Figs Wine and Goat Cheese

goat cheese

🥗Healthier: cottage cheese

💰Cheaper: cream cheese

Cottage cheese is lower in fat and calories while cream cheese is more accessible.

red wine

🥗Healthier: non-alcoholic wine

💰Cheaper: grape juice

Non-alcoholic wine maintains flavor without alcohol; grape juice is more affordable.

honey

🥗Healthier: agave syrup

💰Cheaper: sugar syrup

Agave syrup is lower on the glycemic index; sugar syrup is inexpensive.

balsamic vinegar

🥗Healthier: apple cider vinegar

💰Cheaper: white vinegar

Apple cider vinegar offers a similar tang; white vinegar is cost-effective.

Introduce the recipe for figs, wine, and goat cheese as a great appetizer for wine tasting.

Mention the use of an average table wine, suggesting Merlot or Pinot Noir, and advise not to spend more than $10.

Prepare about 1/2 cup of water for the recipe.

Zest a couple of lemons to get about 1 tablespoon of lemon zest and juice them to get about 3 tablespoons of lemon juice.

Chop up about 1 cup of dried Mission figs into bite-sized pieces, leaving them rustic or chopping them finely based on preference.

In a 2-quart pot, add the red wine, water, lemon zest, sugar, figs, cinnamon sticks, and black peppercorns.

Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce the heat to low and let it simmer for 20 to 30 minutes, ensuring to inform that alcohol takes a long time to cook out.

Prepare crostini by slicing a baguette, brushing it with olive oil, and browning it under the broiler on both sides to avoid sogginess.

Spread about 4 ounces of goat cheese on the crostini and return it to the oven to warm the cheese without cooking it.

After 30 minutes, remove the fig and wine sauce from the pot and store it in an airtight container for later use.

Serve the fig and wine sauce on crostini with goat cheese, suggesting it also pairs well with French toast.

Cooking Techniques

Equipment Needed

Spice Level:

Dietary

Allergens