Grilled Figs with Soft Cheese and Honey Dressing

Figs are my favourite fruit – as soon as I know they’re ripening I get all excited and start thinking of what I can make when I get my hands on some. Here is one of my absolute favourite ways to eat them. I’ve converted more than one person who’d never eaten a fig before into loving figs by serving them this dish. Try using different cheeses – blue, feta and cream cheese are all pretty good.

(Serves 4–6)

Reproduced with permission from Eating In: fabulous food for friends and family by Niki Bezzant.

Ingredients

• 12 ripe figs, washed and halved
• 100g soft goat’s cheese or feta cheese
• 3 cups rocket leaves

Dressing

• 1/4 cup olive oil
• 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar or honeygar
• 1 tablespoon runny honey

Method

Preheat the oven grill or barbecue until it’s good and hot.

Smear a little goat’s cheese into the centre of each fig half. Place figs on a baking tray (or on the barbecue grill) and cook for about 10 minutes until they turn slightly soft and the cheese has melted gorgeously.

Place figs on a large platter with the rocket leaves. Combine the dressing ingredients, then spoon over the figs and leaves.

John Hawkesby’s wine recommendation

Riesling
Woollaston Mahana 2010