Fresh Fig Bacon Blue Cheese Pizza Recipes

PIZZA WITH CARAMELIZED ONIONS, FIGS, BACON AND BLUE CHEESE

Steps:

• At least 45 minutes before cooking, preheat the oven and pizza stone to 550 degrees.
• Melt the butter in a large sauté pan over high heat. Add the onions, thyme and bay leaves. Cook for 5 minutes, stirring often, until the onions begin to wilt. Reduce the heat to medium-low and cook, stirring occasionally, until the onions have softened and turn a deep, golden brown, about 25 minutes. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Remove the bay leaves and transfer the onions to a small bowl.
• Place the bacon in the pan and set over high heat. Cook, stirring occasionally, until brown and crispy. Using a slotted spoon, transfer the bacon to a small bowl.
• Place the pizza dough on a heavily floured surface and stretch and pull, using your hands or a rolling pin, into about a 14-inch round. Place on a lightly floured pizza peel or rimless baking sheet. Cover with the toppings, careful not to press on the dough and weigh it down: the caramelized onions first, then the figs and bacon, and finally the Gorgonzola, leaving roughly a 1/2 inch border. Shake the pizza peel slightly to make sure the dough is not sticking. Carefully slide the pizza directly onto the baking stone in one quick, forward-and-back motion. Cook until the crust has browned on the bottom and the top is bubbling and browning in spots, about 7 minutes. Drizzle with a little olive oil and some cracked black pepper. Serve hot. Makes 1 pizza.

BACON-WRAPPED FIGS STUFFED WITH BLUE CHEESE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400°; line a baking sheet with foil.
• Lay bacon on the baking sheet and bake for 5-7 minutes, until the bacon has rendered some fat but is still pliable; drain on paper towels.
• Cut each strip of bacon in half and lay it on a cutting board.
• Slit the figs lengthwise, making a small pocket.
• Push about 1 teaspoon of the crumbled cheese into the pocket and close the slit.
• Place the fig on the bacon and roll the bacon around the fig, securing with a toothpick.
• Repeat with the remaining bacon, figs, and cheese.
• Transfer figs to a 9 x 13 inch baking dish, placing them about ½ inch apart.
• Bake in 400° oven for 10 minutes, or until bacon is crisp; remove from baking dish and serve hot or warm.
• **Make Ahead or OAMC: after step 8, Cover and refrigerate for up to 3 days or freeze for up to 1 month.
• Defrost the figs in the refrigerator overnight, if necessary.
• Preheat oven to 400°; let figs come to room temperature for about 20 minutes.
• Bake for 10 minutes, or until bacon is crisp; remove from baking dish and serve hot or warm.