Courtesans

Ingredients

• 4 ounces soft goat cheese
• 16 fresh, ripe figs
• Sea salt, to taste
• 1 teaspoon plus 1 tablespoon honey
• 3 tablespoons shelled pistachios, chopped
• Freshly cracked black pepper, to taste
• 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil

Instructions

1. In a medium bowl, place the goat cheese and set it aside to bring it up to room temperature, about 1 hour.
2. Meanwhile, trim the stems from the figs and slice an "X" into the top of each, going about three-quarters of the way through the fig so that the bottom remains intact. Use your index finger to make an indentation in the center of the cut side of the fig to keep the interior of the fruit exposed.
3. Preheat the oven to 400°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or foil. Arrange the cut figs on the prepared baking sheet and sprinkle each with a pinch of salt.
4. Once the cheese has softened, add 1 teaspoon of honey and the pistachios to the cheese and stir well with a fork. Add salt and pepper. Stuff each fig with about 1 teaspoon of the goat cheese mixture. Drizzle with olive oil and bake for 5 to 7 minutes, until the cheese looks soft and the figs begin to release their juices. Drizzle with the remaining tablespoon of honey and sprinkle with some more black pepper. Serve either warm or cold.