Figs with Mascarpone, Honey and Pistachios
To me, figs are the quintessential summer food. Truly seasonal, you can rarely find figs (other than dried) outside the months of August and September. Figs are lusciously sweet with a unique taste and texture– chewy on the outside, sweet and creamy on the inside with just a little crunch thanks to the seeds. There are a lot of different ways to eat figs—they are great on flatbread with arugula and prosciutto, you can bake them into a pie or galette, you could wrap them in bacon and grill them or simply broil them with some feta and top with mint.
To me, figs are the quintessential summer food. Truly seasonal, you can rarely find figs (other than dried) outside the months of August and September. Figs are lusciously sweet with a unique taste and texture – chewy on the outside, sweet and creamy on the inside with just a little crunch thanks to the seeds. There are a lot of different ways to eat figs—they are great on flatbread with arugula and prosciutto, you can bake them into a pie or galette, you could wrap them in bacon and grill them or simply broil them with some feta and top with mint. But my all-time favorite way to eat them, which might also be the simplest, is to serve figs with mascarpone, honey and pistachios. I was always a little intimidated by figs for some reason. They seemed fussy and not worth the hype. That was until I tried my first fig and I was hooked. Now especially when they are in season, I can’t get out of the grocery store without snagging a pint.I recently bought a fig tree for our house. I wouldn't say it is blossoming with figs like all the rest of the neighborhood fig trees, but it has one fig on it that. And I am waiting for the perfect moment to eat it. This recipe is easy and delicious and is perfect for a late summer party or dinner al fresco. Best part is, there is no need to turn on an oven for this recipe. The figs and the mascarpone cheese do all the work for you. Enjoy! [amd-zlrecipe-recipe:82]
Figs with Mascarpone, Honey and Pistachios
Ingredients:
- 2 cups mascarpone (if you are not a fan of mascarpone or can’t find it, Greek yogurt or ricotta works just as well)
- 2 - 3 tablespoons honey, plus more for serving
- 2 teaspoon fresh lemon juice
- ½ teaspoon grated lemon zest
- ¾ teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 1 pint of fresh and ripe figs (Any fig varietal will do, but I most often use black mission fig because that seems most readily available)
- ¼ cup pistachios, toasted and lightly chopped
Method:
Mix together mascarpone, honey, lemon juice, lemon zest and vanilla extract. Place a dollop of mascarpone in a bowl or individual ramekin, top with figs, honey and pistachios.