Grilled Fresh Figs And Blue Cheese Food

PROSCIUTTO WRAPPED FIGS AND BLUE CHEESE

Steps:

• Preheat grill. You will need medium to high heat for grilling. The key is to crisp the prosciutto quickly and leave the blue cheese just melted with the inner part of the fig cool in temperature.
• Cut the figs in half and place a piece of blue cheese on each fig half. Wrap the prosciutto around each fig half, covering the cheese. The ends of the prosciutto should overlap.
• Grill each piece until the prosciutto begins to color and crisp, about 2 minutes on each side. Remove from grill, lightly drizzle with extra virgin olive oil and season with sea salt and pepper. Serve warm.

FLATBREAD WITH FRESH FIGS, MONTEREY JACK, BLUE CHEESE AND RED WINE REDUCED VINAIGRETTE

Steps:

• For the vinaigrette: Combine the wine, fennel seeds, peppercorns and thyme in a wide shallow saucepan. Bring to a boil and cook until reduced to 1/4 cup. Strain the mixture into a blender and discard the solids.
• Add the vinegar and salt to taste and blend to combine. With the motor running, slowly add the olive oil until emulsified; add the honey to taste.
• For the dough: Dissolve the yeast in the warm water in a large bowl and let stand for 5 minutes. Stir in 3 cups flour and the salt, stirring until smooth. Stir in an additional 2 cups flour. Continue adding the flour (up to 1/2 cup), 1 tablespoon at a time, stirring until the dough comes away from the bowl but is still sticky.
• Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured work surface and knead with lightly floured hands. Start by slapping the dough onto the counter, pulling it toward you with one hand and pushing it away from you with the other. Fold the dough back over itself (use a bench scraper or a wide knife to help scrape the dough from the surface). Repeat until it's easier to handle, about 10 times. Finish kneading normally until the dough is smooth, elastic and soft, but a little tacky, about 10 minutes. Shape the dough into a ball and transfer to a lightly oiled bowl; turn to coat. Cover with plastic and let rise in a warm place until it doubles in volume, 3 hours. Press it with your finger to see if it's done; an indent should remain.
• Prepare the charcoal in a chimney starter (allowing the charcoal to burn until all the charcoal is covered with a thin layer of gray ash). Add to the grill and create a two-level fire by spreading the coals out over half the grill bottom, piling them up in a mound 3 briquettes high, leaving the other half with no coals.
• Remove the dough from the bowl, divide in half and shape each half into a ball. Brush with oil and set aside for 30 minutes.
• Stretch and shape each ball of dough into a 12 by 10-inch rectangle or round on a flat surface. Brush the tops of each with oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Let rest for 15 minutes. Place on the grill directly over the coals, oiled side down, and grill until lightly golden brown, about 1 minute. Flip over and grill for 1 minute longer.
• Place the flatbreads on a flat surface and divide the Monterey Jack cheese evenly over the top. Arrange the cut figs on top and the blue cheese around the figs. Return to the grill on the opposite side of the coals, for indirect heat, close the cover and cook until the cheese has melted and the figs are heated through, about 5 minutes. Remove from the grill and drizzle with some of the red wine vinaigrette and garnish with parsley leaves. Cut and serve immediately.

GRILLED PROSCIUTTO-WRAPPED FIGS WITH BLUE CHEESE AND PECANS

Steps:

• Place 12 skewers (4 inches each) in water to soak for at least 10 minutes. Heat a grill pan over medium-high heat.
• Slice the figs through the center vertically without cutting all the way through. Carefully open each fig, and place a slice of cheese and a pecan piece inside each. Gently squeeze figs to enclose the cheese. Wrap figs horizontally with a strip of proscuitto and skewer to secure. Brush the figs with oil and place on the grill. Cook, just until grill marks begin to appear, about 1 1/2 minutes. Turn and repeat with opposite side.
• Transfer to a serving platter, and lightly drizzle with honey. Serve warm or at room temperature.

GRILLED FRESH FIGS AND BLUE CHEESE

Steps:

• Cut the figs in half lengthwise and put a tablespoon of blue cheese on top of each half. Top this mixture with a teaspoon of balsamic vinegar.
• Put figs on a warm grill and cook until the cheese melts and the figs are heated through.
• Serve and enjoy!

GRILLED PROSCIUTTO WRAPPED FIGS STUFFED WITH GOAT CHEESE

Steps:

• Preheat the grill and brush with a grill brush to remove any excess crud and fat. After brushing, run an oiled towel over the grates to pick up any loosened crud or soot.
• Drizzle each fig half with vinegar and fill each fig center with goat cheese. Sprinkle a couple flakes of crushed red pepper, if using, on top of the goat cheese and wrap each fig with a slice of prosciutto. Paint the outside of each fig very lightly with olive oil.
• Put the figs on a cooler spot of the preheated grill. The idea here is that we want to grill the figs gently to cook the fig all the way through but to still get the char on the outside. Grill the figs on all sides so the prosciutto is starting to become crispy and the fig feels soft when squeezed, about 5 to 6 minutes.
• While the figs are grilling, in a large bowl, toss the arugula with a little extra-virgin olive oil, some balsamic vinegar and the Parmigiano-Reggiano. Taste, and add salt, if needed. Arrange on individual serving plates or a serving platter and top with the figs. Drizzle a couple of drops of balsamic on each fig and serve.
• Its figgy delicious!

FRESH FIGS BAKED

Steps:

• Preheat oven while fixing figs.
• Cut stems and a small portion of top off figs.
• Score tops crosswise.
• Place figs in shallow glass dish small enough to keep them close together.
• Fill each with a half teaspoon of the Gorgonzola cheese.
• Poor ruby port into dish.
• Bake 350 degrees for 15 minutes, or until cheese melts.