Castellon's Kitchen: Alien Pods (Fig and Goat Cheese Salad with Balsamic Glaze)

Here's one more Halloween recipe before I switch my focus to fall comfort food and holiday cooking. I'll keep it short and sweet with these gorgeous figs. Fresh figs, herbed goat cheese, mixed salad greens, pumpkin seeds all topped with a balsamic reduction. Not just for Halloween, this salad can be an elegant addition to any meal. Check out the easy recipe below.Enjoy!

Alien Pods (Fig and Goat Cheese Salad with Balsamic Glaze)

Serves 8-10

8-10 fresh figs
2 oz. herbed goat cheese
1 cup balsamic vinegar, reduced to 1/4 cup
1 T butter
1 T honey
3 cups mixed greens
1/2 cup salted pumpkin seeds

In a small sauce pan, heat 1 cup vinegar over medium heat and reduce thickened to ~1/4 cup. Add 1 Tbsp butter and 1 T honey and set aside.

Use a 1/4 teaspoon as a makeshift melon-baller to portion out the goat cheese and roll into a small balls. Refrigerate to firm up the cheese if needed.

Trim stems and cut an X down the stem side about 3/4 of the way through the fig. Add goat cheese ball inside cut fig. Place figs on a bed of mixed greens and then sprinkle balsamic glaze over figs and lettuce. Top with pumpkin seeds and serve.

Fun variation: Serve individual salads in red cabbage bowls like this...