Warm Figs with Goat Cheese and Honey

We make an ultrasimple fruit dessert by pairing fresh figs with tangy goat cheese and toasted walnuts.

Warm Figs with Goat Cheese and Honey
SERVES 4 to 6 FAST
WHY THIS RECIPE WORKS A piece of barely enhanced fresh fruit is a common ending to many Mediterranean meals, and figs are a perfect candidate: Their sweet, juicy flesh and delicate flavor need little adornment. We started by choosing the ripest, plumpest figs we could find. Halving them and topping them with a bit of tangy goat cheese offset their sweetness nicely. A brief stint in a hot oven was enough to warm the figs and cheese through, and topping each one with a walnut half, toasted to bring out its flavor, offered pleasant crunchy contrast. Finally, a drizzle of honey (tasters preferred milder-flavored options like clover) brought all the elements together with a hit of floral sweetness.
1½ ounces goat cheese
8 fresh figs, halved lengthwise
16 walnut halves, toasted
3 tablespoons honey

1. Adjust oven rack to middle position and heat oven to 500 degrees. Spoon heaping ½ teaspoon goat cheese onto each fig half and arrange in parchment paper–lined rimmed baking sheet. Bake figs until heated through, about 4 minutes; transfer to serving platter.
2. Place 1 walnut half on top of each fig half and drizzle with honey. Serve.

 

Desserts