Fresh Figs With Goat Cheese
Party Appetizer Recipe With Figs, Goat Cheese, Nuts, and Prosciutto
Fresh figs are stuffed with creamy goat cheese and crunchy nuts, then wrapped in prosciutto and broiled.
Figs are very popular lately. Used in appetizers, preserves, cheese trays, main dishes, salads, and more, they're versatile, fresh-tasting and nutritious. Figs taste great with all sorts of other foods, and this appetizer recipe features a blend of wonderful flavours.
When purchasing fresh figs, look for fruit that is brightly coloured with no visible bruising. There should be just a little bit of give when the fig is squeezed, much like a fresh peach. The fruit should be tender but not mushy. Ripe figs can be stored in the refrigerator for one or two days, or purchase them before they are ripe and leave them at room temperature to ripen.
To prepare fresh figs for this recipe, wash them under cold running water and dry gently. Carefully remove the stem and slice the figs in half lengthwise. The fruit lends itself well to stuffing, as there is a natural "pocket" within the halved figs. Gently place your fingers inside the "pocket" to open it up a bit and allow room for the cheese and walnuts.
To toast the walnuts before chopping, arrange the nuts on a baking tray. Bake at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for about 8 minutes, taking the pan out and shaking it slightly to move the nuts around occasionally. The toasted nuts should smell fragrant, and the colour will deepen slightly. Be careful not to burn them! Allow the nuts to cool, and then chop them for the recipe.
Fresh Figs With Goat Cheese Appetizer Recipe
Makes 24 appetizers
Ingredients
- 12 fresh figs, washed and halved, stems removed
- 12 ounces goat cheese
- 1 cup walnuts, toasted and chopped
- 4 slices prosciutto
Put it All Together
- In a small bowl, combine goat cheese and walnuts. Mix well with a fork to distribute nuts evenly throughout the cheese.
- Press about 1/2 ounce of the cheese and nut mixture into each fig half.
- Cut each slice of prosciutto lengthwise into thirds. Wrap one piece of prosciutto around each stuffed fig half, securing with toothpicks if necessary.
- Arrange stuffed, wrapped figs on a baking sheet. Place in the oven on broil for about 3-4 minutes, or until prosciutto is slightly crisp and goat cheese is warmed through and lightly browned.
- Serve warm.
Other Options
Figs go well with almost any type of cheese. Try using figs instead of grapes on a cheese platter, or stuff them with blue cheese (without having to broil them) for a very simple but elegant appetizer. Fig preserves can be used in place of the cranberry sauce in Cranberry Baked Brie as well.
