Warm Figs with Goat Cheese and Honey

Makes 16 pieces, enough to serve 4 to 6

The figs should be baked briefly—just long enough to soften the cheese and warm the figs.
16 walnut halves (about 1/2 cup)
1 tablespoon brown sugar
1/8 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon ground cinnamon
11/2 ounces goat cheese (about 3 tablespoons)
8 fresh figs, halved lengthwise
2 tablespoons honey

Combine the walnuts, brown sugar, salt, and cinnamon in a small, heavy-bottomed skillet. Cook over medium-high heat until the sugar melts and coats the nuts evenly, about 3 minutes. Remove the nuts from the pan, -separating them from each other. Cool.
Adjust the oven rack to the middle position and heat the oven to 500 degrees. Spoon a heaping 1⁄2 teaspoon goat cheese onto each fig half and place on a parchment-lined rimmed baking sheet. Bake the figs for 4 minutes. Transfer the warm figs to a serving platter.
Place a candied walnut half on each fig half and drizzle the honey over the figs. Serve immediately.

Recipe source: America’s Test Kitchen. Valley Fig is a proud sponsor of the America’s Test Kitchen.

Valley Fig Growers