Caramelized Figs
- 1/4 to 1/2 cup sugar
- 1/4 teaspoon coarse salt
- 1 pint figs (about 12 ounces or a dozen figs), halved lengthwise
- 1/4 cup ruby or tawny port wine, marsala wine, or balsamic vinegar
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, room temperature
- 1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice
- Caramelize fruit Stir together sugar and salt in a shallow bowl.
- Press cut side of each fig half into sugar mixture to coat.
- Heat a large skillet over high heat.
- Add figs, cut sides down, and cook until sugar and juices caramelize, 3 to 4 minutes, turning over fruit as it browns and shifting position of pan over burner, if necessary, to evenly cook fruit.
- Deglaze pan and make sauce Remove skillet from heat and add port.
- Return to heat and cook to reduce syrup, about 30 seconds, carefully scraping up caramelized bits on bottom of pan.
- Remove from heat and add butter.
- Add lemon juice; swirl to combine.
- Serve figs warm or at room temperature.
- Caramelizing fruit is as quick and as simple as can be.
- This technique is great for figs, but it works equally well with peaches, plums, pears, apples, and bananas.
- Cut the fruit (halve and pit stone fruits, slice apples and pears and other larger fruit), dip it in sugar, and place fruit sugar side down in a pan over medium-high heat.
- The caramelizing is complete in just a few minutes, in most cases.
- Then, after turning the fruit over, all you need do is deglaze the pan (using wine or liqueur or a flavorful vinegar) to produce a rich, glossy sauce.
- Port wine (or balsamic vinegar) is an ideal deglazing liquid for figs, rum for pineapple and banana, brandy for apricots and peaches, and poire William (a pear liqueur) for pears.
- If you like, swirl a tablespoon or two of butter into the pan to create a richer and more unctuous sauce.
- Serve the fruit over ice cream or yogurt or alongside slices of pound or sponge cake.
- Naturally, the fruit is also delicious on its own.
sugar, coarse salt, ruby, unsalted butter, lemon juice
Taken from www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/caramelized-figs-393932 (may not work)