This year is the second year that I get to make Thanksgiving dinner. Last year, although I was a vegetarian, I still cooked the normal dinner (including turkey) for the rest of my family, as well as a veggie entree for myself.
This year though, I’m cooking a full on vegan feast, as we’re going to my aunt’s house, and there are four vegetarians amongst us.
And whenever I get to make something for occasions like this, I always want to show off a little. Prove to my (sometimes hostile) family members that vegetarian and vegan food can be just as good. (If not better.)
And the best part of the meal has to be dessert. At least for me. I did go to pastry school, after all. And I don’t like pumpkin pie. And there are so many good fall flavors out there, that pumpkin doesn’t need to hog the table. So I decided to make something with these:
Pears and figs, yum! I also wanted to be rustic, so I decide to make a galette.
Pear Fig Galette
For the dough:
1 1/4 c flour
1/2 t salt
1 t sugar
4 oz. futter
2-4 T ice water
Mix together the dry ingredients, and then cut the butter into the dough, working it with your hands until it resembles coarse cornmeal. Add the water, one tablespoon at a time, and stop when the dough starts to come together.
Roll out the dough until it’s thin, about 1/8 of an inch. Cut into 4 large circles (About 6 inches in diameter). I used a bowl as a cutter.
I only cut three here, but if you re roll the dough you can get one more out of it!
Place the circles on a sheet pan lined with a silpat or sprayed parchment. Spread a tablespoon of this stuff on each one, leaving about an inch around the edges.
It’s not required, but it adds a nice touch! And it’s amazing!
Now for the filling:
1 bosc pear, sliced or chopped
4 figs, sliced thinly
1 T cornstarch
2 T sugar
pinch of salt
1 t cinnamon
1/4 t nutmeg
Mix the pear with all of the dry ingredients. Pile on top of each pastry circle, still leaving a rim around the edge. Place the sliced figs on top.
Using the edge of the dough, wrap up around the fruit, so it looks like this:
Spray the crust with cooking spray, or brush with butter or coconut oil, so it browns. Bake at 350 degrees F for 45 minutes. Serve a la mode with (no dairy) ice cream!
Overall, I thought this was really good, and it looked just the way I wanted it to! That being said though, I think I’m going to make something else for Thanksgiving dessert. I’ve already go another recipe up my sleeve! But I loved the pears and figs together, perfect fall flavors!
What do you eat for dessert on Thanksgiving? Do you like pumpkin pie?
