Sweet Things
Fig Flower and Honey Mascarpone Tartlets
Eleven thousand years ago, figs were first cultivated by humans. The plump, sweet and chewy flesh has biblical, Buddhist, and Greek mythological significance. In the Bible, Adam and Eve, in an attempt to hide their sin of eating the forbidden fruit, used fig leaves to hide their naked bodies and conceal their shame. Buddha found enlightenment under the shade of a fig tree, and the Greeks rewarded athletes for victory with figs in Ancient Olympic games. The fig, is indeed, a storied fruit. It is also a fleeting seasonal fruit with a catch me if (or when) you can reputation. So, when these darlings pop up in the produce section, grab a pint or two and use one to slice over salad or pizza (both topped with blue cheese crumbles), and the other to make this light and beautiful dessert that showcases the beauty of the enticing interior of this fruit. Sliced open before baking to reveal the sweet seedy interiors, each fig looks like a flower. Technically, the inside of the fig is actually a flower. Honey and figs are a natural pairing so the sweetened base of mascarpone cheese and the final drizzle marry the complex floral, melon, and honey notes that dance in your mouth after a biteful. The tiny sprig of rosemary balances the richness and sweetness of the fig. This is an easy dessert that seems far more decadent than the effort it takes for it to come together and nods to the end of summer when figs are fully tree ripened and abundant.
