Before we started cooking for my brother’s engagement party, I made this platter to try later on after the dinner was over and everyone had gone home.
It was an idea for a recipe I had for awhile, playing with flavors we use for stuffed grape leaves, with zero intention of making it part of the dinner (especially if it were a fail). I figured why offer it to such a picky crowd, anyway? I already heard my brother from another room ask, “what the hell is this? Who roasts grapes? Such a weird-ass thing to do.” I rolled my eyes, as I forever do when my ownly sibling’s goal in life is to annoy his big sis.
I stepped out of the kitchen after cakes and coffee were served. My introvert butt needed a moment. When I returned, everything but one damn fig on the platter was left.
So, I guess it’s a weird-ass keeper.
Preheat the oven to 400.
You’ll need a sheet pan covered with parchment and:
-8 figs, halved or quartered
-2-3 bunches of grapes (I used tiny Tim’s), on their stems
for the dressing
-1 tbs tamarind
-1 tbs fresh lemon juice
-1 tbs walnut oil or olive
-1 tsp allspice
-pinch of cinnamon and salt, pepper too
Whisk all together and brush the dressing onto all sides of the figs, and whatever grape is exposed. Pour the rest over everything and pop them into the oven for about 20 minutes, or until surfaces have caramelized a bit. Feel free to broil for a couple of minutes to get it extra browned on top.
for serving
-toasted almonds or walnuts, eyeballed
-feta, to taste
Feta is not optional. I loooooove the saltiness that comes with sweet and tart fruits, made even sweeter from getting roasted.