Bushra Griffith
Figs and cheese is a classic combination, and there are many ways to serve this delightful duo. Fresh, ripe figs go well with a variety of cheeses, from creamy soft cheeses like ricotta and brie to stronger options like blue cheese and gorgonzola. You can also pair figs with nuts, honey, and meats like prosciutto or cured ham for a more complex flavour profile. Whether served as a simple cheese plate, a warm appetizer, or incorporated into a salad or dessert, figs and cheese make for a versatile and tasty treat.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Type of cheese | Blue cheese, Goat's cheese, Brie, Burrata, Cream cheese, Gruyere, Fontina, Parmigiano Reggiano, Gorgonzola, Bay Blue, Ricotta, Mascarpone, Stilton, Halloumi, Mozzarella, Mt. Tam cheese, Cowgirl Creamery cheeses, Yogurt |
| Type of dish | Salad, Appetizer, Dessert, Pizza, Side dish, Breakfast, Snack, Canapés, Chutney, Tarts, Toast |
| Other ingredients | Honey, Nuts (Pistachios, Hazelnuts, Almonds, Walnuts, Pecans), Thyme, Olive oil, Bread, Meat (Bacon, Prosciutto, Serrano ham), Sea salt, Blackcurrant jam, Sesame snap, Port, Chocolate, Wine |
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What You'll Learn
Fig and cheese canapés
Fig and cheese is a classic combination that makes for a delightful canapé. Here are some ideas for creating delicious fig and cheese canapés:
Fig and Goat's Cheese Canapés:
Arrange fresh figs on a tray, cut-side up. Cut goat's cheese into rounds and gently push the cheese into the cut sides of the figs. Season with salt and pepper, drizzle with honey, and top with pistachios and thyme. This combination makes for a luxurious and elegant canapé. For an extra indulgent touch, use truffle-infused honey.
Fig, Blue Cheese, and Walnut Canapés:
Create a sophisticated canapé by pairing figs with blue cheese and walnuts. Cut the figs into slices and arrange them on a platter. Crumble some blue cheese, such as Gorgonzola, over the figs, and sprinkle with chopped, toasted walnuts. Drizzle with honey or a glaze to add a touch of sweetness.
Fig, Ricotta, and Honey Canapés:
Spread creamy ricotta cheese on toasted baguette slices or cinnamon bagels. Top the ricotta with sliced fresh figs and a generous drizzle of honey. For an extra crunch, add some chopped nuts or sesame snaps. This combination is a delightful mix of sweet and creamy flavours.
Baked Fig and Brie Canapés:
For a warm and indulgent option, try baking figs with brie cheese. Slice the figs and arrange them on a baking tray. Cut the brie into cubes and place a piece of brie on top of each fig slice. Bake in the oven until the cheese is softened and warmed. Serve on small slices of baguette or water crackers. For an extra touch of sweetness, drizzle with honey before serving.
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Fig and cheese toasties
Ingredients
- Fresh figs
- Bread of your choice (sliced)
- Cheese of your choice (sliced)
- Olive oil
- Honey
- Salt
- Nuts (optional)
- Thyme (optional)
Instructions
- Drizzle olive oil on the sliced bread and toast until lightly golden brown.
- Spread a generous amount of your chosen cheese on the toasted bread.
- Add sliced fresh figs on top of the cheese.
- For an extra touch of sweetness, drizzle honey over the figs.
- Sprinkle with a pinch of salt to enhance the flavours.
- If desired, add some crunch by sprinkling chopped nuts and thyme on top.
- Place the assembled toastie in the oven or toaster oven for a few minutes, just enough to warm up the figs and slightly melt the cheese. Keep a close eye on it to avoid overcooking.
- Enjoy your warm and gooey fig and cheese toastie!
Variations
You can experiment with different types of bread, such as sourdough, baguette, or cinnamon bagel. For the cheese, options like creamy brie, blue cheese, goat's cheese, or ricotta pair wonderfully with figs. To add even more flavour, try using toasted nuts such as pistachios, almonds, or hazelnuts. You can also include fresh thyme, arugula, or other greens for a savoury touch.
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Fig and cheese tarts
There are many ways to serve figs with cheese, and one of the most popular ones is to make a fig and cheese tart. Here is a detailed recipe for a delicious fig and blue cheese tart with honey, balsamic, and rosemary:
Ingredients
- Figs (any kind, such as Kadota, but preferably a mix of firm and soft)
- Blue cheese
- Honey
- Balsamic vinegar (inexpensive, but not thin)
- Rosemary
- Salt
- Pine nuts (optional)
- Pancetta or prosciutto (optional)
Method
- Preheat the oven to 200°C.
- Stem and halve the figs, then arrange them cut-side up on the puff pastry dough in a pattern, ensuring they are tightly nestled.
- Generously brush the cut side of each fig half with rosemary oil and sprinkle with salt.
- Drizzle the figs with honey and balsamic vinegar, ensuring each fig gets a splash of each.
- Crumble the blue cheese over the figs.
- Drape the rosemary stems on top of the tart.
- Bake for about 25 minutes, or until the pastry is crispy, brown, and bubbling. If the figs need more colour, cover the edges of the dough with tin foil and place the tart under the broiler until the desired colour is reached.
- Let the tart cool for a few minutes before serving.
This tart pairs well with a crisp green salad dressed with a powerful vinaigrette. You can also drape pancetta or prosciutto over the figs for an added savoury touch.
Variations
You can also make a cheeseboard fig tart with hot honey, walnuts, and thyme. For this variation, you can use a mix of goat's cheese, blue cheese, creamy brie, and fresh figs. Simply spread the goat's cheese mix over the pastry, arrange the other cheeses and figs on top, scatter over the walnuts and thyme, and bake. While the tart bakes, prepare a hot honey drizzle by heating honey, chilli flakes, and vinegar in a saucepan. Serve the tart with a rocket salad and drizzle with the spiced honey.
Additionally, you can make bite-sized puff pastry tartlets filled with shredded cheese, fig jam, and fresh thyme leaves. These are perfect as holiday appetizers or cocktail party finger foods.
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Fig and cheese salads
Fig and cheese is a classic combination, and there are many ways to incorporate the two into a salad. Here are some ideas for inspiration:
Mediterranean Fig and Mozzarella Salad
For a taste of the Mediterranean, combine fresh figs with mozzarella cheese. You can choose to marinate the figs in a dressing of your choice, or simply slice them and add them to a bed of greens. Toasted hazelnuts, almonds, or pistachios can add a crunchy texture to the salad. Drizzle with olive oil and honey to complete the dish.
Fig and Blue Cheese Salad
Blue cheese and figs is a classic pairing, and this combination works wonderfully in a salad. Crumble some strong, sharp blue cheese like Gorgonzola over sliced figs, and add some toasted walnuts for a crunchy texture. A honey-thyme dressing will bring the flavours together.
Fig, Burrata, and Prosciutto Salad
This salad is an elegant combination of sweet and salty flavours. Arrange slices of fresh figs and burrata on a bed of greens, and top with thin slices of prosciutto. Drizzle with a balsamic reduction and some good quality olive oil for a simple yet delicious salad.
Spiced Honey-Glazed Halloumi and Fig Salad
For a heartier option, try a spiced honey-glazed halloumi and fig salad. Slice the halloumi and figs and cook them on a griddle pan until charred. Arrange on a bed of bitter leaves like chicory and dress with a honey and mustard vinaigrette.
Stilton and Fig Salad
Stilton is a strong, crumbly English cheese that pairs beautifully with figs. Create a simple salad by adding sliced figs and Stilton to a bed of greens, and dress with a honey-thyme vinaigrette. Toasted walnuts or pecans can also be added for extra texture and flavour.
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Fig and cheese pizzas
For a simple yet elegant pizza, start with a base of ricotta cheese. Spread the ricotta on your pizza dough, then top with sliced fresh figs and a drizzle of honey. You could also add some prosciutto or speck for a savoury note, or keep it vegetarian with just the cheese and fruit. Another option is to use a combination of blue cheese and figs, which is a classic pairing. Try using a mild, sweet and fudgy blue cheese such as Bay Blue, or go for a more robust option like Gorgonzola.
If you're feeling adventurous, try a pizza inspired by Spanish flavours with fig and almond balls. Start with a base of creamy cheese, such as burrata, and top with sliced figs and chopped toasted almonds. You could also add some Serrano ham or other cured meats for a heartier pizza. For a vegetarian version, simply omit the meat and add some chopped fresh herbs such as basil or thyme.
Another option is to create a sweet and salty pizza with figs, burrata, and prosciutto. This combination of sweet, salty, and creamy flavours is sure to be a crowd-pleaser. If you want to add a crunchy element, try sprinkling some chopped pistachios or other nuts on top. Finally, for a truly indulgent pizza, try a combination of grilled figs, melted brie, and honey. This pizza is sure to be a hit with its gooey, sweet, and savoury flavours. You could also add some fresh thyme or other herbs to round out the dish.
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Frequently asked questions
Figs and cheese is a dream combo. Some popular pairings include ricotta, blue cheese, goat's cheese, mascarpone, gorgonzola, brie, and Mt. Tam cheese.
You can serve figs and cheese as a simple cheese plate with greens, toasted nuts, honey, and olive oil. Another option is to make a warm fig and cheese spread by baking the cheese with a fig and nut mixture and serving it on crackers or baguette slices.
You can make a yogurt bowl with figs, granola, blueberries, and honey, or top toast with cream cheese, fresh figs, pistachios, thyme, and honey. Another option is to spread ricotta on toast and top it with slices of fig and a drizzle of honey.
Yes, figs and cheese can be a delicious dessert. You can make a fig and blue cheese tart, a fig and honey cake, or simply bake figs and serve them with grilled mascarpone, honey, and butter.
Yes, there are many vegetarian options for serving figs and cheese. You can make a vegetarian pizza with blue cheese, figs, and hazelnuts, or a Mediterranean fig and mozzarella salad. You can also pair figs with other vegetarian ingredients like chocolate, nuts, and soft cheese to create sweet tarts or savory tarts.
