Baked Blue Cheese with Figs and Walnuts

• ripe figs↗6-12
• quality wine vinegar (sherry)↗2 ст. л. ст. л.
• red wine↗100ml мл

  (or red grape juice)

• walnut halves↗50g г
• thyme sprigs↗4

  slightly torn

• clear honey↗4 ст. л. ст. л.
• whole round blue brie↗1

  or camembert (we used Cote Hill Blue from paxtonandwhitfield.co.uk, or try President Le Bleu)

• crusty baguette↗

  for serving

Step-by-step instructions

1. 1

   Preheat the oven to 200 °C (180 °C with convection, gas 6). On each fig make a shallow cross, not cutting all the way through, and gently open the “lid”. Place the figs cut side up in a baking dish large enough for a single layer. Do not add the cheese yet.

2. 2

   In a small bowl combine the wine vinegar, red wine (or grape juice) and a pinch of spices. Drizzle the figs with the mixture, sprinkle with walnut halves and thyme leaves, then drizzle with honey. Bake for 15–20 min until the figs are soft and fragrant.

3. 3

   Insert a piece of blue cheese (or a whole round) into the center of each fig, return the dish to the oven for another 5 min to melt the cheese. Remove, let stand for a minute, then serve with a crusty baguette to soak up the melted cheese.