This is a very simple dish that we have done a few time now as a way to use the remaining heat in the Big Green Egg once it has been shut down. This is one of the endearing qualities of the EGG and we are beginning to put together a number of ideas to use this heat at the end of a cook. This particular one works with and without the pancetta. The slight problem we have had is that we have been cooking these in Italy at the end of a meal and photography in the dark is not ideal for capturing the essence of food – but these pictures will suffice for the time being!
The fresh figs were bought from the local fruit shop here in Italy and were cut through with a sharp knife and opened out a little to allow a small spoonful of ricotta cheese to be added. They were then sat on the grill of the cooling EGG and left to warm through whilst we finished off the glass of wine we were drinking. After 10-15 mins or so the EGG was opened to check on the warming figs and to make sure they were warming rather than cooking! At this point a little runny local honey was drizzled over the ricotta and they were left for a minute or so more.
They were lovely served simply like this but we developed a taste for lightly frying a piece of pancetta on the grill a little earlier in the evening and leaving this to cool. This could then be added to the fig and sweetened ricotta – if you are not looking for a vegetarian dish then the pancetta setting off the sweetened ricotta beautifully.
Which ever way you do it I am sure you will enjoy it ………!
Warm fig with ricotta, honey and crisped pancetta
Warm fig with ricotta honey (and crisped pancetta) - cooked on the cooling BGE
Ingredients
- For 2 people
- 2 ripe figs
- 2 tsp ricotta
- Drizzle of clear honey
- 2 pieces of 'crisped' pancetta if not wanting a vegetarian dish
Directions
- Step 1 Cut through the top of the fig with a sharp knife and open it out a little to allow a small spoonful of ricotta cheese to be added. Place on the grill of the cooling EGG and leave to warm through. After 10-15 mins check on the warming figs to make sure they were warming rather than cooking and add a drizzled of runny honey over the ricotta and leave for a minute or so more.
- Step 2 Serve like this or alternatively add a strip of pancetta crisped for a few moments on a flat metal surface earlier and allowed to cool