If the only type of fig you’ve had is inside a Fig Newton, then you’re seriously missing out. Depending on the type, fresh figs can be sweet, nutty, or floral. They are definitely the most beautiful fruits out there. They can make any dish look stunning.
There are six types of figs: Black Mission, Brown Turkey, Sierra, Calimyrna, King, and Kadota. The two types that I find most often in Connecticut are the Black Mission and the Calimyrna. I absolutely love the Calimyrna in EVERYTHING! Whatever I’m eating, I’m trying to find a way to put figs into it. I’ve used them to make sauces, I bake them with a little brown sugar for dessert, I put them in my salad, or I simply eat them plain. They are delicious no matter what you do with them.
Even though I loved the Calimyrna figs, I had a hard time enjoying the Black Mission. I didn’t find them as sweet or delicious as their counterparts. (If you’ve only had one type of fig and you didn’t like it, you have to try the rest. They all have completely different flavors and work well in different applications.) My problem was that my local Whole Foods only had the Black Mission figs this year. I was so disappointed that this was my only option that I bought them and left them on my kitchen table to rot.
After a day or two, I decided that I need to find something to do with them so I don’t waste my money. I wanted to pair them with things I knew go well with figs: goat cheese and balsamic vinegar. That’s where this recipe came from. It is so simple, but the flavors of the goat cheese, Black Mission figs, balsamic reduction, and arugula work so well together that now I’m going to Whole Foods just for Black Mission figs.
This Fig and Goat Cheese Pizza converted me into a Black Mission fig lover. I’m sure it’ll do the same for you.
Fig season is ending soon!! Buy the figs and keep them in the freezer for the looooong period of time when figs aren’t available.
For the balsamic reduction recipe to make this pizza even better, click here!
- 2 whole wheat pizza doughs
- 4 tbsp corn meal
- 4 tbsp olive oil
- salt and pepper to taste
- 8 ounces goat cheese
- 1 pint fresh figs, sliced
- 4 ounces arugula
- balsamic reduction (recipe above)
- Preheat your oven to 450°F. Place your pizza stone in the oven while it is preheating.
- Flour your work surface and roll out your pizza dough.
- Remove the pizza stone from the oven and dust with a little corn meal. Place the dough on top and brush with half of the olive oil. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Bake in the oven for 5 minutes.
- Remove from the oven, top with half of the goat cheese, then half of the figs.
- Place back into the oven to bake for about 10 minutes.
- After the 10 minutes, remove the pizza from the oven. Top it with the arugula and drizzle with the balsamic reduction, then enjoy!
