Honey-Roasted Figs with Labneh & Pistachios
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If you’re looking for a deliciously different recipe to try, then put these Honey-Roasted Figs on your list! These roasted figs are topped with labneh and pistachios and make a great appetizer or dessert. Labneh is a soft cheese made from strained yogurt and is easy to make at home.
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Honey-Roasted Figs
The full ingredients list and instructions are found in the printable recipe card at the end of this post. I highly recommend reading the blog post all the way through so that you don’t miss any tips or substitution suggestions; to ensure that you have all the ingredients and equipment required, and to understand the steps and timings involved.
These honey-roasted figs with labneh and pistachios work well as both a dessert, and as an appetizer. Or even just as a delicious snack while sitting outside in the sunshine!
Figs, to me, are a real treat. Here in the UK, they can be expensive to buy – unless you have a fig tree in your garden like my dad does!
I had many holidays to Cyprus as a kid to visit our family out there, and figs were something we ate almost daily as they grow in abundance on the island. (You don’t want to eat too many though as they do have a laxative effect!)
This soft fruit has a unique, sweet taste that is hard to describe and unlike anything else I’ve ever eaten. Figs have a soft and chewy texture and contain tiny, slightly crunchy, edible seeds.
Figs taste delicious raw, either peeled or unpeeled (it depends on the variety and thickness of the skin), and pair perfectly (in my opinion with salty Halloumi cheese) and is a favorite breakfast of mine when visiting Cyprus.
Roasting figs is another wonderful way to enjoy them, and honey roasting them like we do in this recipe is out of this world with flavor!
One of the world’s oldest trees, the fig tree can be traced back to the earliest historical documents and features prominently in the Bible. Figs are native to the Middle East and the Mediterranean and were held in such high regard by the Greeks that laws were once created to prevent their export.
BBC Good Food
How To Select & Store Figs
The fresh fig season is between summer and autumn, depending on the variety. They are delicate, soft fruit, and they perish pretty quickly. Use them within a day or two of purchase or you run the risk of them spoiling.
Choose plump and tender figs that are free from bruising and have a rich, deep color. Do not wash your figs until they are ready to be eaten, and store them in the fridge. If you are unable to feel the figs for ripeness, you can keep them at room temperature to ripen before eating.
What is Labneh?
Labneh is a Middle Eastern soft cheese made from strained yogurt. It is easy to make at home by simply adding a bit of salt to the yogurt and straining the excess whey with the help of a strainer and some cheesecloth or other porous fabric.
It takes a day or two to make labneh, so allow that in your timings when preparing this recipe!
Ingredients & Equipment Used In This Recipe
While most ingredients can be bought in grocery stores, for your convenience, any specialized or notable ingredients (and equipment) needed for this recipe have been listed below and linked to Amazon or other stores if available online. The complete list of ingredients with measurements is found in the recipe card.
- Plain Yogurt – use whole-fat/full-fat.
- Large Ripe Figs
- Honey – always buy locally produced honey if possible.
- Pistachios
- Cheesecloth
Recipes on The Purple Pumpkin Blog use both cup measurements and/or weighted measurements. American cups and kitchen food scales are handy pieces of equipment to have in your kitchen as it means you’ll be able to make all of the different recipes on my blog. I try to give American, imperial, and metric measurements in my recipes. You can mix cup measurements with weighted measurements, but never mix imperial (pounds, ounces, pints, etc.,) with metric (kilograms, grams, litres, etc.,).
More Recipes Using Figs
One of the hero ingredients in this dish is figs, so here are some more recipes using the same:
More Middle Eastern Recipes
Looking for more Middle Eastern-inspired dishes to make? Check these recipes out next:
- Chicken Shawarma with Rainbow Couscous
- Amazing Roasted Garlic Hummus Dip Recipe
- Pilafi Pourgouri – Crushed Wheat Pilaf
Recipe Tips
- If you don’t have time to prepare the labneh for this recipe, you can substitute goat cheese or even cream cheese for a less tangy alternative.
How Do I Make Honey-Roasted Figs?
Check out the printable recipe card below with full ingredients and instructions. Any demonstration photos do not print out to save your ink.
Honey-Roasted Figs with Labneh & Pistachios
If you're looking for a deliciously different recipe to try, then put these Honey-Roasted Figs on your list!
Ingredients
- 2 cup whole-fat plain yogurt (full fat natural)
- ½ tsp salt
- 8 large ripe figs, cut in half lengthwise
- 3 Tbsp honey, divided
- ¼ cup pistachios, chopped
Instructions
- To make the labneh, combine yogurt and salt in a small bowl and stir until blended. Line a metal strainer with several layers of cheesecloth and position the strainer over a large, deep bowl.
- Transfer the yogurt mixture to the lined strainer and cover. Place in the refrigerator to drain for 1-2 days. (The longer the yogurt is strained, the firmer the labneh will become).
- To prepare roasted figs, preheat the oven to 180°C/350°F/Gas 4 and line a large, rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper or a non-stickbaking sheet. Arrange the sliced figs on the baking sheet, cut side up, and drizzle with some honey.
- Place baking sheet in preheated oven and roast for 30-35 minutes. Remove from oven and let cool for several minutes.
- Top each roasted fig with a spoonful of fresh labneh and a sprinkle of chopped pistachios. Drizzle with some local honey and serve immediately. Enjoy!
Notes
time to strain labneh (1-2 days)
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Nutrition Information:
Yield: 4 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 258Total Fat: 6gSaturated Fat: 2gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 4gCholesterol: 7mgSodium: 405mgCarbohydrates: 48gFiber: 5gSugar: 42gProtein: 9g
This site uses Nutritionix to provide estimated nutrition. Nutritional information is always approximate and will depend on the quality of ingredients used and serving sizes. If you need exact calories and macros, please do your own calculations.
Make It A Full Meal!
This recipe would work as an appetizer or dessert, but what about the rest of the courses?
Here are additional recipes to make a full meal for a dinner party or special occasion:
- Main Dish: Kleftiko – Greek Slow Cooked Lamb + Potatoes
- Side Salad: Cypriot Village Salad
- Beverage: Frozen Watermelon Slush Mocktail (or Spike It With Booze!)
There are 500+ Recipes on The Purple Pumpkin Blog for you to enjoy – please feel free to check them out too!