Chevre Fig Spread Recipes

Steps:

• Place the orange zest and orange juice in a medium (10-inch) heavy-bottomed pot or Dutch oven, such as Le Creuset. Add the sugar, vanilla bean, and figs to the pot. Cover and bring to a full boil over medium heat. (Don't worry; it may look dry.) Stir the mixture and boil hard for 1 minute, stirring to dissolve the sugar. Lower the heat, and cook uncovered at a full simmer for 50 minutes to 1 hour and 15 minutes, stirring occasionally. You want the little bubbles to be throughout the pot, not just at the edges. After 45 minutes, refrigerate a small amount of the liquid to see if it becomes syrupy. It should be like a soft fruit preserve. Keep cooking just until the liquid starts to gel when cold. If the liquid is too firm, add a little orange juice or water, cook for a minute, and test it again until it's right. Depending on how ripe the figs are, they will probably keep their shape, but it's fine if they don't. Discard the vanilla bean and serve or refrigerate.
• Before serving, toast or grill the bread and spread with goat cheese. Spoon the fig preserves on, then the grated orange zest if using, and serve.

Steps:

• In a small bowl pour boiling water over figs to cover; let stand 15 minutes. Drain well.
• Meanwhile, in a medium bowl stir together chevre, sour cream, basil, and thyme. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Stir in drained figs and 1/4 cup almonds. Thin with milk if needed. Cover and chill in refrigerator up to 24 hours.
• To serve, transfer spread to a serving bowl. Sprinkle with remaining almonds and fresh thyme (if using).
• Serve with toasted baguette slices or crackers.

Steps:

• In a food processor, combine goat cheese, milk, rosemary, and vinegar; process until very smooth.
• Add figs, and season with coarse salt and ground pepper; pulse once or twice just to incorporate.

Steps:

• 1. In a small bowl pour boiling water over figs to cover; let stand 15 minutes. Drain well. 2. Meanwhile, in a medium bowl, stir together goat cheese, sour cream, basil, milk and thyme. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Stir in drained figs and half the walnuts. Cover and chill in refrigerator up to 24 hours. 3. To serve, transfer spread to serving bowl. Sprinkle with remaining walnuts and fresh thyme sprigs. Serve with baguette slices or crackers.

Steps:

• In a med saucepan, combine figs with sugar and 1 1/2 cups water; bring to a boil.
• Reduce heat; simmer, covered, until most of the liquid has evaporated and figs are easily pierced with the tip of a sharp paring knife, about 20 minutes.
• Transfer mixture to a food processor; add lemon juice.
• Puree until smooth (add up to 1/4 cup additional water, if needed, to thin to desired consistency).
• Store in refrigerator for up to 1 month.

Steps:

• Combine ingredients well, and serve either packed into a bowl and drizzled with olive oil, or formed into a ball and rolled into chopped toasted walnuts or almonds.

Steps:

• 1. Slice the chèvre log, and place on an oven pan. Cut the figs into rounds.
• 2. Pour the balsamic vinegar and sugar into a small pot, and bring it to a boil. Lower the heat and let it simmer until the mixture is reduced and sticks to the back of a spoon.
• 3. If you are using dried figs, place them in the vinegar mixture and let them absorb some of the fluid while the mixture cools.
• 4. Heat the chèvre cheese slices quickly by using your oven's broiler function for about 3 minutes, or until the cheese has slightly started to melt. Place the cheese on a serving plate, and top it with the candied figs and vinegar mixture. Serve warm.
• Simplify:
• You can replace muscavado sugar with brown sugar, honey, or regular sugar. Always taste the mixture since the different sugars have different sweetness, and you might have to add more.
• For a challenge:
• With their peppery honey flavor, Black Mission figs are the best money can buy. Fresh Black Mission figs are only available a few weeks out of the year, so if you happen to come across some, make compotes and freeze for later use.
• Muscovado sugar:
• The sugar is available in light and dark flavors, and is a raw sugar made from sugar canes. Compared with regular refined sugar, it is less processed and high in mineral content. The darker sugar has a liquorish flavor, and the lighter version has a toffee flavor.