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    12 Ways to get creative with figs

    By | Shine Food – Tue, Jul 15, 2008 5:24 PM EDT

    If luxuriating in summer's last days over a plate of prosciutto piled with juicy fresh figs is your idea of high living, we're with you. But so many dishes benefit from the fruit's singular sweetness and trademark texture that we often look beyond this classic combo. Here are our favorite ways to be creative with figs.

    Recipe Tips:

    Dried Versus Fresh
    Winy, chewy dried figs are delicious but taste very different than the fresh fruit, which has a luscious, juicy texture and brighter flavor. Take this into account before simply substituting one for the other.

    How to Spot a Ripe Fig
    Choose unblemished figs that give slightly when pressed but are not mushy.

    Cool Storage
    Ripe figs are very delicate and highly perishable. Store them in the refrigerator in a shallow Tupperware bottom lined with paper towels and loosely covered with plastic wrap for no more than three days.


    Main Courses
    Grilled Lamb and Fig Skewers with Mint-Pepper Glaze and Grilled Eggplant

    Egg Fettuccine with Figs, Rosemary, and Pancetta

    Veal Roast with Fresh Figs

    Turkey Paisano Sandwiches with Fig-and-Black Olive Vinaigrette


    Salads and Starters
    Fresh Figs with Goat Cheese and Peppered Honey

    Fresh Fig, Mascarpone, and Pesto Torte

    Fresh Fig, Prosciutto, and Arugula Salad with Parmesan Shavings

    Fig and Stilton Salad with Port Wine Dressing


    Desserts
    Fresh Fig Tart with Rosemary Cornmeal Crust and Lemon Mascarpone Cream

    Figs and Dried Cherries Poached in Vanilla-Honey Syrup with Pistachios

    Raspberry and Fig Gratin

    Dulce De Leche Ice Cream with Honey-Orange Roasted Figs


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