Foraging for figs

Finding a local fig tree is like finding a tree growing gold coins.

Perhaps that's a slight exaggeration but there's something about this incredibly delicate fruit that holds a kind of mysticism for me. The way that they are so elusive with their short season and the way that you have to almost cradle them home really endears me to them.

I didn't grow up knowing what a delicious treat fresh figs are. The figs that I knew were of the hard, chewy, dried variety. But now I know better.

So when I discovered a fig tree at the top of my driveway, I was excited! Mr H and I have lived in this house for a number of years and I have only just discovered that there is a fig tree in our midst! But as I soon discovered, the birds love the figs as much as I do and I saw the upper leaves rustling as the birds feasted. And what's more, the fruit are only pickable within a short 5 day period.

I shared the tree with the birds, I got the figs near the bottom, the birds got the figs near the top of the tree. With my modest harvest gathered in my cardigan, I trotted back down to the house and started thinking about what to make.

I settled for three very simple and quick snacks using some of the natural pairings of figs: blue cheese and honey.

First up, I made a quick snack of figs with some blue cheese that I got from CheeseFest and Airborne's Rewarewa honey that is beautifully rich and dark.

The next day I popped down to Nosh to treat myself with some proscuitto and Clearwater yoghurt to make the next two figgy snacks.

Figs and blue cheese, wrapped in proscuitto and lightly fried. That was a winner!

And lastly, a dessert style dish of yoghurt, figs, almonds and honey. I could equally imagine this with a bit of muesli for breakfast.

Figs are now available at some markets and vege stores. But their season is short, so grab some soon!

Figs with honey and blue cheese

serves 2

Ingredients

6 figs, halved
50g blue cheese, crumbled
3 Tbsp honey

Directions

1. Press some blue cheese into the centre of each fig half
2. Divide the figs onto two plates and drizzle with honey.

Figs with proscuitto and blue cheese

serves 2

Ingredients

3 figs, halved
3 slices proscuitto, halved lengthwise
50g blue cheese

Directions

1. Heat a griddle or frying pan on a medium heat
2. Lay a slice of proscuitto on a flat surface and put a fig and piece of blue cheese at one end
3. Roll the fig and blue cheese in the proscuitto and secure it with a toothpick
4. Repeat with the remainder of the ingredients
5. Fry on all sides until lightly browned.

Yoghurt, almonds, honey and figs

serves 2

Ingredients

6 figs, quartered
1 1/2 cups greek yoghurt
1/4 toast almonds, roughly chopped
3 Tbsp honey

Directions

1. In two glasses, layer all the ingredients, topping it with a piece of fig, some almonds and a drizzle of honey.

This mix would also be d'lish with your morning muesli.

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