Red Pepper and Baked Egg Galettes from Yotam Ottolenghi’s Jerusalem ~ these eggs baked in puff pastry are the ultimate breakfast in bed recipe, and they look spectacular on a brunch buffet table, too.
Red Pepper and Baked Egg Galettes are a simple yet unique recipe that’s such fun to make!
Some chef’s are destined to change the landscape of the food world and Yotam Ottolenghi is one of them. I’m pretty picky about adding to my cookbook collection, you could say I’m a cookbook minimalist. But I have every one of Ottolenghi’s many books ~ Jerusalem was my first and is still my favorite. The food is creative, colorful, and ingredient driven. Just my style (the photos make me weak at the knees.) It’s a keeper, just like these baked eggs 🙂
The wonderful thing about these baked egg galettes is that anybody can do them.
If you’re trying to impress a brunch crowd or a special someone, this is the recipe to try. Yes the galettes look fancy, but that’s the magic…they come together in a few easy steps. You’ll roast red pepper and onion wedges and then pile them on little squares of puff pastry thathave been spread with a little sour cream, creme fraiche, or goat cheese. If you prep your veggies ahead of time they’ll be quick and easy to make. The combo is a winner.
What you’ll need for baked egg galettes
- frozen puff pastry (see tips below for working with it)
- red bell peppers ~ the color makes the galettes pop!
- onions, you can use any type but I prefer purple, which adds another color to the mix
- ground cumin and coriander, a classic Middle Eastern duo
- fresh thyme, parsley, and cilantro
- sour cream (I’ve also used creme fraiche, or soft goat cheese)
- fresh eggs, buy the best you can afford
- the basics like olive oil, salt, and pepper
The colorful veggies are shaped into a sort of ‘nest’ shape to hold the eggs in place. I used red bell peppers, but you can use any color you like, even mix them for a rainbow effect.
The final step is to crack an egg in the center of each galette and bake until just barely set ~ that really makes these irresistible. I like to crack my egg into a small cup before adding it to the galette, it gives me more control over where it settles.
These baked egg galettes can be served hot, warm, or at room temperature.
Tips for working with frozen puff pastry dough
- The best way to thaw frozen puff pastry is to put it, still wrapped, in the refrigerator overnight.
- Unwrap the dough and put on a lightly floured surface.
- Roll out the dough gently to your desired shape. You usually don’t need to roll it out very much, you can just nudge it into shape with your rolling pin.
- Always keep puff pastry dough cold, so if it warms up as you’re working, pop it back into the refrigerator to re-chill it.
- When you want to create a raised lip or crust around the border, run the tip of a sharp knife around the dough about an inch from the edge. Don’t cut all the way through the dough. When it bakes it will puff up and make a nice framed edge.
- Make sure your pastry it chilled before baking, so again, if you’ve been working with it long enough that it warms up, chill before putting it into the oven.
- Make sure your oven is preheated!
Reader Rave ~
“Thank you for posting such an incredible recipe! The moment I saw how beautiful it looked, I had to make it. I made it for lunch that very day. The combination of favors was exceptionally satisfying. Yum! Very nice for a special occasion.” ~ June
More Ottolenghi recipes to try from my archives ~
- Ottolenghi’s Cod Cakes in Tomato Sauce
- Yotam Ottolenghi’s Flourless Coconut Cake
- Ottolenghi’s Chicken with Caramelized Onion and Cardamom Rice
- Ottolenghi’s Mejadra Recipe
Red Pepper and Baked Egg Galettes
Ingredients
- 2 large or 4 small red bell peppers, cut into 1/2 inch strips
- 2 small onions, (red or white) halved and cut into 1/2 inch wedges
- fresh sprigs of thyme, leaves removed
- 1 tsp cumin
- 1 tsp coriander
- 6 Tbsp olive oil
- handful fresh parsley, chopped
- handful cilantro, chopped
- 1 sheet puff pastry, thawed
- 1 egg, beaten, for brushing the pastry
- 12 tsp sour cream
- 4 large fresh eggs
- salt and fresh cracked pepper
Instructions
- Set oven to 400F
- Mix together the pepper, onions, thyme and spics in a bowl. Add the olive oil and toss well so that everything is coated with the oil and spices.
- Spread on a baking sheet and roast for about 30 minutes, stirring and rearranging the veggies a few times so they don't burn.
- Sprinkle the veggies with half the fresh herbs and set aside.
- Turn the oven up to 425. Roll out the pastry on a floured surface until it reaches a 12x12 inch square. Cut into four 6 inch squares. Transfer to two parchment or silpat lined baking sheets.
- Take a dul knife and score a little 1/4 inch frame around each square of pastry. Don't cut all the way through. Prick the inside of the squares all over with the tines of a fork. Put back in the fridge for 30 minutes.
- Remove the pastry from the fridge and brush all over with a beaten egg. Spread the inside of each square with 3 tsp of sour cream.
- Top each with some of the veggie mixture, spread it out evenly, leaving the borders free, and leaving a shallow depression in the center for the egg, which will go in later.
- Bake for about 10 minutes until rising and starting to brown.
- Remove and carefully crack in egg into the center of each galette.
- Put back into the oven for about 10 minutes until the egg is set.
- Sprinkle with salt, pepper, and remaining herbs. Drizzle with some good olive oil and eat right away.
Notes
VINTAGE VIEW ~ these egg galettes are from TVFGI archives, first published in 2013. As part of a series on the blog I’m reviving some of the best recipes that you may have missed over the years ~ I’ve updated my notes and I’m so excited to re-introduce you to this fabulous dish.
Just back from dinner at Nopi, one of his restaurants in London which was superb. Wishing this was on the menu – it looks delicious! Can’t wait to try it.
I’m so jealous—I was just reading one of the recipes that was originally developed for Nopi!
That looks amazing and the book is so beautiful!
Isn’t it nice that the new standard for cookbooks is huge glossy full page photos? I love it.
I just got this cookbook too! I’m with you, the food is so inspirational and the photography is insanely beautiful. My twin sister wants to get it just as a kind of coffee table book. And these tarts look beautiful! Good choice from the book.
It’s the perfect coffee table book! I look forward to cooking from it with you, I didn’t get past these baked eggs, so I now have to take a look at the rest of the book. The photos are the best part!
i could definitely get behind eating puff pastry for breakfast every day. kudos on a particularly appetizing and colorful galette!
I agree, what wouldn’t look glamorous surrounded by puff pastry??
Puff pastry always look so much more fancy than it is, I love it!
I’ve wanted to pick up a copy of Jerusalem. It’s gotten rave reviews & if this recipe is any indication, I can see why. They are stunning, Sue. The colors, the diverse textures, teh fact that they’re do-able yet look far more fancy. And love the barely set egg. My husband would go nuts for these. He loves bread + eggs + sour cream. Your daughter’s friends have great timing 🙂
One word, Sue….. ToDieFor!
New Year Cheer to you & family
Thanks Kate, same to you!
Even though I didn’t taste these, it’s one of those recipes that can’t be bad, the photos tell the story! Thanks for visiting!
this is a brilliant idea and your pics make it irresistible~
Some food seems to be just naturally photogenic 😉
Well they do look irresistible, beautiful and delicious! I got a few new cookbooks too – so many wonderful recipes, so little time! Happy New Year to you!
I get easily overwhelmed flipping through new cookbooks and magazines…I haven’t even looked at the rest of Jerusalem yet…had to stop and make these first!