Figs With Goat Cheese And Port Syrup Recipes

FIGS WITH GOAT CHEESE AND PORT SYRUP

Steps:

• In a small saucepan, over medium-high heat, bring the port and honey up to a boil.
• Reduce heat and simmer slowly until reduced by half.
• Set aside and cool to room temperature, the syrup will thicken upon standing.
• Cut the goat cheese into 8 equal pieces, about 2 teaspoon each and roll each piece into a ball.
• Place the figs upright and carefully make four cross cuts, slicing each fig into eight sections, BEING CAREFUL NOT TO GO ALL THE WAY THROUGH.
• Gently separate the figs outward to form a "flower"
• Place a ball of goat cheese in the center of each fig and drizzle with the port syrup.
• Garnish with walnuts.

STUFFED FIGS WITH GOAT CHEESE

Steps:

• Purchase or make a batch of date syrup, also known as date honey or silan, in advance of this recipe for best flavor. Alternatively you may substitute regular honey.Preheat oven to broil. Trim off stems of figs and cut an "X" in the top of each fig 1/3 way through. Place the figs on a greased, parchment or silpat-lined sheet tray. If they are a little wobbly, you can shave a bit off the bottoms of the figs so they stand upright.
• Place goat cheese in a plastic or piping bag and massage with warm hands until softened. Cut a tip off one of the bottom corners of the bag and pipe the cheese into each fig, dividing your 4 oz. cheese evenly between the 12 figs.
• Lightly brush the figs with olive oil and sprinkle with a little salt and a generous amount of freshly cracked black pepper.
• Broil the figs for about 4 minutes or until you can see little brown bits on the goat cheese. Date honey or regular honey should be gently warmed in a small saucepan at this point, it should be easily pourable and warm but not hot.
• Remove figs from oven and drizzle with warm date honey.
• Serve warm or at room temperature.

FALL FIGS STUFFED WITH STILTON CHEESE, WRAPPED IN PROSCIUTTO AND CHATEAU ELAN PORT WINE SYRUP

Steps:

• Cut figs into quarters and place them in a saucepot with the port wine and bring to boil, simmer and reduce by 2/3. You should have a little less than a 1/4 cup of port at a syrup consistency. Allow the port syrup to cool.
• On a cutting board, tear thin slices of prosciutto lengthwise in half and place 16 pieces on the board. Take a piece of fig and place it at 1 end of the prosciutto and place a small piece of Stilton cheese on top of the fig and roll the fig with the prosciutto. Continue this process with the remaining figs, Stilton cheese, and prosciutto.
• To serve, arrange the figs on a platter and drizzle with the port wine syrup.

CHARLIE TROTTERS WHOLE ROASTED FIGS WITH GOATS' CHEESE ICE CREAM, SPICY FIG SAUCE AND OATMEAL TUILES

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• To make the tuiles: In a mixer fitted with a paddle, cream the butter, sugar, and lemon zest. Add the honey and flour and mix well. Spread about 1/2 teaspoon of the batter onto a Silpat-lined or nonstick sheet pan. Use a small offset spatula to spread the tuile into a 1 3/4-inch circle. Repeat the process, making at least 18 tuiles (the extra will allow for breakage). Sprinkle the top of each tuile with a pinch of rolled oats, reserving 1/2 tablespoon for garnish. Bake for 5 minutes, or until golden brown. (The tuiles may be cut with a ring cutter after cooking for a more precise shape.) Immediately transfer the tuile to a countertop or other flat surface to cool.
• To prepare the figs: Cut the tops off 6 of the figs. Use a small spoon to press a cavity into each fig and dip the whole fig in the simple syrup. Fill the figs with the port. (If the figs have any holes in the bottoms, cut small pieces off the tops to fill the holes.) Place the filled figs on a sheetpan and bake at 350 degrees for 25 minutes, or until they have softened. Slice the remaining 6 figs in half lengthwise and then cut them crosswise into 1/4-inch thick slices. Warm the slices in the remaining simple syrup.
• To make the goat cheese cream: Thoroughly combine 2 tablespoons of the heavy cream with the goat cheese and granulated sugar. Whisk the remaining 1/4 cup cream until it reaches soft peaks and fold into the goat cheese mixture.
• To assemble, place 3 to 4 fig slices on one half of each plate. Place a small spoonful of the goat cheese cream on the figs and top with a tuile. Spoon another small spoonful of the cream, 3 to 4 fig slices, another tablespoon of the cream, and a tuile on top of the first stack. Build another layer with a spoon of cream, figs, another spoonful of cream, and a tuile. Place a roasted fig alongside the stacked figs and top with a quenelle of Goat Cheese Ice Cream. Spoon the Spicy Fig Sauce around the plates and sprinkle with the thyme sprigs and the remaining 1/2 tablespoon oatmeal.
• Prepare an ice water bath. Bring the cream and milk to a boil. Whisk together the egg yolks, and sugar, and slowly pour in some of the hot cream to temper the eggs. Pour the eggs into the cream and continue to cook for 2 to 3 minutes, or until the mixture coats the back of a spoon and steam rises from the top. Whisk together the corn syrup and goat cheese and then whisk this mixture into the cream mixture until smooth. Strain through a fine-mesh sieve and chill over the ice water bath. Freeze in an ice cream machine. Keep frozen until ready to use.
• Cook the sugar in a heavy-bottomed saute pan over medium heat for 3 minutes, or until golden brown. Add the orange juice and bring to a boil. Add the figs, star anise, and peppercorns, bring to a boil, and cook for 3 minutes. Remove from the heat and strain through a fine mesh sieve, pushing on the solids to remove as much liquid as possible. If necessary, thin with a little warm water to a make a sauce consistency.

HOMEMADE FIG SYRUP

Steps:

• Combine figs, sugar, water and lemon juice in a saucepan. Bring to a simmer over medium heat, stirring until sugar is dissolved. Continue to simmer for 10 minutes or until figs are softened. Remove from heat, cover and let steep for 20 minutes.Strain liquid through a fine mesh seize. Reserve softened figs for another use. You should have about 1 cup of liquid.Return strained liquid to saucepan and bring to a simmer over medium heat. Continue to cook, stirring occasionally, until syrup is thickened and reduced by about a third (it will continue to thicken as it cools). This should take about 15 minutes, slightly less if you are using a wider saucepan (more surface area=more evaporation=quicker reduction time). After reducing you should have about 2/3 cup.Transfer to a jar or other container and let cool slightly, then cover tightly and refrigerate until ready to use. Syrup will keep in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.