(Note: this post was originally published on November 3, 2019. The date above reflects migration to the new platform.)
Help, I think I have a major fig obsession! I've always loved them, but have gotten seriously out of control this fall. I've been making fig everything, including many variations of these sweet and salty stuffed figs.
In my opinion, the key to a truly addicting appetizer is the balance of sweet and salty, as well as the balance of fresh and fatty. And don't forget the crunch! Those things are what makes a bite like this so intriguing that you want to keep going back for more.
In this post, I'll walk you though the central components that I think these Sweet and Salty Stuffed Figs need to be truly addicting and well-balanced. Then I'll give some example flavor profiles and photos to get you started. But this concept is really a blank canvas, so I suggest using these ideas as a starting point and bringing your own spin to them. You can have such fun with this idea, so be creative and choose whatever ingredients you love most and whatever flavors you think will best complement your meal.
My formula for stuffed figs has become as follows. I recommend sticking to these categories for a well-balanced bite. On top of your figs, you'll want:
Good news! These cute little two-bite treats are really easy to put together. Just slice the figs in half and lay your wonderful accompaniments on top. They come together in a flash. I don't suggest preparing these more than an hour ahead of time, but they're so easy it hardly matters.
Here are some examples to get you started. Note that you can easily make these vegan by using a plant-based cheese or cream cheese, or even using avocado instead!
These beauties are vaguely middle-eastern inspired. Corresponding to my "required" components above, they contain:
This version is perfect for a holiday appetizer! These seasonal nibbles contain:
This show-stopping version is inspired by the flavors of Vermont. These tasty treats contain:
You can really take this idea anywhere. You can theme them by season, region, or in whatever way you can dream up. You can make just a couple for a date night dinner, or a whole tray of them for a party. You can make just a single type, or a couple different types. You could even make a dessert version using some nut butter as the creamy element and some crunchy dark chocolate!
Regardless of how you enjoy them, they'll make for a lovely appetizer or treat for any meal during fig season. I could even see these being on your Thanksgiving table. I hope you enjoy them as much as we have!
It makes me so happy to hear from you and see your creations! Please leave a comment below and let me know what you think about this recipe. If you post a photo on Instagram, hashtag #TheRogueBrusselSprout and tag me (@TheRogueBrusselSprout) in the post text so that I'm sure to see it.
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These Sweet and Salty Stuffed Figs are my favorite fall and holiday appetizer! They're special and decadent, yet come together in minutes, plus you can vary the flavors infinitely to match your meal.
Since this "recipe" is really more of a concept, refer to the examples in the blog post. You can use those as a jumping off point to create your own unique flavor profile!
Did you make this recipe? Did you make substitutions? How did you serve it? Any helpful tips? Please share your thoughts, since these insights are really useful to both me and to other readers.
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