Best Gorgonzola Fig Bites With Toasted Almonds Recipes

AIR FRYER GREEN BEANS WITH GREMOLATA AND TOASTED ALMONDS

Steps:

• Preheat a 3.5-quart air fryer to 375 degrees F. Toss the green beans, olive oil, 1/2 teaspoon salt and several grinds of pepper in a large bowl until evenly combined. Transfer to the air-fryer basket and air-fry the green beans, tossing halfway through, until tender and blistered in spots, about 12 minutes.
• Meanwhile, stir the parsley, garlic, lemon zest, 1/8 teaspoon salt and a couple grinds of pepper together in a small bowl until combined. Stir in the toasted almonds.
• Place the green beans on a serving platter, top with the gremolata mixture and drizzle lightly with more olive oil.

ROASTED STUFFED FIG WITH GORGONZOLA

Steps:

• Freeze the grape slices until frozen, about 30 minutes.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• Put the Gorgonzola and mascarpone in a bowl and mix with an electric hand mixer until combined. Fill a disposable pastry bag with the cheese mixture and snip the tip about 1/2 inch from the end.
• Remove the top third from each fig and place upright on a small baking sheet. Add the walnuts and roast until the figs are soft and beginning to caramelize and the walnuts are toasty, about 10 minutes.
• Heat a saute pan over medium heat and add a splash of olive oil. Add the prosciutto and saute until crispy, about 5 minutes. Add a splash of red wine vinegar and remove from the heat.
• Finely chop the walnuts. Pipe a heaping amount of the cheese mixture into each fig. Roll the tops in chopped walnuts. Top with crispy prosciutto pieces. Stick a frozen grape slice in each.

BROILED FIG AND GORGONZOLA FINGER SANDWICHES

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Brush broth sides of the bread slices with olive oil and place on a baking sheet. Place the baking sheet in the oven and bake for 5 minutes. Turn the bread slices over and bake for another 5 minutes, or until toasted. Remove from the oven and cool. Preheat the broiler to high. Place each of the fig halves on a slice of toasted bread. Season with salt and pepper. Top with 1 ounce of crumbled gorgonzola. Place on a baking sheet. Broil the fig and gorgonzola sandwiches for 1 minute, or just until the cheese begins to melt. Remove from the oven and sprinkle with toasted walnuts. Top each sandwich with another slice of bread. Serve.

SPICY SUGARED ALMONDS

Steps:

• In a small bowl, stir together the cinnamon, cayenne pepper and 1 tablespoon of the sugar; set aside.
• In a 4-quart saucepan, combine 1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons water and the remaining 1 1/2 cups sugar. Stir over medium-high heat until the sugar dissolves and the mixture boils.
• Add the almonds and stir constantly over medium-high heat until the water evaporates and the sugar starts to dry and turn gray. (The sugar mixture will start to foam and then start to dry and look like sand. This takes 5 to 6 minutes.) Continue stirring constantly until the sugar starts to melt and caramelize, coating about half of the almonds in a reddish-brown sugar mixture and the rest in a glossy sugar mixture, 2 to 3 minutes.
• Sprinkle the cinnamon mixture over the almonds, stirring constantly, and immediately transfer to a baking sheet lined with parchment paper, spreading the almonds to separate. Cool completely, then break apart. Store the almonds in an airtight container for up to 2 weeks.

FIG AND ALMOND TART

Steps:

• Combine the flour, 2 tablespoons sugar, lemon zest, and salt in the bowl of a food processor. Pulse until blended. Add the butter and pulse until the mixture resembles coarse meal. With the machine running, gradually add the water until moist clumps form. Turn the mixture out onto a work surface and form into a ball. Flatten the dough into a disk and wrap in plastic wrap. Chill the dough for 1 hour.
• In a clean food processor bowl, combine remaining sugar, almond paste, mascarpone cheese, vanilla extract, and honey. Blend until smooth.
• Position an oven rack in the center of the oven. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
• On a large sheet of parchment paper, roll out the dough into an 11-inch circle. Transfer the dough to a large, heavy baking sheet. Spread the almond filling over the dough, leaving a 2-inch border. Arrange the figs on top of the almond filling. Spoon the jam over the figs. Fold the dough border over the filling to form an 8-inch round, pleating the crust loosely and pinching to seal any cracks in the dough.
• Bake the tart until the crust is golden, about 40 minutes. Place the baking sheet on a rack to cool for 10 minutes, then slide a metal spatula under the crust to free the tart from the parchment. Transfer the tart to a platter and serve.
• Cook's Note: To reconstitute dried figs, simmer in water for 5 minutes. Let the mixture cool completely. Strain before using.

GORGONZOLA FIGS WITH BALSAMIC GLAZE

Steps:

• For glaze, in a small saucepan, bring vinegar to a boil over medium heat; cook until reduced to about 1/4 cup., Cut a lengthwise slit down the center of each fig; fill with 1-1/2 teaspoons cheese. Wrap each with a piece of prosciutto; place on a baking sheet. Sprinkle with rosemary and pepper. , Bake at 425° for 10-12 minutes or until prosciutto is crisp. Serve warm with glaze.

ELEGANT FIG APPETIZERS WITH GOAT CHEESE AND ALMONDS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven broiler for high heat.
• Place the fig halves, cut side up, on a baking sheet. Top each half with about 1/2 teaspoon goat cheese. Place one almond on each, press to push the cheese slightly into each fig.
• Broil the figs in the preheated oven until the cheese is soft and the almonds are turning a rich shade of brown, 2 to 3 minutes. Remove from the broiler and let cool for 5 minutes. Arrange the figs on a serving platter and drizzle with honey and balsamic vinegar. Serve warm.