Grilled Figs with Mascarpone Cheese

by Denise Woodward & Laudalino Ferreira on July 30, 2012

in fruit, grilling, recipes

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I will take figs any possible way you can serve them:  as a jam, on pizza, with ice cream, stuffed with goat cheese, dipped in chocolate, on a salad, by themselves…shall I go on?  And now, Denise has gone and grilled them and dressed them up with marscarpone and a port reduction – I am beside myself. This is one of the prettiest summer desserts I could imagine serving. – Maggie

I began grilling fruit a few summers ago and still think it was one of the best food decisions I’ve made.   I remember the timing remarkably well.   I was in a bit of a rut, looking for something to serve with a grilled pork loin.   The obvious was a tomato based salsa, but, I was bored with the usual.   So, I took some peaches, sliced them in half and began grilling.

Since that first blissful moment, I have been grilling all sorts of fruit for both savory dishes as well as sweet desserts.   I love the slightly smoke taste and adore how the natural sugars of the fruit begin to caramelize over, causing a sweet, gooey mess.
Grilled figs are one of those fruits that work exceptionally well in savory, as well as sweet dishes.   I use figs that are slightly firm to the touch, not overly ripe, as they hold up on the grill better.   I do not coat them with any oils, I simply lay them on the grill and let them get jammy.   It only takes a couple minutes before you have gorgeous grill marks and intensely fragrant fruit.   Figs caramelize gorgeously.   They remind me of a pot of bubbly jam when grilled.
This dessert recipe is a sexy way to showcase jammy, grilled figs.   The figs go extremely well with rich mascarpone cheese and an intense port reduction.  They are heavenly with each tender bite.   I warn you, this dessert is not only elegant, but very rich.   There are a lot of flavors playing with each other, and you only need to serve a small amount to each guest.  But it is guaranteed to wow at your next summer soiree.
Grilled Figs with Mascarpone Cheese and Port Wine Reduction
serves 6 – 8
Ingredients:
  • 1 pint figs, cut in half
  • 8 ounces Mascarpone cheese
  • 2 tablespoons brown sugar
  • 1 cup of port
Directions:
  1. Preheat your grill according to the directions of your grill.   Once ready, lay each fig onto the hot grill.   Gently cook the fruit only until there are slight grill marks and the fruit is slightly warm;   about 1 – 2 minutes per side.   The timing depends on how hot the grill is and how large the figs are.   Remove from the grill and set aside.
  2. Whip the mascarpone cheese with the brown sugar until light and fluffy;   about 3 minutes.   Set aside.
  3. In a small saucepan over medium-low heat, gently heat the port.   Cook until reduced in half, about 13 minutes.   Remove from the heat.   The port will thicken as it cools down.
  4. To serve:   put a dollop of sweet, mascarpone cheese into a small serving bowl, scatter with some of the grilled figs and drizzle a small amount of port over the top.

All photos styled and taken by Denise Woodward.

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Tagged as: figs, marscarpone

Denise Woodward & Laudalino Ferreira

Denise is a foodie who’s first thought each morning is about what she’ll be cooking that day. Laudalino is not a foodie; he’s an eater and aspiring home chef. They met when he was a starving climber and bachelor who longed for his mother’s good Portuguese cooking. She cooked, he ate and nine years later, he still prefers her food to any restaurant fare. Follow their culinary capers in their 20-square-foot urban kitchen at their blog, Chez Us.

  • http://hampiesandwiches.blogspot.com/ Eileen

    Figs!  Personally, I have a hard time doing anything to figs but popping them directly into my mouth–but these roasted figs sound amazing!

    • Denise

      Eileen, I am the same way.   Every so often, it is just fun to mix it up, and this recipe is a show-stopper.  So creamy and dreamy …  ~ Denise

  • http://www.eatboutique.com Maggie

    Figs and cheese are amazing, and this looks divine.

    • http://chezus.com/ Denise

      Oh Maggie, you have no idea.  I wish you lived here, I’d invite you over for a glass of Rose and I’d serve this.  Heavenly ….. 

  • Karen K.

    Yum! This is definitely going on my “must cook” list. I never really liked figs until I bought Maggie Beer’s cookbooks – she has some wonderful meat recipes using figs and quince.

    • http://chezus.com/ Denise

      Karen, figs are pretty amazing grilled.  I, also like to stuff them with a little blue cheese and wrap with prosciutto and then grill them for a bit.  Heaven.  Keep us posted when you try this recipe.  

  • Jill@FreestyleFarm

    This looks so beautiful and easy! I cannot wait to try it!

  • http://chezus.com/ Denise

    Thanks Jill.  We loved this recipe.  Simply elegant.  

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