Fresh Figs with Mascarpone, Honey and Pistachios

As a cook and food lover, this time of year is my absolute most favorite.  And if I had to choose, my favorite late summer fruit would be figs. This easy recipe for Figs with Mascarpone, Honey and Pistachios is simple in preparation and decadent in flavor.

This time of the year farmers’ markets and grocery stores are filled to the brim the most amazing produce. Tomatoes and eggplants are in full force as well as all sorts of beautiful stone fruit and strawberries.  But to be honest, I am most excited about the figs that started their very short season.e

( Photography via Amanda Frederickson )

I was always a little intimidated by figs for some reason. They seemed fussy and not worth the hype. That was until I tried my first fig and I was hooked. Now especially when they are in season, I can’t get out of the grocery store without snagging a pint.

Figs are lusciously sweet with a unique taste and texture  – chewy on the outside, sweet and creamy on the inside with just a little crunch thanks to the seeds.

There are a lot of different ways to eat figs—they are great on flatbread with arugula and prosciutto, you can bake them into a pie or galette, you could wrap them in bacon and grill them or simply broil them with some feta and top with mint. But my all-time favorite way to eat them, which might also be the simplest, is to serve them with mascarpone cheese, honey and pistachios.

This recipe is easy and delicious and is perfect for a late summer party or dinner al fresco. Best part is, there is no need to turn on an oven for this recipe. The figs and the mascarpone cheese do all the work for you. Enjoy!