Baked Figs With Gorgonzola And Honey

Name: Roasted Figs With Gorgonzola And Honey
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 20 min
Ingredients: 6 fresh figs (wash and pat dry); ½ cup gorgonzola ((120 g) or goats cheese/stilton, crumbled); 2 tablespoons olive oil; ⅛ teaspoon thyme (dried); 2 tablespoons honey; a pinch black pepper (freshly ground); 3 honey glazed pecans (chopped); 6 small basil leaves (to garnish)

Warm sweet figs against a salty bite of gorgonzola are the kind of pairing that makes people ask for the recipe before they've finished the plate.

Roasted stuffed figs in red baking dish.

Six ingredients and ready in twenty minutes, these baked figs are one of the most impressive-looking appetizers you can put on a table. Baked with cheese, then drizzled with honey, these figs are rich, indulgent and very easy to prepare.

The freshness of the fruit, the rich flavours and combination of sweet and salty are a wonderful accompaniment for drinks or as an elegant dessert to finish a meal.

The figs are lightly baked for just 15 minutes, so they remain juicy. If you prefer them a little more caramelized and chewy, increase the first baking time by another 5 minutes.

Jump to:

What is gorgonzola
Selecting figs
Storing leftovers
FAQs
You may also like
Recipe
Reviews

What is gorgonzola

Gorgonzola is a blue veined cheese from the Lombardy and Piedmonte regions in Northern Italy, made from cow's milk. Gorgonzola has been made in this region for centuries. The official Gorgonzola Consorzio, founded in 1970 in Novara, was tasked with protecting the quality, origin and correct use of the Gorgonzola name. The consortium describes Gorgonzola's tradition as dating back to the 11th century. The cheese has been officially EU-recognized as a DOP (Denominazione di Origine Protetta) product since 1996. This means genuine Gorgonzola can legally only be produced in this specific area of Italy.

There are two types of gorgonzola - a younger cheese (dolce, or sweet) and one that is aged (piccante, spicy).

Gorgonzola dolce (also known as Dolcelatte) is a soft, smooth cheese, which is mild, creamy and sweet.
Gorgonzola piccante is drier and crumbly, with a creamy, intense sharp flavour; it is spicy and pungent with a slightly nutty aroma.

You could use either type as they will both pair beautifully with figs. We prefer to use gorgonzola piccante as the pungent flavour really compliments the rich sweetness of these baked figs!

Fresh figs sliced open for stuffing. — Fresh figs cut with an X

Selecting figs

When selecting figs, choose those which are plump, with smooth unbroken skin, and free from bruises. Firm figs will take a day or two to ripen, while figs which are too soft, mushy or snell sour are overripe and should be discarded.

Find out more on types of figs - how to select, store and other ways to prepare them.

Storing leftovers

These are best eaten straight away, but will keep in the fridge in a sealed container for 1-2 days. They do not freeze well.

FAQs

When are figs in season?

Figs are in season twice a year in some countries, with a short season early summer, and later on when they are easily available from August to October.

What variety of figs to use

Select a sweet variety of fig such as the Black Mission, Brown Turkey or Dottato (Kadota).

What if my figs are not sweet?

If you are not able to find sweet figs, baking with a drizzle of honey is a great way to make them sweeter.

Which other cheese will work well?

If you are unable or do not wish to use gorgonzola, try another blue cheese such as stilton, or try goat cheese.

Can I scale this recipe up for a larger group?

Yes, this recipe scales easily; just keep the fig-to-cheese-to-honey ratio consistent (roughly 1 fig to 1 tablespoon (20g) gorgonzola and 1 teaspoon honey per person).

Recipe

roasted stuffed figs in a red baking dish

Roasted Figs With Gorgonzola And Honey

Nicole Shroff

Fresh figs stuffed with gorgonzola, honey and thyme, baked until warm and bubbling. Vegetarian, naturally gluten-free and ready in just 20 minutes, they are perfect as an elegant appetizer or simple dessert.

5 from 10 votes

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Prep 5

Cook 15

Total 20

Course Appetizer

Cuisine Mediterranean

Servings servings

Calories 138 kcal

Ingredients

▢ fresh figs - wash and pat dry 6
▢ gorgonzola - (120 g) or goats cheese/stilton, crumbled ½ cup
▢ olive oil 2 tablespoons
▢ thyme - dried ⅛ teaspoon
▢ honey 2 tablespoons
▢ black pepper - freshly ground a pinch
▢ honey glazed pecans - chopped 3
▢ basil leaves - to garnish 6 small

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 200℃/180℃fan/400℉.
6 fresh figs
Wash 6 fresh figs, trim the stems and cut an X from the top ¾ way down (don't cut all the way through).
2 tablespoons olive oil
Arrange on a baking tray, drizzle with 2 tablespoons olive oil and bake for 5 minutes.
½ cup gorgonzola, ⅛ teaspoon thyme, 2 tablespoons honey
Remove from the oven and using a teaspoon, stuff the figs with crumbled ½ cup gorgonzola and sprinkle ⅛ teaspoon thyme over the tops. Drizzle with 2 tablespoons honey and bake for 10 minutes.
a pinch black pepper, 3 honey glazed pecans, 6 small basil leaves
Remove from oven and allow to cool for a few minutes before garnishing with a pinch black pepper, 3 honey glazed pecans (crushed) and 6 small basil leaves.

Notes

Find more information on varieties of figs.

Select fresh ripe figs. Unripe figs will not work as well.
Gorgonzola piccante pairs beautifully with figs, but you could also make these using a milder Dolcelatte, goats cheese or a stilton.
These figs are lightly baked for just 15 minutes, so they remain juicy. If you prefer them a little more caramelized and chewy, increase the first baking time to 15 minutes.
These are best served straight away, but they will keep in a sealed container in the fridge for 1-2 days. They do not freeze well.

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Nutrition

Nutritional information calculated automatically per serving, accuracy cannot be guaranteed.

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