An amazing appetizer, figs prosciutto is sweet, salty, and smoky, all in one bite. Serve these fig appetizers stuffed with creamy cheese and wrapped in prosciutto at your next brunch – your guests will devour every bite!
Awkward foodie confession time, guys: I’ve never had a fresh fig before. That’s right. If you were wondering who in the U.S., south of the wild Alaskan tundra, could possibly have never tasted a fresh fig before October 2012, well, that would be moi.
Dried figs, you bet. Fresh, not so much.
It’s not for a lack of wanting, believe me. They’re really, really hard to find in my area. Not even my Kroger — which regularly stocks Asian rambutans and dragon fruit, fer cryin’ out loud — does not carry good old American fresh figs.
Every now and then, some “friend” will tell me, ‘oh, hey, so-and-so has fresh figs,’ and I will drop everything, shove old ladies and strollers the hell out of my way, outrun the coppers in my zippy Cougar, and blast through the front doors of whatever store is rumored to have them, squealing and arm-waving, only to find (a) no figs, and (b) no sign that there ever were figs (i.e., not even an empty slot in the produce aisle).
(After a while, one must start to suspect that the peeps are messing with her for the sheer entertainment value of it all.)
So, gobsmacked was I, strolling the farmers’ market just 5 minutes from my house, minding my own beeswax with spaghetti squash and decorative gourds in tow, when I came across a table lined with Black Mission figs. In the flesh, so to speak. Honest to goodness fresh figs, picked that morning, dark purple tinged with green.
I just knew that people in Ohio had to be holding out on me, growing figs on their property and not sharing. I knew it!
I lunged.
Peeps, this is the appetizer that has haunted my dreams: sweet local figs, stuffed with briny cheese, wrapped in prosciutto, and baked until tender.
Ground-breaking recipe? Of course not — you lucky fresh-fig-eatin’ ducks have had this many times.
In fact, right now, as you’re reading this post, you’re probably eating from a large plate of cheesy fig appetizers with prosciutto, handing out platefuls to neighbors, and — satiated to the point of bursting — dumping the enormous amounts of leftovers in the trash can, which you could only reach by nudging aside ankle-high piles of fresh figs to clear a path.)
Me, this was my first, and I had to prolong the torture of waiting for a taste-test by photographing the whole thing, lest the figs were a one-time fluke. (Please, oh, please don’t be a one-time fluke.)
They were everything I had hoped for, and more. Fig season is nearly over now, but one thing’s for certain: that farmer made a tactical error in selling figs that fateful day at the market.
I know where he farms, and I’m not above ringing the doorbell with basket in hand.
Karen xo
Figs Prosciutto
Ingredients
- fresh figs sliced in half
- soft flavorful cheese, such as gorgonzola dolce, goat or brie
- prosciutto thinly sliced
- honey for drizzling
- coarse sea salt
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F
- Stuff a small ball of cheese into the center of each fig half.
- Wrap the fig halves with narrow strips of prosciutto. The prosciutto will easily stick to itself, so no need to be perfect.
- Place the fig halves on a baking sheet and bake for about 10 minutes. Remove and allow to cool slightly. Plate, and drizzle with honey and a light sprinkling of sea salt.
Monica
Saturday 24th of August 2024
Question... can these be served at room temp or are they better slightly warmed?
Karen - SoupAddict
Saturday 24th of August 2024
I think they’re fine at room temp!
Marianne
Wednesday 18th of March 2020
A friend had a fig tree in Pittsburgh. Every winter he covered it with two sheets of plywood., removed them in spring and had mountains of figs. When he passed away and his house was sold, the new owners ripped out the fig tree and other bushes. Very sad.
Lisa
Saturday 28th of December 2019
So here’s the deal. I could not find fresh figs, so my hubby, the great substituter, lol, was shopping and got me dried figs. I painstakingly cut them down the middle and stuffed with goat cheese and followed the recipe as described and the dried figs were delicious. I just can’t imagine how wonderful they would be with the fresh figs. And PS lady in Cali with the tree, I would love to be your neighbor, lol
SoupAddict
Saturday 28th of December 2019
It’s so maddening - some years I find fresh figs, some I don’t. I think your dried substitute is inspired!
Kelly
Tuesday 29th of October 2019
Karen, my husband & I have a fig green tree & are always looking for new recipes. My favorite is a take on yours: we use blue cheese instead of goat & we grill them! Then drizzle w/ some aged balsamic. You should try it! I’m definitely going to try yours. Enjoy!
Courtenay
Sunday 1st of April 2018
I had never fresh figs either - I was sort of scared of them for some reason LOL. But, these figs were so yummy, with the cheese and the salty prosciutto. They were a huge hit at brunch!
SoupAddict
Sunday 1st of April 2018
So glad you liked them! Figs are still hard to find around here, so, I'm still stuck with it being just a special treat (womp-womp).