Gorgonzola Fig Bites With Toasted Almonds Recipes

FIG AND ALMOND TART

Steps:

• Combine the flour, 2 tablespoons sugar, lemon zest, and salt in the bowl of a food processor. Pulse until blended. Add the butter and pulse until the mixture resembles coarse meal. With the machine running, gradually add the water until moist clumps form. Turn the mixture out onto a work surface and form into a ball. Flatten the dough into a disk and wrap in plastic wrap. Chill the dough for 1 hour.
• In a clean food processor bowl, combine remaining sugar, almond paste, mascarpone cheese, vanilla extract, and honey. Blend until smooth.
• Position an oven rack in the center of the oven. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
• On a large sheet of parchment paper, roll out the dough into an 11-inch circle. Transfer the dough to a large, heavy baking sheet. Spread the almond filling over the dough, leaving a 2-inch border. Arrange the figs on top of the almond filling. Spoon the jam over the figs. Fold the dough border over the filling to form an 8-inch round, pleating the crust loosely and pinching to seal any cracks in the dough.
• Bake the tart until the crust is golden, about 40 minutes. Place the baking sheet on a rack to cool for 10 minutes, then slide a metal spatula under the crust to free the tart from the parchment. Transfer the tart to a platter and serve.
• Cook's Note: To reconstitute dried figs, simmer in water for 5 minutes. Let the mixture cool completely. Strain before using.

BROILED FIG AND GORGONZOLA FINGER SANDWICHES

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Brush broth sides of the bread slices with olive oil and place on a baking sheet. Place the baking sheet in the oven and bake for 5 minutes. Turn the bread slices over and bake for another 5 minutes, or until toasted. Remove from the oven and cool. Preheat the broiler to high. Place each of the fig halves on a slice of toasted bread. Season with salt and pepper. Top with 1 ounce of crumbled gorgonzola. Place on a baking sheet. Broil the fig and gorgonzola sandwiches for 1 minute, or just until the cheese begins to melt. Remove from the oven and sprinkle with toasted walnuts. Top each sandwich with another slice of bread. Serve.

ROASTED STUFFED FIG WITH GORGONZOLA

Steps:

• Freeze the grape slices until frozen, about 30 minutes.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• Put the Gorgonzola and mascarpone in a bowl and mix with an electric hand mixer until combined. Fill a disposable pastry bag with the cheese mixture and snip the tip about 1/2 inch from the end.
• Remove the top third from each fig and place upright on a small baking sheet. Add the walnuts and roast until the figs are soft and beginning to caramelize and the walnuts are toasty, about 10 minutes.
• Heat a saute pan over medium heat and add a splash of olive oil. Add the prosciutto and saute until crispy, about 5 minutes. Add a splash of red wine vinegar and remove from the heat.
• Finely chop the walnuts. Pipe a heaping amount of the cheese mixture into each fig. Roll the tops in chopped walnuts. Top with crispy prosciutto pieces. Stick a frozen grape slice in each.

AIR FRYER GREEN BEANS WITH GREMOLATA AND TOASTED ALMONDS

Steps:

• Preheat a 3.5-quart air fryer to 375 degrees F. Toss the green beans, olive oil, 1/2 teaspoon salt and several grinds of pepper in a large bowl until evenly combined. Transfer to the air-fryer basket and air-fry the green beans, tossing halfway through, until tender and blistered in spots, about 12 minutes.
• Meanwhile, stir the parsley, garlic, lemon zest, 1/8 teaspoon salt and a couple grinds of pepper together in a small bowl until combined. Stir in the toasted almonds.
• Place the green beans on a serving platter, top with the gremolata mixture and drizzle lightly with more olive oil.