Roasted Yams and Fresh Figs

June 22, 2015
Food,Recipes

Last week my wife surprised me with a delicious birthday meal. One of the dishes she made was this beautiful plate of roasted yams, jalapeños, green onions, goat cheese, and fresh figs with a balsamic reduction. It’s one of our favorites from the celebrated Jerusalem cookbook. I still remember how tentative I was the first time I gave this dish a try. At first glance, it seems like an odd combination of ingredients. But like all perfect recipes, the final result is bursting with flavors much greater than a simple sum of its parts. With figs in season, I thought it was about time I shoot it for the blog – which really was just an excuse for seconds. Hope you enjoy it as much as we do!!

Roasted Yams and Fresh Figs via honestlyyum.com @HonestlyYUM

Roasted Yams and Fresh Figs via honestlyyum.com @HonestlyYUM

Roasted Yams and Fresh Figs via honestlyyum.com @HonestlyYUM

Roasted Yams and Fresh Figs via honestlyyum.com @HonestlyYUM

Roasted Yams and Fresh Figs via honestlyyum.com @HonestlyYUM

Roasted Yams and Fresh Figs via honestlyyum.com @HonestlyYUM

Roasted Yams and Fresh Figs via honestlyyum.com @HonestlyYUM

Roasted Yams and Fresh Figs via honestlyyum.com @HonestlyYUM

Roasted Yams and Fresh Figs via honestlyyum.com @HonestlyYUM

Roasted Yams and Fresh Figs via honestlyyum.com @HonestlyYUM

Roasted Yams and Fresh Figs via honestlyyum.com @HonestlyYUM

Roasted Yams and Fresh Figs via honestlyyum.com @HonestlyYUM

Roasted Yams and Fresh Figs via honestlyyum.com @HonestlyYUM

Roasted Yams and Fresh Figs via honestlyyum.com @HonestlyYUM

Roasted Yams and Fresh Figs via honestlyyum.com @HonestlyYUM

ROASTED YAMS AND FRESH FIGS

Ingredients:

  • 2 medium yams
  • 3 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
  • 1 tablespoon honey
  • 5 green onions, halved lengthwise and cut into 1 1/2 inch pieces
  • 2 jalapeños, thinly sliced
  • 5 fresh black figs, quartered
  • goat cheese
  • olive oil
  • salt

Directions:

  • Preheat oven to 475° F
  • Wash the yams, halve them lengthwise, and cut into wedges.
  • Toss the yam wedges with olive oil and salt.
  • Spread the wedges out on a baking sheet, skin side down, and cook for 25 minutes until soft, but not mushy. Remove from the oven and let cool.
  • While the yams are roasting, add balsamic vinegar and honey to a small saucepan and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to a simmer and cook for 2-4 minutes until the sauce thickens. Be sure to remove the sauce from the stove before it becomes too thick – it should still be runnier than honey, and will continue to thicken as it cools. You can always add a drop of water before serving if it becomes too thick.
  • Heat about a tablespoon of olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add the green onions and jalapeños and sauté 4-5 minutes stirring often.
  • Spread the yams on your serving platter and cover with the green onion and jalapeño mix.
  • Top with figs and goat cheese, and drizzle with the balsamic reduction.

(images by HonestlyYUM; recipe adapted from Jerusalem: A Cookbook)

Conversation

This dish is absolutely stunning and so fresh and vibrant. Can’t wait to create this in my own kitchen.

So gorgeous! I’d say this is the perfect way to get spoiled on your birthday. Also: HAPPY belated birthday!!!

happy belated birthday!! this is such a wonderful and interesting combination of things here..you had me at figs and balsamic together. Also wanted to notify you about the oakley sunglasses posts on my feedly today.

Aww, thanks Dixya! Seriously, is there a better combo than figs and balsamic?!! I might have to follow up with a cocktail 😉 Thanks for info re: the sunglass spam. Really sorry about that! The issue has since been resolved. Thanks for stopping by today, regardless 🙂 xo

I also received several emails, seven to be exact, from Honestly Yum trying to sell knock off Oakley sunglasses. They may be trying to hack accounts. I won’t be opening another one until this is straightened out.

Hi Ju – thanks for looking out. Our site was compromised late last night, but the issue has since been resolved. Unfortunately, not before those emails were sent. Sorry for the nuisance this may have caused you. Thanks again for your support!!

So sadly I can’t get fresh figs here in Barbados, but I must give this recipe a try. The yams and jalapeño pepper combination looks fantastic! Thanks for sharing.

Thanks Bre!! Hmm, I’m trying to think of something else that you might have down there that might replace the figs…something else sweet. Let me know if anything comes to mind. Thank you for stopping by!

So, so stunning!!!! Jerusalem is one of my favorite cookbooks too. I made the turkey zucchini burgers in it last week!

Those jalepeno peppers must give this a good kick, I love the array of flavors you’ve got going on here and curious what the fig will bring out. Great Recipe.

Thanks Dawn! Yeah, the original recipe called for red chiles. We switched it up for jalapeños which are generally a bit more mild. Although, they totally vary from pepper to pepper. The figs add another layer of freshness to the dish.

I think the site has been hacked. I received multiple messages from Honestly Yum about cheap oakley sunglasses

Thanks for looking out, Ashley. Yes, our site was compromised late last night, but the issue has since been resolved. So sorry for the emails! Thanks again for stopping by the site – we truly appreciate it.

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