Balsamic Fig Sauce Recipes

BALSAMIC FIG SAUCE

Steps:

• Combine all ingredients with 1/2 cup water in a small saucepan. Cover; bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce to a simmer; cook, partially covered, until fruit has broken down, 20 to 30 minutes.
• Let cool slightly; remove thyme sprig. Press mixture through a large-holed sieve with a rubber spatula.

BALSAMIC FIG SAUCE

Steps:

• Combine all ingredients with 1/2 cup water in a saucepan.
• Cover; bring to boil over high heat.
• Reduce to a simmer; cook, partially covered, until fruit has broken down, about 20 to 30 minutes.
• Let cool slightly; remove thyme sprig.
• Press mixture through a large-holed sieve with a rubber spatula.

VANILLA ICE CREAM WITH BALSAMIC FIG SAUCE

Steps:

• Place ice cream on counter to soften. In a small pot, combine vinegar and water and bring to a boil. Add figs and reduce heat to simmer. Stew figs in sauce until they are soft and sauce is thick and syrupy, about 12 minutes.
• Scoop ice cream into glass goblets or other dessert dishes and top liberally with hot balsamic fig sauce and whipped cream. Garnish the top of the whipped cream with a little freshly grated nutmeg.

BALSAMIC AND FIG CARAMEL SAUCE

Steps:

• Halve figs lengthwise, discarding stems. In a dry 3-quart heavy saucepan cook sugar over moderately low heat, stirring slowly with a fork (to help sugar melt evenly), until melted and pale golden. Cook caramel, without stirring, gently swirling pan, until deep golden. Remove pan from heat and carefully pour water down side of pan (mixture will vigorously steam and caramel will harden). Add figs, vinegar, butter, and mustard and simmer, stirring, until caramel is dissolved and figs are softened, about 6 minutes. Sauce keeps, covered and chilled, 1 week. Reheat sauce before serving.

CHICKEN TENDERS WITH BALSAMIC-FIG SAUCE

Steps:

• Season chicken with salt and pepper on both sides and lightly coat with flour, shaking off excess.
• Heat olive oil and butter in a large nonstick skillet over medium heat. Add chicken to the skillet and cook until tenders are golden brown, no longer pink in the centers, and juices run clear, 5 to 6 minutes, flipping halfway through. Transfer to a plate and cover loosely with aluminum foil to keep warm.
• Add shallot and garlic to the same skillet and cook until softened, about 2 minutes. Add red wine and balsamic and let simmer until reduced by half, 3 to 5 minutes. Stir in figs, thyme, Dijon mustard, honey, and salt; bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low or medium-low and let simmer until thickened, about 3 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in butter.
• Spoon sauce over warm chicken tenders, or add chicken back into the skillet to briefly reheat, and serve immediately.

CHICKEN WITH BALSAMIC FIG SAUCE

Steps:

• Sprinkle both sides of chicken evenly with 1 1/2 tsps thyme, 1/4 tsp salt and pepper.
• Heat oil in a large non-stick skillet over medium-high heat.
• Add chicken and cook for 6 minutes on each side or until no longer pink. Remove from pan and keep warm by covering plate with towel or placing in warm oven.
• Reduce heat to medium and add butter to skillet.
• Add onions and saute for 3 minutes.
• Add broth, vinegar, soy sauce and figs.
• Simmer until sauce is reduced to 1 cup (about 3 minutes).
• Add 1 tablespoon thyme and 1/4 tsp salt.
• Cut chicken breasts on the diagonal into slices. Serve sauce over chicken.

STUFFED LEG OF LAMB WITH BALSAMIC-FIG-BASIL SAUCE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).
• Combine the chopped prunes and currants with the creme de cassis in a small bowl, and set aside. In another small bowl, combine the rosemary, thyme, coriander, salt, and pepper; set aside.
• Untie and unroll the lamb, lay it out flat on the work surface. Trim off excess fat, and cut any thick parts open so that it is evenly thick and somewhat rectangular in shape. Sprinkle half of the herb mixture over the lamb. Mix the almonds and chopped mint into the prune mixture; spread evenly over the lamb. Roll up starting at one of the short sides, and tie with kitchen twine in 1-inch intervals. Cut 9 slits about 1-inch deep into the top of the lamb, and insert a slice of garlic in each. Rub with olive oil, and sprinkle with the remaining herb mixture.
• Place lamb seam-side up on a rack set in a roasting pan. Roast in the preheated oven to desired doneness. For medium-rare, a thermometer inserted into the center will read 140 degrees F (60 degrees C). Remove lamb from the oven and cover with foil. Allow to rest for 15 minutes while proceeding with the recipe.
• While the lamb is resting, bring the balsamic vinegar to a boil in a small saucepan over high heat. Boil until the vinegar has reduced by half, 4 to 5 minutes. Once reduced, stir in the butter, honey, and sliced figs. Stir until the butter has melted, then remove from the heat, stir in the chopped basil and set aside.
• To serve, remove the twine from the lamb and cut into 1/2 inch thick slices. Arrange on a warm serving platter and drizzle with the fig sauce, garnish with mint and basil leaves.