Baked Figs With Balsamic Food

HONEY, BALSAMIC & ROSEMARY ROASTED FIGS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 425 degrees F. Place figs, cut sides up, on a rimmed baking sheet. Drizzle evenly with balsamic vinegar, honey and vanilla; sprinkle with salt. Add rosemary sprigs to baking sheet.
• Roast in preheated oven until figs soften slightly, about 10 minutes. Remove from oven; flip figs using tongs. Sprinkle baking sheet evenly with butter cubes.
• Return to oven, and roast at 425 degrees F until butter is melted and balsamic vinegar is thick and syrupy, about 5 minutes. Remove from oven; let cool on baking sheet 10 minutes. Discard rosemary sprigs. Sprinkle figs with lemon zest.

BAKED FIGS WITH GORGONZOLA AND AGED BALSAMIC VINEGAR

Steps:

• Cut figs in half, then stuff with a teaspoon of cheese and cover with 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar. Bake in 350-degree oven until warm, about 3 to 4 minutes. Mix oil and vinegar to make a dressing and toss with the mesclun salad. Season with salt and pepper. Serve the salad on the plate with the figs.

PANNA COTTA WITH ROASTED FIGS AND BALSAMIC

Steps:

• In a small bowl, submerse the gelatin sheets in cool water to soften.
• In a small saucepan combine the cream and 1 cup sugar. Slit the vanilla bean lengthwise and scrape the seeds. Add the seeds and the hull of the vanilla bean to the saucepan. Whisk to combine. Bring the mixture to a boil and turn off immediately. Remove the softened gelatin sheets from the cool water and whisk into the hot cream mixture. Remove and discard the vanilla bean. Pour immediately into serving dishes and refrigerate for 2 to 3 hours or overnight.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Toss the figs together with the remaining sugar and balsamic. Let macerate for about 15 minutes. Roast in the preheated oven for 15 minutes or until the figs are soft and the sugar and balsamic have started to caramelize on the figs.
• Top the panna cotta with the roasted figs.

ROASTED SWEET POTATOES AND FIGS WITH A BALSAMIC GLAZE

Steps:

• ROAST THE SWEET POTATOES.
• Preheat the oven to 475°F.
• Wash the sweet potatoes, halve them lengthwise, and then cut each half again similarly into 3 long wedges. Mix with 3 tablespoons of the olive oil, 2 teaspoons salt, and some black pepper.
• Spread the wedges out, skin side down, on a baking sheet and cook for about 25 minutes, until soft but not mushy.
• Remove from the oven and leave to cool.
• MAKE THE BALSAMIC REDUCTION.
• Add the balsamic vinegar and sugar in a small saucepan. Bring to a boil, then decrease the heat and simmer for 2 to 4 minutes, until it thickens.
• (** Be sure to remove the pan from the heat when the vinegar is still runnier than honey; it will continue to thicken as it cools. Stir in a drop of water before serving if it does become too thick to drizzle).
• TO FINISH.
• Arrange the sweet potatoes on a serving platter.
• Heat the remaining oil in a medium saucepan over medium heat and add the green onions and chile. Fry for 4 to 5 minutes, stirring often to make sure not to burn the chile.
• Spoon the oil, onions, and chile over the sweet potatoes.
• Dot the figs among the wedges and then drizzle over the balsamic reduction.
• Serve at room temperature.
• Crumble the cheese over the top, if using.

BAKED FIGS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
• Place thyme sprigs in the bottom of a medium shallow baking dish. Place figs, cut side up, in baking dish and drizzle with olive oil.
• Transfer to oven and bake until figs are puffy and juicy, about 20 minutes. Serve warm or at room temperature.

GORGONZOLA FIGS WITH BALSAMIC GLAZE

Steps:

• For glaze, in a small saucepan, bring vinegar to a boil over medium heat; cook until reduced to about 1/4 cup., Cut a lengthwise slit down the center of each fig; fill with 1-1/2 teaspoons cheese. Wrap each with a piece of prosciutto; place on a baking sheet. Sprinkle with rosemary and pepper. , Bake at 425° for 10-12 minutes or until prosciutto is crisp. Serve warm with glaze.

FIGS WITH BALSAMIC VINEGAR, MASCARPONE, AND WALNUTS

Steps:

• Put oven rack in middle position and preheat oven to 350°F.
• Bring wine, vinegar, and sugar to a boil in a 3-quart heavy nonreactive saucepan over moderate heat, stirring until sugar is dissolved, then add figs and gently simmer, uncovered, 5 minutes. Pour figs with liquid into a 2-quart shallow glass or ceramic baking dish and sprinkle with walnuts. Bake, uncovered, until figs are softened and have absorbed about two thirds of liquid, about 30 minutes. Cool slightly, about 15 minutes.
• Serve warm figs with sauce and a dollop of mascarpone.

BALSAMIC-POACHED FIGS

Steps:

• In a small saucepan, heat sugarand 1/2 cup water until sugar dissolves.Add vinegar, orange juice,thyme, and spices and bring toa boil. Reduce until slightly thickened,about 5 minutes. Transferto a medium heat-proof bowl andadd figs. Let cool completely.