Fig, Caramelized Onion and Blue Cheese Tarts

Helping clients decide on menu items can be a bit of task because I have so many delicious creations and many of my clients become overwhelmed by choosing.  One thing I found helps is suggesting what is in season at the time that the party is going to be held.  Figs are one of my favorite fruits and with such a short season they vanish from the stores with a blink of the eye.  It is such a versatile fruit for savory or sweet recipes and it is so delicious.   These two bite flaky tartlets combing the sweetness of figs with the sharp flavor of blue cheese and fresh herbs; making it the perfect autumn appetizer for all occasions.  One interesting fact, figs are the fruit of the Tree of Life, Hebrew traditions believe the fig represents peace and abundance and Buddha found enlightenment under a fig tree.  So, eat these tarts and you’ll become enlightened…ha, ha…Namaste!

These look great served right out of the oven on this little baking sheet

I bet you can’t stop at just one…

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Fig, Caramelized Onion and Blue Cheese Tarts

This is a perfect autumnal appetizer for your parties combining sweet figs with sharp blue cheese in a flaky phyllo cup

Prep Time 20 minutes

Cook Time 20 minutes

Total Time 40 minutes

Servings 10

Author www.recipeforaparty.com

Ingredients

• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 2 tbsp butter
• 2 cupls chopped onion
• 2 tsp thyme, chopped
• 2 tsp rosemary, chopped
• 1/4 tsp course black pepper
• 1/4 tsp kosher salt
• 1 tsp chopped garlic
• 1 tbsp balsamic vinegar
• 1 tbsp brown sugar
• 6 oz cream cheese, softened
• 1 egg
• 3/4 cup blue cheese, crumbled
• 1 cup fresh figs, chopped
• 2 boxes of phyllo cups, 15 in each box, total of 30 cups

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees
2. Heat the olive oil and butter in a medium/high skillet to medium and add the onions, thyme, rosemary, pepper & salt and sauté for 5 minutes stirring occasionally.
3. Turn down heat to medium/low and sauté for another 10 minutes, then add the garlic, balsamic vinegar and brown sugar, mix well and stir occasionally. Continue to cook for another 5 minutes, turn off heat and set aside 
4. While onions are cooking, whisk together the cream cheese and egg until creamy, stir in the blue cheese

5. Once onions are done, stir into cheese mixture and fold in the chopped figs

6. Fill each phyllo cup and place on parchment lined or nonstick sheet pan and bake for 20 minutes.

7. Let rest for 5 minutes and enjoy, , makes 30 mini appetizer tarts. Serves 10