Figs Flambe With Port And Gelato Recipes

FIGS IN PORT

Steps:

• Remove the stems from the figs and cut them in half lengthwise.
• Place a 10-inch stainless-steel or enamel-coated saucepan over medium-high heat until hot but not smoking. Sprinkle the sugar evenly over the surface. It will melt right away and begin to caramelize and smoke. Immediately place the figs, cut side down, onto the caramelizing sugar. Reduce the heat to low and let the figs cook for 2 to 3 minutes. Do not stir or toss or turn the figs. The figs will naturally release their own juices which will dissolve the sugar.
• Carefully add the port to the saucepan. Keep the pan over low heat until the caramel melts completely and begins to coat the figs. Add the peppercorns, first enclosing them in a tea ball or cheesecloth, if desired. Use heat-resistant tongs to flip the figs over and cook for 2 to 3 minutes more. Transfer the figs to a platter, cut side up, and cover to keep warm.
• Return the pan to medium heat for 3 to 5 minutes, using a heat-resistant rubber spatula to stir and occasionally scrape the bottom to pull up all the caramel and peppercorn goodness that may be stuck there. Remove and discard the peppercorn via the tea ball or cheesecloth or a slotted spoon. The port sauce should be deep purple, thick, and velvety. Remove the pan from the heat.
• Drizzle the warm figs with the port sauce and serve immediately.

FIGS FLAMBE WITH PORT AND GELATO

Steps:

• Preheat broiler. In a large heavy ovenproof skillet over medium-high heat, melt butter; sprinkle with sugar. Add figs to skillet, and stir gently to combine. Season with pepper. Turn figs cut side up, and place skillet under the broiler until the figs are browned around the edges, about 4 minutes.
• Remove from broiler, and carefully pour port over figs. Ignite with a match. When flame subsides, transfer figs to a plate with a slotted spoon; set aside. Return skillet to medium-high heat, and reduce liquid until thick and syrupy, by about one-half. Remove from heat, and return figs to skillet. Spoon syrup over figs to coat. Spoon figs and syrup over gelato, dividing evenly, and serve.

FRESH FIG GELATO

Steps:

• Combine the sugar and water in a saucepan. Simmer over medium heat until the sugar dissolves. Increase the heat and boil the syrup until it thickens, about 5 minutes. Remove the syrup from the heat and allow it to cool to room temperature.
• Mix the puree with the cool syrup, then stir in the "neutral" stabilizing powder, whisking for 5 minutes. (The stabilizing powder prevents ice crystals from forming and helps ensure a smooth textured gelato.) Chill the gelato base thoroughly then process it in an ice cream maker according to the manufacturer's instructions. Spoon the gelato into containers and freeze until ready to serve.

FIGS POACHED IN PORT

Steps:

• Combine the port sugar, vanilla pods and seeds, cinnamon, orange peel and peppercorns in a large saucepan. Bring to a boil and reduce the heat. Simmer until the liquid has the consistency of a light syrup, about 20 minutes. You will have about 1 1/2 cups of syrup. Add the figs and simmer for 15 to 20 minutes. Turn off the heat and cool the figs in the syrup. Serve the figs in a bowl with their juices spooned over.

POACHED FIGS IN SPICED RED WINE WITH VANILLA GELATO

Steps:

• In a saucepan combine the wine, sugar, cinnamon and cloves. Bring the liquid to a boil over moderately high heat, stirring, and simmer the mixture for 5 minutes. Add the figs and simmer just until figs are heated through. Let cool to warm. Arrange scoops of gelato in two stemmed glasses and top with the figs and some of the poaching liquid. Garnish with mint if desired.

ICE CREAM WITH FIGS POACHED IN PORT AND STAR ANISE

Steps:

• Combine first 7 ingredients in heavy large saucepan. Bring to boil over high heat, stirring until sugar dissolves. Reduce heat and simmer until figs soften, stirring occasionally, about 15 minutes. Using slotted spoon, transfer figs to bowl. Increase heat to high and boil poaching liquid until syrupy and reduced to 1 1/3 cups, about 20 minutes. Pour syrup over figs in bowl. Cool. Refrigerate until cold, at least 2 hours. (Can be made 4 days ahead. Cover and keep refrigerated.)
• Scoop ice cream into dessert goblets. Remove star anise and vanilla bean from fig mixture. Spoon figs and syrup over ice cream and serve.
• Brown star-shaped seedpods available at Asian markets and specialty foods stores and in the spice section of some supermarkets.

FIG-HONEY GELATO

Steps:

• In a saucepan, heat the figs over medium-high heat with the sugar, stirring roughly so they break apart.
• Cook, stirring, until the figs have mostly melted and begin to bubble, about 5 minutes.
• Remove from the heat and stir in the honey, orange liqueur, mascarpone, milk and salt. Chill well, about 30 minutes in the refrigerator; then freeze according to ice cream maker's instructions.

SPICED FIGS IN PORT

Steps:

• Rinse figs, cover with water and simmer 20 minutes. Drain, reserving the liquid. Return one cup of the cooking liquid to the pan, along with the remaining ingredients and simmer briefly, just until the sugar dissolves.
• Return figs to the pan and simmer 10 minutes longer. Cover and allow to stand overnight in syrups.
• Transfer to clean jars or containers and refrigerate or reheat to boiling, transfer to clean, hot, 16-ounce canning jars, process 15 minutes in a boiling water bath and seal with new lids according to manufacturer's directions.

FIGS WITH GOAT CHEESE AND PORT SYRUP

Steps:

• In a small saucepan, over medium-high heat, bring the port and honey up to a boil.
• Reduce heat and simmer slowly until reduced by half.
• Set aside and cool to room temperature, the syrup will thicken upon standing.
• Cut the goat cheese into 8 equal pieces, about 2 teaspoon each and roll each piece into a ball.
• Place the figs upright and carefully make four cross cuts, slicing each fig into eight sections, BEING CAREFUL NOT TO GO ALL THE WAY THROUGH.
• Gently separate the figs outward to form a "flower"
• Place a ball of goat cheese in the center of each fig and drizzle with the port syrup.
• Garnish with walnuts.

ROASTED FIGS AND NUTS WITH PORT REDUCTION

Steps:

• In saucepan heated to medium, combine port, sugar, cracked pepper and mint, and simmer until consistency of syrup, about 30 minutes. Remove from heat and let cool.
• Preheat oven to 415 degrees F. Cut figs in half, from top to bottom. Line a baking sheet with a large sheet of Reynolds Wrap® Aluminum Foil. Fold up the sheet in the center to create a barrier, splitting the sheet into two sides. On one half, place figs cut side up, and top each with about 1/2 teaspoon of goat cheese.
• Toss the nuts in a bowl with butter, salt, pepper and chili powder. Spread in single layer on the other side of the foil-lined pan. Roast 10 minutes. Keep an eye on the nuts so they don't burn.
• To serve, chop the nuts and sprinkle bits on the figs. Drizzle figs and nuts with port reduction.