I love to cook and I love to eat good food.  Alas, the fact that I work 9-5 means that I can't do either as much as I would like, and like many I am often stuck at my desk during my lunch "hour".  My solution is to try to bring my lunch to work as much as I can.  This is my collection of recipes, all made quickly the night before (either as lunch or as dinner with leftovers that can be taken in).  Happy eating.

Sunday 22 November 2009

Roast figs with goat's cheese and balsamic-honey glaze


As I'm sure you can all guess, since figs are well and truly out of season by now, this picture is from a dinner more than a few Saturday nights ago. However, I had sort of forgotten that I had taken the photo, so it's now getting its moment of glory (or its second moment, after the original making when -- yes, I will brag -- it elicited great acclaim) until now.

Figs -- I love figs. I couldn't give a fig because when I get a fig I keep a fig. I am a figgy piggy. I love them fresh in salads, baked in cakes, dried and chopped into granola bars. I love how they can be super sweet, oozing with syrup, or just mildly fresh, used as a counterpoint in savory dishes. Figs have a little bit of the diva about them; they are extremely sensitive and prone to sudden changes of mood. Your firm fig will turn to jelly on the inside overnight if you're not careful, and the slightest bruising in the bag on the way back from the market can ruin your fruit for anything but fig jam.

It must have been in September sometime, when I picked up the last handful of figs from Borough Market to have with dinner. I had done one of my classic over-shops so cooked up a frenzy of dishes for our meal, and by the time I got to dessert I really didn't feel like doing anything that required more than 5 minutes. I decided to roast the figs to concentrate their flavors, stuffed with goat's cheese because hey -- everything's better with goat's cheese -- and finished with a little sweet and piquant glaze to tie it all together.

Roast figs with goat's cheese

Figs (3 x person)
Goat's cheese
1 tsp honey plus 1/4 tsp. balsamic vinegar per person

Cut off top stem of each fig. Make two cuts at right angles 1/3 way down figs so you can stuff about a teaspoon of cheese into each fig. Whisk honey and vinegar and drizzle over the top. Bake in 325 oven for about 10 minutes, or until figs are hot and softened. Drizzle more glaze over the top to serve.

24 comments:

Kim (@ Paper Apron) said...

I am a figgy piggy, too! And these look MAValous! I wish they were in season longer. Hmm. I wonder if they package frozen figs.

Angie's Recipes said...

I have never had roast figs before...should really try it, as yours look so inviting!

teresa said...

i have never even tried figs before, how sad is that! these look so pretty and good!

Fresh Local and Best said...

I adore your tantalizing tribute to figs. This is one of my favorite fruits, so much so that I have a fig tree growing in my Manhattan apartment - no joke! It gave me nine sweet green figs last year. I'll have to try this recipe when next season comes around!

Sachi's Kitchen said...

Figs and goat cheese has GOT to be the best creation ever. I'm totally jealous right now :)

Christo Gonzales said...

who cares how long ago you had it I want it NOW

lisa @ dandysugar said...

How pretty! Figs and goat cheese have to be one of the best combinations on earth, I think. Roasting them must be as mouthwatering as grilling them--they just get so carmelized and delicious!

theUngourmet said...

Figs are so delicious with goat cheese! Your glaze sounds so tasty as well. I just discovered and fell in love with figs a few years back. There is a fig jam I'd like to make sometime.

Jamie said...

Really lovely. Husband is the fig lover here and he'd go nuts for this! Beautiful.

Jennie said...

I love love LOVE it!

Palidor said...

Looks delicious! I like simple dishes like these.

lisaiscooking said...

This sounds wonderful! Great mix of flavors here.

Reeni said...

I am a figgy piggy too! I bet these were divine!

Anonymous said...

Yum! Figs with goat cheese sound terrific and I love the balsamic honey glaze, excellent!

Heather S-G said...

Figgy Piggy, LOL!!! I love figs, too! Unfortunately I hardly ever have them because it's hard to find fresh around here. But this looks deeeeeeelicious! :D

Joanne said...

I LOVE fresh figs. My dad has a fig tree in our yard and so I've been quite spoiled with them. This is a delicious recipe. Goat's cheese and honey are just the ideal stuffing.

THanks for stopping by my blog! You've got so much good food here,

Teresa Cordero Cordell said...

Figgy Piggy...I love it. What a great appetizer for the holidays. Thanks.

Cocina Savant said...

Goat cheese and figs are perfect partners. Excellent dish.

Quasi Serendipita said...

I've never really known what to do with figs - but this looks lovely and I will definitely have a go!

Faith said...

I'm an avid lover of figs too...oh how I wish they were still in season! Thanks for sharing, I'll bookmark this recipe for next year!

Ingrid_3Bs said...

It sounds figgy good. :) I've never had figs(except in Fig Newtons & that DOESN'T count!)
~ingrid

Admin said...

This is my number one favorite way to roast figs. But my version is not as fancy as yours, though. I just stuff some goat cheese in the middle of the figs, bake them soft, drizzle some honey over them and eat them warm. The use of balsamic in the glaze is very interesting and I can see that it must be delicious. Will try it next time I roast me some figs. Thanks.

Chef E said...

I am going to have to remember that I can stuff these babies, and not go all chop chop on them! Great post!

prashant said...

I wonder if they package frozen figs.
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