Figs with anchovies, cream cheese, honey sauce and arugula

4 servings

5 minutes

This elegant Italian recipe combines unexpected flavors in a harmonious balance. Sweet, soft figs reveal their delicate texture, contrasting with savory anchovies, rich cream cheese, and spicy arugula. A honey-lemon sauce ties all the ingredients together, adding a refined sweetness with a hint of acidity. This dish embodies the spirit of Mediterranean gastronomy where simple ingredients are transformed into a work of art. Such an appetizer is perfect for an aperitif or light dinner, surprising guests not only with its unusual flavor combination but also with its exquisite presentation. The pairing of figs and anchovies is a bold experiment that unveils new dimensions of taste where sweet and salty complement each other to create a unique symphony of enjoyment.

Energy value per serving

• Calories: 307.4
• Proteins: 8.2g
• Fats: 23.9g
• Carbohydrates: 16.8g

Ingredients

• Fig: 12 pc
• Honey: 2 tbsp
• Lemon: 1 pc
• Salted anchovies in oil: 24 pc
• Olive oil: 50 ml
• Cottage cheese: 200 g
• Parsley: 20 g
• Arugula: 100 g
• Ground black pepper: to taste

Cooking steps

1. Rinse the anchovies in water to remove excess salt.

   Required ingredients:

   • Salted anchovies in oil: 24 pieces

2. Make a cross cut on each fig and slightly open the wound to see the contents inside the fruit.

   Required ingredients:

   • Fig: 12 pieces

3. Mix honey with the juice of one lemon, ground pepper, and olive oil. Toss arugula with half of the sauce and place the greens on plates like a nest, where it's impossible to live, although you really want to.

   Required ingredients:

   • Honey: 2 tablespoons
   • Lemon: 1 piece
   • Ground black pepper:  to taste
   • Olive oil: 50 ml
   • Arugula: 100 g

4. Place three cross-shaped cut figs in the nest, putting two anchovy fillets inside each. Nearby, arrange about fifty grams of cottage cheese mixed with finely chopped parsley. Drizzle this beauty with the remaining honey sauce, being careful not to overdo it, as honey sauce is quite strong in flavor and aroma.

   Required ingredients:

   • Fig: 12 pieces
   • Salted anchovies in oil: 24 pieces
   • Cottage cheese: 200 g
   • Parsley: 20 g
   • Honey: 2 tablespoons
   • Olive oil: 50 ml

5. There is a salad made by cutting a piece of fig, spreading it with cheese, adding a piece of anchovy fillet, and a leaf of arugula.

   Required ingredients:

   • Fig: 12 pieces
   • Cottage cheese: 200 g
   • Salted anchovies in oil: 24 pieces
   • Arugula: 100 g