A Fig, a Pig and a Moo

Growing up having only had figs in Newton form, and not being particularly fond of any kind of Newton, I was pleasantly surprised when I had fresh figs for the first time.  They were not too sweet with pretty speckled insides and a tender but not mushy texture.  Why are they not served like this all the time?  What is this crazy Newton business?

As a cheese lover, there's just no fruit that goes quite as well with different types of cheese as figs. (That's right grapes, you heard me.)

My go to potluck offering is always some kind of cheese and fruit plate but this time, for a multiple summer birthday dinner party, I thought I'd switch it up and actually assemble an appetizer.

My friends affectionately named this A Fig, a Pig and a Moo.  As brilliant as my friends are, this is a play off a named flatbread pizza at a restaurant in Huntington Beach called A Fig and a Pig, using figs and prosciutto, mozarella and wild rocket.

So, much as I'd like to take credit for the flavor sensation that is figs and prosciutto, it seems this combination is a no brainer.  I will take full credit for the addition of Danish blue cheese though.

This is a perfect appetizer for the summer as it doesn't require any actual cooking.  If I were a more ambitious woman, I would have grilled the figs first to carmelize the sugar.  Or wrapped the blue cheese on top of the fig and popped the whole thing in the broiler until the prosciutto was crispy and the blue cheese was melted.  Or I could have made a blue cheese spread to put on toast points and top with prosciutto and a slice of figs.

I did none of these things.

Ingredients:

1 lb fresh black figs
4 oz prosciutto in the flat package
4 oz Danish blue cheese

Directions:
1. Rinse, dry and trim the stems off the figs.

2. Slice the figs in half. Slice the stack of prosciutto into 3 strips. Separate the strips. Cut the blue cheese into 1/8 oz pieces

4. Wrap a fig half with one strip of prosciutto.  Repeat until all the figs are wrapped.

5. Top each prosciutto wrapped fig with a piece of blue cheese.

6. Optional: Place under broiler until blue cheese is melted.

7. Serve to friends and listen to all the comments about how wonderful the combination of flavors are and how it hits every part of the palate in a deeply satisfying way.

Or just enjoy with a glass of wine.