Goat Cheese, Prosciutto, and Fresh Figs

I’m quite certain that few combinations of simple ingredients are as sublime as fresh figs, prosciutto, and goat cheese. I mean, each of those ingredients stands on its own merits, but when you dab a bit of creamy goat cheese on a fig, wrap it in a ribbon of salty prosciutto, and then…then…drizzle it with local honey and a balsamic glaze. Oh, my! Talk about a fabulously decadent appetizer to whip up in mere minutes (or possibly as a solo lunch to celebrate all of your offspring being in school?).  Add a glass of wine and you’ll feel completely and utterly indulgent.

I think part of the appeal of figs is that the season for them is so very short, at least here in Washington. I’m not sure about other parts of the country.  I don’t like dried figs…I find them cloyingly sweet. But you probably don’t care about that…but you SHOULD care that I was just at Costco and the fresh figs had arrived…hurray!

Here’s what you’ll need:

• Fresh figs
• Goat cheese
• Prosciutto, each slice cut into four long ribbons
• Local honey
• Balsamic glaze (I found this at Walmart in Oklahoma, so it’s pretty easy to find, and adds such a great finishing flavor to so many dishes!)

To assemble, cut the stems off the figs and quarter them, dab a bit (about 1/2 teaspoon) of goat cheese on each, then wrap a ribbon of prosciutto around the fig and cheese. Place on your serving platter and drizzle with the honey and balsamic glaze. Ta-da!  You look like a culinary genius!