fold and seal the galette. Whisk the egg with 1 tsp of water, then brush the egg wash over the pastry edge and scatter generously with Demerara sugar. Refrigerate the tart for 30 minutes or up to overnight.

Preheat the oven to 190C. Bake the galette for 40 minutes or until the pastry is golden and the filling is cooked. Allow to cool completely before serving.

Serve with a generous dollop of crème fraîche.

What else I’m cooking…

There is an oversupply of mangoes this summer, which means cheaper and more plentiful! Of course topped on a pavlova at this time of the year makes sense, but one of my favourite things to do is freeze a whole heap of the flesh and then blitz them up with coconut cream for a quick and delicious ice cream!

What I’m eating…

The mince pies from Bread Club! I am not overly fond of the traditional ones, so their version is right up my alley. Filled with apple, cherry and spices, these mince pies are so delicious and not overly sweet!

Download the recipe here!