I’m on a fig kick. After having figs on my pizza, I couldn’t get enough. The good news: figs are a powerhouse of nutrients, and conveniently sold at Trader Joe’s. Mega score for me.The bad news: just kidding, there is no bad news.
The nutritional lowdown on figs: It’s fig season right now in California (June – September). With the chewy soft skin, they are a good source of dietary fiber, helping to aid in satiety to keep your hunger at bay until the next meal. One medium fresh fig is only ~37 calories, which makes it a realistic option as a snack (because let’s be honest here, you know you are having more than one fig at a sitting). They are also loaded with other great vitamins and minerals (disease fighting warriors, if you will), such as vitamin B6, copper, manganese, potassium, and pantothenic acid.
Fig Family Tree: There are more than 150 types of fig varieties. ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY. Tell me something then – why is it so hard to find figs in a grocery store? One of life’s most curious questions. Most popular varieties include: Black Mission (used in this recipe – black/purple skin with pink flesh), Adriatic (typically used in fig bars/baked goods – light green skin and pink/tan flesh), Kadota (green skin and puple flesh), Brown Turkey (personal favorite solely due to it’s name – purple skin and red flesh), and Calimyrna (light green skin and amber flesh).
Approach with caution: Figs are very perishable, so it’s best to purchase them the day you plan on eating them. No problem for me – they barely make it out of the grocery store before I am chomping away at them.
GETTING FIGGY WITH IT.
Now that we know all the good stuff, let’s get down to the part where we eat. I warn you, although this is a fruit-base recipe, it is filled with cheese, honey, and prosciutto, so it is definitely an indulgence. But there’s no shame in that every once in a while ladies and gents, INDULGE AWAY.
Prosciutto Stuffed Figs
Ingredients:
fresh figs (I used Black Mission)
soft cheese (I used ricotta and goat cheese)
prosciutto, thinly sliced
1 T. honey
dash of sea salt
Directions: (SO SIMPLE)
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees Farenheit.
- Wash figs and slice in half. Spoon half a tablespoon of cheese into each half of a fig.
- Wrap figs with narrow strip of prosciutto. The prosciutto will easily stick to itself.
- Place fig halves on baking sheet and bake for 10 minutes. Remove from oven and allow to cool slightly.
- Drizzle honey over figs and sprinkle with sea salt.
- Serve and enjoy!
Recipe adapted from: http://soupaddict.com/2012/10/figs-prosciutto/
One thought on “Prosciutto-wrapped Stuffed Figs”