Caramelized Figs With Honey Thyme Creme Fraiche Food

CARAMELIZED FIGS WITH HONEY, THYME AND CRèME FRAîCHE

Steps:

• Spoon the honey over the cut sides of the figs. Heat a large, heavy skillet over a medium-high flame. Add the butter - it should sizzle briskly when it hits the pan. Throw in the thyme sprigs, followed by the figs, cut sides down. Leave undisturbed for 3 to 5 minutes to caramelize, then turn the figs over and cook for another minute.
• Transfer the figs to a plate. Return the skillet to the heat and add about 5 tablespoons water. Simmer, scraping the caramelized honey with a spoon. Pour this sauce over the figs and serve warm with generous spoonfuls of crème fraîche and a few extra thyme leaves.

CARAMELIZED-ONION FLATBREADS WITH CRèME FRAîCHE

Steps:

• For bread dough:
• Whisk 1/4 cup plus 1 tablespoon warm water and yeast in small bowl; let stand until yeast is dissolved, about 10 minutes.
• Mix flour, nigella seeds, and salt in medium bowl. Add yeast mixture and stir with wooden spoon until mixture clumps together. Add butter; mix until incorporated. Turn dough out onto lightly floured work surface and knead until smooth and elastic, about 5 minutes. Divide dough into 6 equal pieces; roll each into ball. Place on baking sheet; cover with plastic wrap. (Can be prepared 1 day ahead. Keep covered and refrigerate.)
• For caramelized onions:
• Heat oil in large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add onion wedges to skillet and cook without turning until beginning to brown, about 7 minutes. Carefully turn onions over; reduce heat to medium and continue to cook until onions are tender and brown, occasionally stirring gently, about 10 minutes. Add thyme and honey; cook 1 minute. Stir in vinegar. Seasonto taste with salt and pepper. Remove skillet from heat. Cool. (Can be prepared 1 day ahead. Cover and refrigerate.)
• Let dough rise in warm draft-free area until doubled, about 1 hour. Whisk crème fraîche and egg in small bowl to blend. Stir in 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper.
• Preheat oven to 450°F. Sprinkle 2 rimmed baking sheets lightly with semolina flour. Roll out each dough ball to 5-inch round. Transfer 3 rounds to each prepared baking sheet. Let rest 10 minutes. Pierce dough rounds all over with fork. Spread 1 generous tablespoon crème fraîche mixture over each dough round, leaving 1/4-inch plain border. Arrange onions evenly atop each; drizzle lightly with crème fraîche mixture (mixture may spill over edges of dough).
• Bake flatbreads until crusts are puffed and golden, about 12 minutes. Transfer to plates; sprinkle with chives.
• *Available at some supermarkets, and at specialty foods stores and Italian markets.

CARAMELIZED FIGS WITH HONEY, THYME, CREME FRAICHE

Steps:

• Spoon honey over cut sides of figs. Heat a large heavy skillet over a medium high flame. Add butter. Throw in thyme sprigs and then figs, cut side down. Cook undisturbed for 3-5 mins to caramelize. Turn figs over and cook 1 minute more. Transfer figs to plate. Return skillet to heat and add about 5 T water. Simmer, scraping the caramelized honey. Pour this sauce over figs and serve warm with spoonfuls of creme fraiche and extra thyme leaves to garnish.