Fig and Cheese Puff Pastry: The Quick Gourmet Recipe
Are you looking for an appetizer, a snack, or finger food that combines elegance with simplicity? The Fig and Goat Cheese Pastry is the answer you were looking for. The juicy sweetness of fresh figs meets the pungent saltiness and creaminess of goat cheese (which you can easily substitute with a spreadable fresh cheese, as we shall see in the ingredients). All wrapped in a golden, flaky puff pastry shell. It’s the ideal recipe to surprise your guests or treat yourself to a gourmet break without spending hours in the kitchen.
It’s not just about taste: the combination is an explosion of contrasts that pleases both sight and palate, making it a winning choice for any occasion, from a chic picnic to a dinner with friends. Moreover, its preparation allows you to make the most of the seasonality of figs, ensuring ingredients at the peak of their freshness and flavor.
The magic of this Fig and Goat Cheese Puff Pastry lies in its simple yet impactful structure. Unlike complex savory pies, here each ingredient plays a starring role without disguising itself. The crispy base, the flavored cheese creaminess, and the fruit arranged “like a flower” create a perfect balance. This dish is not only a delight for the palate but also extremely versatile. It can be served warm or at room temperature and is wonderfully suited to being prepared in advance
Below are more recipes with figs:
- Difficulty: Easy
- Cost: Very economical
- Preparation time: 10 Minutes
- Portions: 12 Pieces
- Cooking methods: Oven
- Cuisine: Italian
- Seasonality: Fall, Winter, Summer, Autumn
- Energy 198.08 (Kcal)
- Carbohydrates 11.84 (g) of which sugars 3.51 (g)
- Proteins 5.36 (g)
- Fat 14.79 (g) of which saturated 3.42 (g)of which unsaturated 0.67 (g)
- Fibers 0.76 (g)
- Sodium 271.90 (mg)
Indicative values for a portion of 180 g processed in an automated way starting from the nutritional information available on the CREA* and FoodData Central** databases. It is not food and / or nutritional advice.
* CREATES Food and Nutrition Research Center: https://www.crea.gov.it/alimenti-e-nutrizione https://www.alimentinutrizione.it ** U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service. FoodData Central, 2019. https://fdc.nal.usda.gov
Ingredients
- 12 figs (fresh)
- 10.5 oz spreadable fresh cheese
- 1 sheet of puff pastry
- 1 egg
- 3 tbsp milk
- to taste thyme (fresh)
- to taste extra virgin olive oil
- to taste salt
- to taste pepper
- 1.75 oz grated Parmesan cheese
Tools
- Parchment paper Cuki Parchment Paper Sheets 13 x 15 in – 25 sheets – 1 package
- Pastry wheel ELETTRO CENTER Art.2 Pastry Cutter, Stainless Steel, Silver, 7×1.6×1.6 in
Steps for Fig and Cheese Puff Pastry
Prepare the Pastry: Unroll the puff pastry and, using a knife or a pastry wheel, cut out 12 squares of equal size. Alternatively, you can create circles if you prefer a softer look. Place the squares on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
Prepare the Cheese: In a bowl, mix the spreadable fresh cheese (or goat cheese) with the grated Parmesan cheese, a pinch of salt, a grind of pepper, and plenty of thyme leaves. Add a teaspoon of extra virgin olive oil.
Prepare the Figs: Gently wash the figs and dry them. Cut each fig “like a flower”: make cross incisions at the tip of the fig, almost reaching the base, without separating the petals.
Filling: Spoon a generous amount of the cheese cream in the center of each puff pastry square, leaving a border of about 1 cm free.
Add the Figs: Gently press the base of each fig into the center of the cheese mound, so that the fig “petals” slightly open over the cream.
Brush and Bake: In a cup, beat the egg with the 3 tablespoons of milk. Brush the free borders of the pastry with this mixture to ensure a perfect golden color.
Baking: Bake in a preheated oven at 350°F (static mode) for about 15-20 minutes, or until the pastry is well golden and crispy.
Final Touch: Remove the pastries from the oven. Immediately drizzle a bit of extra virgin olive oil over each fig (if desired) and sprinkle with some fresh thyme leaves. Serve them warm to best appreciate the contrast between the warm pastry and the sweet and savory heart.
Tips, variations, and notes for Fig and Cheese Puff Pastry
Honey Goat Cheese: For an even more gourmet touch, mix a teaspoon of acacia honey into the cheese. The sweetness of the honey will enhance the fig flavor.
Walnuts and Pistachios: Add chopped walnuts or pistachios to the cheese before baking, or sprinkle them over the baked pastry. They will add a crunchy note and “good” fats.
Prosciutto: After baking, gently wrap a slice of Parma or San Daniele prosciutto around the base of the fig. The fig, goat cheese, and prosciutto pairing is a timeless classic.
Choosing the Figs: Use ripe but firm figs, so they don’t mush during baking. Black figs (like “Brogiotti”) tend to be sweeter, while green ones are slightly more delicate.
Serving: For a “wow” effect, serve the pastries on a wooden board, decorated with whole thyme sprigs and maybe a drizzle of balsamic glaze if you love a strong sweet-sour contrast.
FAQ (Questions and Answers)
What’s the secret to a chef-worthy result?
Don’t overdo it with the salt, to let the sweet-sour flavor of the fig marry harmoniously with the tangy note of the goat cheese.
A touch of fresh thyme, added only at the end of cooking, gifts an intoxicating aroma that completes the sensory experience.
