I love the fall. It is my absolute favorite season. I love the food. I love the flavors. I love the feeling. I even love the fashion. So, of course, this Sunday I am in the mood for figs- an ideal food for the fall.
The best thing about figs is they are absolutely delicious all on their own. So, if you’re not in the mood to whip anything together, just slice open a fig, wrap a little prosciutto around it, and you are a gourmet.
Today, I am going to stay simple with my Sunday brunch, and make Figs with Warm Honey and Ricotta…
What You’ll Need
* Figs
* Honey
* Egg
* Part-Skim Ricotta
* Sea Salt
* Fresh Ground Pepper
Let’s Do It
Preheat the oven to 350. In a baking bowl, scoop in your part-skim ricotta. I’ll use 1 cup for the family. Crack in an egg, and mix well. Sprinkle the mixture with sea salt, fresh ground pepper. Bake the ricotta mixture for 20 minutes.
While the ricotta is baking, slice figs in quarters or halfs, whatever you fancy, and make sure to remove the stalks. Line on a cookie sheet and drizzle a very slight amount of honey. Figs are naturally sweet, so no need to overdo it. Bake the figs for 10-12 minutes.
You can warm a small amount of honey on the stove top or microwave.
Find your favorite plate, and pretty it up. Place figs and tiny scoops of baked ricotta around randomly. Drizzle the warmed honey over top and ENJOY!!
Options, Options, Options
You can use the baked ricotta as a spread on a crusty, rustic bread, and top with figs and warm honey to make a Fig Bruschetta, like this one from Country Living:
Or, use a mini puff pastry or pizza dough, top with the ricotta and figs to make a tasty Fig Tart, like this one from the Food Network:
Also, fill a bowl with mixed dark, leafy greens, add the ricotta in small dollops, and top with the figs for a great Sunday Brunch Salad, like this one from Nugget Market:
Bonus Benefits
Figs– Small and sweet, figs are high in fiber and minerals. They are great for the digestive system. Since they are a highly alkaline food, they are a fantastic “balancer” helping the body’s pH level. The high potassium content is perfect for helping regulate blood pressure. Figs also have calcium, so combined with potassium, they are great for promoting bone density. The pectin in figs helps with reducing cholesterol. All this, PLUS figs are known to be a romantic addition to any meal.
Honey– Aside from adding flavor, honey (in small amounts), has many health benefits, too. First, it’s a mood and energy booster. It also helps build our immune system due to its antioxidants and anti-viral properties. With flu season upon us, this is so important. Honey possesses carcinogen-preventing and anti-tumor properties, and some studies suggest honey is a cancer-fighter!
Ricotta– To balance out the sweetness from the figs and honey, ricotta adds protein. It also is a great source of phosphorus, zinc, and selenium, an essential trace mineral. With its creamy texture, ricotta cheese is surprisingly low in fat and sodium, yet high in calcium.
