Figs have been a stable of the Greek diet since antiquity. Dried figs are enjoyed throughout the year but fresh ones, like the ones I found at my local farmer's market last Friday, during late summer/autumn months (see photo below).
Figs are deliciously sweet and uniquely nutritious; a good source of iron, magnesium, potassium, B & K vitamin and they have the highest amount of calcium of any fruit.
I love both dried and fresh figs and use them a lot in salads, as a sweet or as a special treat with goat cheese or if you prefer Stilton cheese or Danish blue cheese. Here is a yummy, quick & easy2make recipe:
Roasted Fresh Figs with Goat Cheese, Pine Nuts and Honey or Sweet Wine Reduction or Syrup
Ingredients
2 large fresh figs
50g fresh goat cheese, 2 slices
2 tblsp honey
Pine nuts, to taste
Sweet wine reduction, fruit syrup or honey, to taste
Fresh mint
Preparation Method
Preheat the oven to 200C (400F).
Make a crisscross cut into the top of each fig and press the sides to open out.
Stuff each fig with a slice of goat cheese and place on a baking sheet or an oven proof dish. Drizzle with honey and cook in pre-heated oven (200C) for a 5 – 7 minutes.
To serve, place figs on a plate and drizzle with a bit more honey, wine reduction or berry syrup. Sprinkle with pine nuts and garnish with fresh mint.
Yield: 2 servings
Tips!
If you have really ripe figs or you just want to roast the cheese a little, the I suggest placing the figs directly under the oven grill for about 2 minutes or until the cheese is golden brown.
If you prefer, you may omit the goat cheese and just simply roast the figs in the oven with honey. In this case, I would suggest serving the figs with lemon or cinnamon scented Greek yogurt.
ENJOY!