Roasted Figs with Honey and Cheese

Roasted Figs

I have eaten and enjoyed fresh figs but never cooked with them. When I happened upon some local figs, I got busy researching.

Here’s my takeaway: You want your figs to be really, really ripe. If you’ve never tried them, think grapes. You eat the skin and all, and they have something of a sweet-but-musky flavor. Here’s a recipe I dug up and tested and reworked. Give it a try. I think you’ll be pleased.

Makes 4 side servings

Ingredients

  • 8 large or 12 small figs (remove stem and quarter)
  • 1 Tbsp. honey (local if you can get it)
  • 1 Tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil
  • 1/4 tsp. freshly ground black pepper
  • 4 oz. blue cheese, crumbled (can substitute crumbled feta or chunks of goat cheese)

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 400°F. Whisk honey, oil and pepper in small bowl until well-mixed.
  2. Add figs to honey mixture and gently toss.
  3. Place figs on a cookie sheet or other metal roasting pan. Roast for 10 minutes until figs are soft and browned, but take care not to burn the honey.
  4. Sprinkle cheese atop figs as soon as they come from the oven. Eat while still warm.