fig & bacon salad
Baked bacon wrapped figs on an arugula bed with avocado, shallots, goat cheese, walnuts and tangy raspberry vinaigrette - this salad is perfect for those who enjoy sweet and savory flavor combinations!
What are figs?
Before getting to the recipe I want to share a little bit more about figs! There is records of culinary uses of figs in Sumerian stone tablets that date back to 2500 B.C. and remains of fig trees were discovered in Neolithic excavation sites dating back to 5000 B.C. making figs one of the oldest crops in the world. While figs look and taste like a fruit they are actually an inverted flower! Figs share an interesting entangled lifecycle with wasps. A female wasp enters unripe fig through a small opening, lays its eggs and dies in the flower shortly after. As the fig matures, the male wasps emerge and fertilize the female wasps while they’re still in their galls. The males are born without wings and will die without ever exiting the flower. Once the females emerge they fly to the next flower to lay their eggs and spread the pollen. Some vegans don’t eat figs because they contain wasps, but luckily in U.S most figs found in grocery stores come from species that are self pollinating! Now back what you came here for - the recipe!
How to make fig and bacon salad?
Preheat oven to 425 and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Wrap each fig with half bacon slice and secure it in place with a toothpick. Place the wrapped figs on the baking sheet and bake for about 20 minutes until the bacon looks crispy. Meanwhile make the dressing. Microwave the frozen raspberries for 20-30 seconds to slightly thaw them, then place them in a medium bowl with honey and red wine vinegar. Use an immersion blender to purée until smooth. Then whisk in olive oil, lemon zest and a pinch of salt. Cover and set aside. Evenly distribute arugula on plates. Crumble the goat cheese over it along with sliced shallots and chopped walnuts. Drizzle the dressing over the salad and add the bacon wrapped figs and avocado slices on top. Serve immediately.
Tips
The salad dressing can be prepared up to 5 days before serving!
The bacon wrapped figs can also be cooked in an air fryer.