Gourmet Fig Pizza
Author: Tom Butler
Prep time: 20 mins
Cook time: 10 mins
Total time: 30 mins
Ingredients
  • 4 pita breads
  • 1 tbsp butter
  • ½ medium red onion, sliced thin
  • ½ cup red wine
  • 1 tsp honey
  • 2 tbsp balsamic vinegar
  • 3-4 tbsp diced green chiles
  • 4 large figs
  • about 8 slices provolone cheese
  • about 2 oz very sharp aged cheese or blue cheese
Instructions
  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
  2. Slice the figs in about ¼ inch slices and set aside. Cut the sharp cheese into small slices and set aside.
  3. Arrange the pitas on a cookie sheet and top with the provolone cheese just so each pita is covered with 1 layer of cheese.
  4. In a medium skillet, sauté the onions in the butter until soft.
  5. Add red wine and honey and cook over medium heat about 5 to 10 minutes to reduce and caramelize.
  6. Add the balsamic vinegar and green chiles and cook another 2 minutes to blend and reduce further.
  7. Top each pita with a layer of the caramelized onion chile mixture.
  8. Add a layer of sliced figs, then top with the slices of sharp cheese.
  9. Bake for 7-10 minutes or just until the sharp cheese is melted.
  10. Cut each pita into 4 sections and serve.
  11. Enjoy!
Notes
Commentary:
I happened to have access to an almost unlimited amount of fresh figs this past week – which I love – so after eating a few dozen as I picked them off my sister’s tree, I made this recipe. Tom Butler invented the recipe. Figs are really quite different from any other fruit, and help make this recipe really special. I might try making this with peaches. This is a pretty easy recipe, but I wouldn’t hesitate to serve this at a fancy dinner. As for the cheese, it absolutely needs a very sharp cheese on top – I used Aged Old Amsterdam Gouda, but it doesn’t matter what kind you use just so it’s sharp rather than mild.

I don’t think anyone grows figs in Colorado, but you can buy them at Whole Foods. Let me know what you think of this, ok?
Recipe by Denver Green Chili at https://denvergreenchili.com/recipes/appetizers/gourmet-fig-pizza/