Figs with honey-rose mascarpone and caramel hazelnuts
Our few golden days of sunshine seem to have vanished and have been replaced by storm, rain and thunder. In fact while I am writing this I can hear the thunder rumbling in the distance… I’m always amazed at how quickly the weather patterns can change. A few days ago it was t-shirt weather and now I’m wondering if I should bring out the winter jackets already!
The good thing about autumn is that there is a whole range of new produce coming to us. Gorgeous chanterelle mushrooms, quince, pomegranates and these pretty figs. Figs are an interesting fruit really. I like them but they can also be really bland. But whatever the flavor, pretty they are; always!
Gorgeous figs
I was really surprised to find both figs and pomegranates in our supermarket the other day, so of course I had to buy some. I bought only four figs as they don’t keep very long and I knew we had to finish them rather quickly. I totally love them with blue cheese; one of the best combinations out there, but unfortunately Tom hates blue cheese (why, why, why??) so it had to be something sweet for this time. I could have baked but then I figured four pieces wouldn’t get me very far, so I browsed around on one of my favorite apps from Epicurious and found a recipe that I liked. I adapted it slightly to what I had in the cupboard. I had previously bought rosewater when I was out browsing through my favorite store where I also found the Bull’s blood leaves and spotted rosewater. Heard about it many times but never cooked with it so I figured I give it a go with this dessert.
Figs with honey-rose mascarpone and hazelnut brittle
Prep Time: 15 mins
Cook Time: 15 mins
Total Time: 20 mins
Ingredients:
- 3 figs
- 125g mascarpone
- 1 orange
- 1/4 cup sugar
- 1 teaspoon rosewater
- 2 tablespoons Whipping cream
- 75g hazelnuts (roasted)
Directions:
| Put the sugar in a small saucepan and add 1 tbsp of water. Put on the heat and let the sugar melt. DO NOT STIR! Prepare a sheet of baking paper on a tray and lay that ready to go. Have your roasted hazelnuts close by to put into the caramel once ready too. As soon as the big bubbles of sugar disappear it will brown really quickly so do not walk away as it can burn in seconds! As soon as the sugar has a nice golden brown tint (you can also smell when it's ready too) take of the heat and add the hazelnuts and stir through. Put it onto the baking sheet quickly and leave to cool. Spread it out a bit so it will be easier to cut later. |
|
| Finely grate some zest from the orange and put in a bowl with the mascarpone, rosewater, honey and whipping cream. Stir together and add more of one or the other to taste | |
| Cut the figs into halves and arrange three halves on one plate (you can do more but I thought 3 halves per person is more then enough for dessert). | |
| Once the caramel is cooled chop it up with a knife until you're left with crumbly bits. Put the mascarpone on top of the figs and sprinkle some of the caramel nuts on top. |
|
Note
Quick and delicious dessert. I loved the rosewater in the mascarpone but think I will add just a tiny bit more. I was afraid it would overpower the other flavors but it could have been a tiny bit more.
Recipe from Epicurious
And I loved it; the caramel with hazelnuts was delicious with just the right hint of bitterness in it and the ripe fruit with the orange mascarpone… great combination too! Now next on my list are the quince!
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Yes glorious figs;)) Enjoy as long as you can get them fresh:) Can’t wait for my fig trees:)
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Simone (junglefrog) — October 10th, 2011 at 17:31
O you’re gonna have your own fig trees! Now that is really cool..
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wow…you get lovely huge figs there . love the purple, violet bowls ! this dish looks so exotic
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Simone (junglefrog) — October 10th, 2011 at 17:33
Thanks! Yes I love my purple bowls too!
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Simone,
I am loving all the purple colours in this photo. I think this colour must really suit your
personality too because you make such beautiful photos with it in the background.
We love figs and normally end up eating them with cheese or on a salad.
This is a lovely way to gobble them up!
Rainy and stormy here too. A day for the fireside snuggling methinks!
[Reply]
Simone (junglefrog) — October 11th, 2011 at 00:04
Haha… not sure if purple suits my personality but I like the thought of that.. Figs and cheese are a fabulous way to eat them too!
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I love you bowls, Simone!
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Miriam/The Winter Guest — October 9th, 2011 at 11:02
Oooops, I meant “your”… lol
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Simone (junglefrog) — October 11th, 2011 at 00:05
Haha… I kind of thought that was what you meant..
A refined and divine dessert! That flavor combination is wonderful.
Cheers,
Rosa
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Simone (junglefrog) — October 11th, 2011 at 00:06
Agree; mascarpone and figs just seem to be so right for eachother!
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We love figs! And fresh fruit is always my favorite kind of dessert, especially with your honey-rose mascarpone cream. YUM!
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Simone (junglefrog) — October 11th, 2011 at 00:10
Yes what’s not to love about figs right? (although your baked apple had a whole special meaning ofcourse..
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Gorgeous! Absolutely gorgeous. Ever since I saw that picture on FB, I’d been looking forward to the actual post: I wanted to see more! The post did not disappoint!
Not only are the pictures divine, but that dessert looks to die for. But Simone, I do have one question: where in the world did you find such adorable bowls? 
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Simone (junglefrog) — October 11th, 2011 at 00:12
Glad you like the photos Sonia… Now those bowls are made in Portugal, swedish by design and bought here in Holland. It’s the series we also have for our regular plates (in more down to earth colors) but I totally love it. The only downside being the price as it is beautiful but expensive..
http://www.mateus.se/
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Wow, this dish sounds just amazing! Love all the flavors…definitely need to try this, seems like the perfect way to showcase fresh figs.
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Simone (junglefrog) — October 11th, 2011 at 00:13
Ofcourse there can hardly be a wrong way to have figs but yes this was particularly good!
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I am swooning over the purple plates. Figs look great, but the plates are the star of the show, but I’m a dish freak.
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Your figs look amazing!!! I’ve never seen figs that look so good here. I can imagine how good this all tastes, especially with the crunch of those caramel hazelnuts. Yum!!!
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This looks delicious. I’ve always wanted to try figs, but I never see them in the store. You’ve inspired me to look a little harder.
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Simone (junglefrog) — October 11th, 2011 at 11:22
O I hope you find some. They’re not always easy to find here either but everytime I see them anywhere I just have to get some!
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looks uhmaaazing
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Simone (junglefrog) — October 11th, 2011 at 11:22
Thanks..;)
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That looks so delicious! Figs is my favorite thing to cook and bake now that the holiday season is upon us.
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Simone (junglefrog) — October 11th, 2011 at 11:22
Ah yes and I see that you posted a fig recipe too! Gotta check that out!
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Figs – the most photogenic fruit!
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Just found you on foodingdo. This looks delicious, and your pictures are stunning!!
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Simone (junglefrog) — October 11th, 2011 at 22:59
O thank you so much!
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Oh, Simone, I love this dessert! I must try figs and I love the caramel hazelnuts and the sweet mascarpone. So perfect for autumn and there is something so romantic about it. Absolutely beautiful!
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Simone (junglefrog) — October 11th, 2011 at 23:01
O thanks so much Jamie! I think the caramelized hazelnuts were my favorite of the dessert! I love things like that and am always a little scared around caramel so was doubly placed that it worked so well!
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This looks so good! I love figs, you are right, they are always pretty, and sometimes bland. I recently tasted the most wonderful figs, from a pretty much “wild” tree (on a property that has not been cared for in several decades) in Sardinia. It tasted of chocolate!
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