Warm Fig & Goat Cheese Appetizer

I had the most amazing warm fig appetizer while dining at a five star restaurant nearby a few years ago and have looked on many a menu since then, and have not found anything like it.

So, I begun searching the web and experimented with a couple fig appetizers and this was my favorite.

The original recipe is on Yumsugar website but the ratios were a bit too much goat cheese, so following is my variation with less goat cheese with increase sweet syrup ratio.  The balsamic and honey combination is fabulous!  My photos don't do justice to the rich and decadent flavors, but I promise these are little bites of heaven.

INGREDIENTS:

• 1 dozen figs
• 1 Tbls unsalted butter
• 3 Tbls balsamic vinegar
• 3 Tbls honey
• 2 oz fresh goat cheese
• 1 pinch Kosher salt

Preheat the oven to 400ºF.  While the oven preheats, melt the butter in a small saucepan, along with the balsamic vinegar, honey, and a hefty pinch of salt. Bring to a boil, then reduce to a simmer and cook about 5 minutes, or until slightly thickened.  Place the figs, cut side up, in a baking dish the size of a pie pan. Top each fig half with a 1/2 teaspoon to 1 teaspoon of goat cheese. Drizzle the balsamic vinegar syrup over the figs. Roast in the oven until very soft, 10 to 15 minutes.
Serve on a platter sprinkled with coarse salt.