This rustic pie is delectable, especially if you love rosemary. Maple syrup, vanilla, and rosemary are a tasty combo of flavors with apples and figs. Peel the apples, or don’t peel, as you wish. We call for dried figs, but you can certainly use fresh figs—just slice them and add to the apple sauté for the last couple of minutes.
Yields one 10-inch galette
Serves 6 to 8
Prep time: 40 minutes
Baking time: 30 to 40 minutes
½ cup pure maple syrup
1 or 2 sprigs fresh rosemary
½ cup dried figs, coarsely chopped
1 cup water
dough for one double piecrust
1½ teaspoons minced fresh rosemary leaves
6 cups sliced apples
2 tablespoons butter
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1 large egg
On the stovetop or in a microwave, heat the maple syrup and rosemary sprigs until the syrup foams. Set aside to steep for 30 minutes.
Bring the dried figs and water to a boil and simmer for 15 minutes. Remove the figs with a slotted spoon and set aside.
Prepare the pie dough. Form into a ball and set aside, loosely covered.
Preheat the oven to 375°F.
Sauté the apple slices with 1 teaspoon of the minced rosemary, stirring frequently, for 5 minutes. If the apples are juicy and release liquid, cook until the liquid has evaporated. Remove from the heat and stir in the vanilla and the plumped figs. Remove the rosemary stem from the maple syrup, and stir the syrup into the apples and figs.
Roll the pie dough out into a rough circle about 14 inches in diameter (see Note). When the circle is about 12 inches in diameter, sprinkle it evenly with the remaining ½ teaspoon minced rosemary and continue rolling. Drape the pie dough over a 10-inch pie plate with the extra crust hanging over the sides. Or place the dough on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and make a free-form galette.
Spread the filling in the dough. Fold the extra dough over the filling (in the middle of the top, there will be a roughly circular area of filling not covered). Whip the egg until evenly colored. Brush the top of the exposed dough with the egg wash. Bake the galette for 30 to 40 minutes, until the crust is golden.
Serve warm or at room temperature.
NOTE: You can make two or more smaller galettes; just roll out the dough to fit smaller pie plates or baking pans with about 3 inches draping over the sides, or make several small free-form galettes.
Apple and Fig Galette with Rosemary is a wonderful dessert to serve after a rustic Mediterranean meal, such as White Bean Stew with Rosemary on Orecchiette with Goat Cheese Toast or Aigo Bouido with Lentil Salad with Baby Greens and Oranges.
The galette is also an impressive addition to a special brunch, perhaps after Mushroom Tofu Scramble with Truffle Oil or Baked Eggs with Spinach and Frizzled Sage.