Fig And Walnut Pasta With Gorgonzola Food

GORGONZOLA WALNUT PASTA

Steps:

• Prepare all the ingredients.
• Cook the pasta al dente (it should have a bite to it), in a small amount of well-salted water. Drain the pasta about 30 seconds before the end of the cooking time, reserve about 1/2 cup pasta cooking water. While the pasta cooks, make the sauce.
• Heat the olive oil and butter in a large frying pan, add the walnuts, lemon zest, pepper, and garlic, cook over medium heat for about 2 minutes, until the walnuts are slightly browned and fragrant.
• Add the wine, cook, stirring constantly, for a couple of minutes, until almost evaporated.
• Add the cream, turn the heat to the minimum and add gorgonzola, stir until cheese is melted and the sauce is smooth, take the pan off the heat.
• Toss the cooked pasta with the sauce and add about 2-4 Tbsp of the pasta cooking water (add more if the sauce is too thick).
• Season to taste with salt and pepper (I like lots of pepper).
• Serve immediately (the sauce thickens quickly), sprinkle fresh basil leaves, grated parmesan and chopped walnuts on top (you can toast the walnut on a dry pan for extra flavor).
• Enjoy!

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.

CROSTINI WITH FIGS, GORGONZOLA, HONEY AND WALNUTS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
• Arrange the baguette slices on a baking sheet in a single layer. Using a pastry brush, lightly baste the baguette slices with the olive oil. Place slices in oven, and bake till baguette slices are a golden color, about 8 minutes. (You can also toast the slices a day ahead. Cool, then store them at room temperature in a covered container.)
• Toss the gorgonzola, along with the toasted walnuts (that have cooled to room temperature) in a small bowl. Spoon the cheese mixture onto the prepared baguette slices and press slightly to adhere.Return baguette slices to baking sheet. Bake in oven until the cheese melts (about 6-8 minutes).
• Arrange the warm crostini on a platter. Top each slice with a thin slice of fig. Drizzle with the honey and serve warm. Enjoy!

GORGONZOLA, FIG AND WALNUT TARTLETS

Steps:

• Heat oven to 425°F Unroll pie crust on flat surface. Using 2-inch cookie cutter, cut 24 rounds from pie crust, rerolling crust scraps if necessary. Gently press 1 round in bottom and up side of each of 24 ungreased mini muffin cups.
• In small bowl, mix figs, brown sugar, cinnamon and walnuts. Spoon slightly less than 1 teaspoon fig mixture into each cup. Break up any larger pieces of cheese. Top each tartlet with slightly less than 1 teaspoon cheese.
• Bake 7 to 11 minutes or until bubbly and golden brown. Remove tartlets from pan to serving plate. Drizzle tartlets with honey. Serve warm.

FIG AND WALNUT PASTA WITH GORGONZOLA

Steps:

• Prepare pasta according to package directions. Drain; toss with olive oil; set aside. Melt butter in large skillet while pasta cooks. Add onion and sauté over medium-high heat 5 to 6 minutes, stirring frequently, until golden brown. Remove fig stems, coarsely chop figs and stir into onions with walnuts. Season with salt and heat through. Pour fig mixture over pasta then sprinkle with cheese and parsley, if using; toss gently. Serve immediately.

PROSCIUTTO-WRAPPED FIGS WITH GORGONZOLA AND WALNUTS

Steps:

• Preheat broiler. Cover large rimmed baking sheet with foil. Wrap each fig half with 1 prosciutto strip; place on prepared sheet. Broil until prosciutto chars slightly on edges, about 1 1/2 minutes. Turn figs; broil about 1 1/2 minutes longer, watching closely to prevent burning. Place 1/2 teaspoon Gorgonzola atop each fig half. Top each with walnut piece. Serve warm or at room temperature.