We have the good fortune of having a Farmer's Market near our house that is open every day (Chino Farms). It's one of those good ones too... where they grow all of their own food right there and put out whatever is ripe that day. I was there to pick up some of their famous Chino Corn when I spied a small basket of fresh figs. Hmmmm, I thought. Perhaps I'll give them a try. Mind you, it's been a good 30 years since I've had figs.
So I carted home my basket of freshly picked figs and browsed cookbooks. Tyler's Ultimate had a recipe that looked like a must-try: Chicken Paillard with Fresh Fig Salad and Blue Cheese.If you don't have this cookbook, it's really worth looking at. Tyler Florence is one of those chefs that I do enjoy watching on Food Network. He's a cutie, and he has some good looking recipes that are along the line of things-I'd-try. Tyler's Ultimate cookbook has loads of pictures (love that) and I think I'd make just about all of them.
The recipe involved pounding out the breasts into paillards (thin slices), which I'm a big fan of. This allows the breasts cook quickly and stay moist. Pancetta is sauteed, then the chicken, and the dressing gets a quick warm-up in the pan. That's it! Assemble with chicken, blue cheese, arugula, figs and pancetta. The sweet vinaigrette is drizzled on top, and dinner is ready!
And guess what? I loved it. I especially enjoyed the bites that involved figs. It's hard to believe that I've shunned them for so long. I would make this recipe again in a heartbeat. Though it sounds fancy, it's so simple and completely delicious.This RecipeGirl has turned fig phobia into fig obsession. Bring on the fig recipes! Just no fig cookies, please.
This recipe can be found HERE.
I love figs, this salad sounds like a great way to overcome your fear of them. It looks delicious!
ReplyDeleteI have never been the biggest fan of figs either. I will have to try this recipe! Thanks!
ReplyDeleteOooh! I adore fresh figs! My dad had a magnificent fig tree that he planted with cuttings smuggled over from Italy. The figs were as big as your fist!
ReplyDeleteLove this recipe. I would definitely try it if I could keep from eating all of the figs before I had a chance to make it! ;)
What a great way to overcome your phobia! That salad is gorgeous! Can't wait to see your next fig recipes, the fig trees at my oncles house are becoming full!
ReplyDeleteFigs and blue cheese.......YUM
ReplyDeleteFigs used to freak me out as a kid, I felt they were like maggots inside. Now I love them especially with blue cheese in phyllo dough and a red wine reduction.
ReplyDeleteI've never even had a fresh fig before. They aren't something we had growing up. But I did see some at Costco, so I should pick them up and try them! And I didn't know about that cookbook - I love his Tyler's Ultimate show, so I bet I'd love this cookbook!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful! This looks light and summery. I have been enjoying the figs I have been finding at my San Clemente farmers' market, too. I love how you just scatter the salad all over the chicken breasts.
ReplyDeleteThis salad sounds amazing! Especially with the pancetta.
ReplyDeleteI wish we had fresh figs here! I'm so jealous.
I can't say that I actually have a phobia of figs, but now that I think about it, I've never eaten fresh figs! Your salad looks delicious and inspires me to get over my own reluctance!
ReplyDeleteHa you like pounding chicken into obvilion too? Nice.
ReplyDeleteI love figs, and am glad you over came your fear. They are so tasty and unique looking.
My grandma made a fig filling cookie too. Aren't all grandma's the same?
The only figs I have ever eaten are in a Newton! This salad looks SO good, makes me want to get some figs and give them a try.
ReplyDeleteGlad you liked your farmer's market purchase.
It's beautiful! I just recently started cooking with figs myself. Aren't they so pretty?! Great recipe from Tyler!
ReplyDeleteThis salad looks delicious. I love figs and my favorite is fig jelly. I actually have a small fig tree but it is yet to produce.
ReplyDeleteJenna
http://newlyweds.wordpress.com/
I think this chicken dish could make a fig lover out of anyone. Looks great!
ReplyDeleteFresh and super lovely!
ReplyDeleteOh my gosh, figs and blue cheese?!! You had me at hello....I just love that combination. Great job, Recipe Girl!! Sounds like an amazing meal.
ReplyDeleteWow, this looks fantastic! Like you, I'm not the biggest fan of figs, but I'll try anything twice (or 3 or 4 times if convinced lol).
ReplyDeleteHee! You know, in this household, it's *me* who gets hurt when my grandmother doesn't eat what I made! Ha ha ha!
ReplyDeleteI haven't ever tasted a fig before. We don't get fresh ones here. I've tried fig newtons as a kid but didn't like them either. The dish looks really beautiful, I can't wait to see a real fresh fig so I can try it!
I wish I can get fresh figs!
ReplyDeleteDon't you love food epiphanies?
well i'm glad to hear that mr florence is good for something other than talking really fast and striving to be a 30-something frat boy...
ReplyDeletethis looks great, and although my experience with figs is limited to fig newtons, i think it would be delicious. :)
Oh goodness, I ADORE figs - thank goodness for Tyler Florence helping you to try a fig-containing recipe!! And thank goodness for Tyler Florence being so good-looking ;0)
ReplyDeleteLori.......This is a dish fit for a "Goddess" ......sorry I had to go there.....LOL. Forgive me.... Seriously, it does look great, and like yourself, I've never been keen on figs or prunes. Can you whip up a "prune friendly" recipe that might change my mind? This looks so deliciously complete, simple and healthy. You could say......."understated elegance" personified.
ReplyDelete"Doc"
I have definitely thought about making this dish before as I looked through his book! Yours turned out perfect! Looks so good!
ReplyDeleteoh wow...that looks SO good. i love figs, but the local supermarket rarely ever gets them, even when they're in season. i'll remember this for next time.
ReplyDeleteThis looks sooo delicious! It is funny how taste can change over the years. I would not touch avocados until I was 20 years old and now I just love them.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful dish! I'm soooo glad you got yourself past your fig phobia -- they're so, so delicious. Good for you!
ReplyDeleteI saw Figs at Fresh Market today and thought about you.....
ReplyDeleteFIG PHOBIA?!?!?! I didn't know there was such a thing! I am glad you over came it! These figs look beautiful!
ReplyDeleteWhen I was a kid my mum always bought fig biscuits (cookies) and I loved them. This recipe sounds delicious, I'm sure I would love it too.
ReplyDeleteYum! Looks so good! I love figs!
ReplyDeleteOh wow figs and blue cheese a match made in heaven ....mmmmmm
ReplyDeleteRosie x
Tyler Florence is a cutie isn't he?
ReplyDeleteI grew up around figs, my grandfather has several fig trees in his yard so they have always been plentiful. But what's funny is, I've only eaten them as fruit, I've never actually cooked anything with them. This salad looks delicious and I bet the blue cheese tastes wonderful with the figs!
Glad you're on the fig wagon now! I was in love as soon as I discovered them for the first time, and this salad looks like a great way to enjoy them!
ReplyDeleteGorgeous! My grandmother got it in her head that my favorite dessert was lemon meringue pie, which I despised with the heat of 1,000 suns. Every year, birthday after birthday, she'd make me that damn pie, and I never had the heart to tell her the truth.
ReplyDeleteI'd have taken fig cookies any day of the week, and then some.
So glad you overcame your fig phobia!
ReplyDeleteHere's a super easy recipe to try, I guarantee you'll love it:
Slice a cross into the top of the figs then push in a spoonful of mascarpone or ricotta. Top with a small square of dark chocolate and grill (broil) for 1 minute until the chocolate melts slightly. Voila! Dessert! Yum!
That salad looks awesome!
ReplyDeleteWow does that look outstanding! Great flavors going on here. I'm glad you came out of "The Darkside!" Maybe you'll give the cookies another try!
ReplyDeleteI finally tried fresh figs the other day. From my post I discovered there are over 700 varieties of figs and some are good and some are tasteless. They really look excellent in this salad. I'll have to take the juciest fogs I can find and give it a go:D
ReplyDeleteLooks just like the picture and sounds GREAT!
ReplyDelete