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If you’re like me, figs might be a new-ish fruit to you. They are not something my family prepared when I was a kid, so the first time I saw them in the produce aisle, I had no idea what to do with them.
But not anymore!
This easy fig appetizer is inspired by one I saw in an America’s Test Kitchen cookbook. Their recipe calls for a brief moment in the oven, with walnuts and honey on top. I tried it that way, but it’s a bit messy to serve as finger food.
After some experimenting, I’ve discovered that I prefer a longer bake time, and the nuts aren’t necessary. (In fact, it can make each bite a little awkward.) The figs have a slight “crunch” on their own, thanks to their seeds, and the tangy goat cheese balances their natural sweetness, so you may not even need the optional honey on top.
Fig Appetizer Ingredients
Here’s what you’ll need:
- Fresh figs. Figs aren’t available year-round, so it’s important to jump on them when they pop up at farmers’ markets and grocery stores. Choose figs that give slightly when you press on them, so you’ll know they are ripe and sweet. Almost any variety of fig will work for this recipe, but Black Mission figs are commonly considered the sweetest.
- Goat cheese. Soft goat cheese, also called chevre, has a creamy texture and tangy flavor that pairs well with sweet figs. You can easily scoop it into the center of each piece!
- Fresh herbs. I’ve tested this recipe with fresh thyme and rosemary. Both work beautifully with this combination, so use whichever option is most convenient for you.
- Honey (optional). If you find that your figs aren’t sweet enough after cooking them, you can add a touch of honey on top just before serving. It’s usually not necessary if the figs have a dark hue in the center when you slice them open. (I also tried this with hot honey, if you like a spicy kick.)
For added crunch, you can top each fig with a walnut half or some chopped pistachios. After testing this with and without nuts, I prefer them without. However, my husband preferred the extra crunch, so it’s an option if you’d like it.
How to Bake Figs with Goat Cheese
Step 1:
Preheat the oven to 400ºF and line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper. Slice the stem off each fig, then slice the fig in half lengthwise, from top to bottom.
Arrange the figs facing cut-side-up on the parchment-lined pan.
Step 2:
Use a 1/2 teaspoon to scoop the soft goat cheese into each fig half. Lightly press it into the center of each fig, if needed.
Sprinkle fresh rosemary or thyme on top, then place the pan in the oven to bake for 10 minutes.
Step 3:
When the timer goes off, remove the figs from the oven and let them cool for 5 minutes, or until they are cool enough to transfer to a serving plate. They can be served warm or at room temperature.
For a slightly sweeter appetizer, add a touch of honey on top just before serving, or keep the honey bottle nearby so guests can add it themselves, if desired.
Stuffed Fig Variations
Want to try something different? Here are a few ideas:
- Use honey goat cheese. Instead of making these messier with honey, you can start with a honey goat cheese as the filling. (I’ve seen this available at Trader Joe’s.)
- Wrap it in prosciutto. If you are serving meat eaters, salty prosciutto adds another layer of flavor that pairs well with sweet figs and tangy goat cheese.
- Add nuts. Top each fig with a walnut half or chopped pistachios for extra crunch.
- Change the bake time. I’ve seen recipes call for as little as 4 minutes of bake time, or as long as 40 minutes, depending on how jammy you want the figs to turn out. I think 10 minutes is sufficient for a hand-held appetizer, but feel free to experiment with it!
Ingredients
- 6 ripe figs (see notes)
- 3 tablespoons soft goat cheese
- 1 teaspoon fresh thyme or rosemary , minced
- honey (optional topping)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400ºF and line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper. Slice the stems off the figs, then slice them in half from top to bottom. Arrange the figs cut-side-up on the prepared pan.
- Use a 1/2 teaspoon to scoop the goat cheese into each fig half. Lightly press the cheese into the center of each fig, if needed. Sprinkle the freshly minced herbs on top of each piece, then bake at 400ºF for 10 minutes.
- When the timer goes off, remove the pan from the oven and let the figs cool for 5 minutes. Once they are cool enough to handle, transfer them to a serving dish and top with a touch of honey, if desired. You can also serve the honey on the side, so guests can add it as needed.
Notes
Nutrition
More Appetizers to Try
- Gluten-Free Soft Pretzel Bites
- Cowboy Caviar
- Cottage Cheese Dip
- Avocado Deviled Eggs
- Refried Bean Dip
- Best Guacamole
If you try this recipe, please leave a comment and star rating below to let me know how you like it.
