#fetta cheese

Figs and fetta, a marriage made in heaven, or Greece.

Another fig food memory was eating Saganaki served with a sweet fig sauce at Hellenic Republic, Brunswick, when it first opened. That sauce is based on dried figs with pepper and balsamic and can be served all year round with fried cheese.

Fig tree in the morning dew

Chinese bowl with Figs, by Giovanna Garzoni, 1600-1670

Figs in blue bowl after Garzoni

This little entrée draws on both experiences. It is warm, sweet and jammy on top, and cold and salty underneath, with the nuts providing a Baklava style crunch. It takes 5 minutes to prepare and makes a very elegant starter.

Fig and Fetta Fantasia.

Ingredients, for two serves.

150 gr (approx weight) quality Greek fetta cheese, sheep or goat, such as Dodoni (not Bulgarian as it has the wrong texture for this dish)

6 large ripe figs, halved

2 tablespoons honey

1 dessertspoon vincotto

2 tablespoons walnuts, chopped.

Cut the cold fetta into 4 thin batons.

Heat a small frying pan. Warm the honey and vincotto together until beginning to bubble. Turn down the heat and add the figs to the honey mixture. Cook gently on both sides for a few minutes so that the figs absorb some of the liquid.

Meanwhile, toast the walnut pieces in a small pan and watch that they do not burn.

Assemble the dish by laying two fetta pieces on each serving plate. Top with hot figs and drizzle with the remaining liquid. Scatter the toasted walnuts on top.

Sweet and salty, cold and hot, smooth, sticky and crunchy.

For Lorraine at Not Quite Nigella, a fig fancier.

Smyrna Fig Tree after the rain.  Now in full production after 6 years. Will be rewarded with deep mulch.

(in no particular order)

Darth Maul

Savage Opress

Feral

Asajj Ventress

Boba Fett

Kylo Ren

Ezra Bridger

Ahsoka Tano

Anakin Skywalker

Jar Jar Binks

Captain Rex

Agent Kallus

The Grand Inquisitor

Luke Skywalker

ARC Trooper Fives

Grand Admiral Thrawn

Yoda