I'm getting panicky because fig season is almost over and that means that I'm not going to be able to make my absolute favorite salad again for another 8 months.  Even worse, I nearly didn't have enough time to share the recipe for Fig, Blue Cheese, and Walnut Salad with Warm Bacon Dressing with you, and now you've only got a limited amount of time to make this salad before figs aren't available.
That kind of sounds like an infomercial, doesn't it? Â HURRY! FOR A LIMITED TIME ONLY, WHILE SUPPLIES LAST, yadda yadda.
Anyway, forgive me for posting this in September, throw on your shoes, grab the car keys, and go get the figs while they're still ripe, sweet, and soft.
I fell in love with figs a few years ago, when I went to a brewery with a then-boyfriend of mine and he convinced me to try the "fig and pig flatbread" as an appetizer to go with our beer flights.  I don't like to drink on an empty stomach (let's be honest, I don't like to do anything on an empty stomach) so I didn't put up much of a fight, even though figs were always far off the list of things I wanted to put anywhere near my mouth.
Lo and behold, the flatbread was amazing.  The way that the sweetness of the figs complimented the sharp cheese and salty pork made it one of my most beloved flavor combinations of all time!  Who'd have thought?
And that's probably the only good thing to ever come from that relationship, haha.  It might actually have been worth it, though, for the figs.
Ever since then, I've been making this kick-butt Fig, Blue Cheese, and Walnut Salad, dousing it in Warm Bacon Vinaigrette, and trying to remind myself that normal people eat salads with forks and don't just bury their faces right in the bowl. Â It's so tempting.
This recipe would also be great with pears instead of figs (they're also in season longer, yay!), or goat cheese instead of blue. Â Feel free to make it your own!
PrintFig, Blue Cheese, and Walnut Salad with Warm Bacon Dressing
- Total Time: 15 minutes
- Yield: 4 1x
Ingredients
For the Salad:
- 4-5 fresh figs, quartered
- ½ small red onion, sliced
- 6 oz bag baby spinach
- â…“ cup blue cheese, crumbled
- â…“ cup walnuts
For the Warm Bacon Vinaigrette:
- 5 slices bacon
- â…” cup white sugar
- 2 teaspoons cornstarch
- ¼ teaspoons salt
- 3 tablespoons water
- ¼ cup white vinegar
Instructions
- Combine all of the salad ingredients. Toss well, set aside.
- In a high-walled pan, cook the bacon over medium heat until crispy. Remove bacon from the heat, crumble, and set aside. Reserve a tablespoon's worth of the bacon drippings.
- In a medium-sized bowl, whisk together the sugar, cornstarch, and salt. When combined, whisk in the water and vinegar.
- Pour the dressing mixture back into the pan with the reserved bacon drippings, and add the crumbled bacon back in.
- Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until the sugar dissolves completely and the salad dressing thickens slightly.
- Pour the dressing over the salad and serve immediately!
- Prep Time: 10 mins
- Cook Time: 5 mins
Millie l Add A Little says
The flavour combinations in this salad are marvellous! I love figs, so happy they're in season!
Sarah Spigelman Richter says
Hi Morgan,
I am writing a story for The Today Show and would love to include a photo of your doughnut cocktail, with credit and a link back to you, of course. Would this be okay?
So sorry to use this forum, but the emails I send keep bouncing back.
Thanks so much,
Sarah
Morgan says
That would be great, Sarah! Sorry about the email issue-- I'll update the links to my emails with alternate ones! Thanks for letting me know, and for the feature.
Sarah Spigelman Richter says
Great! Thanks so much, Morgan!
Marc @ Smell My Kitchen says
Yum I'm hungry now!
I've had blue cheese (on steak!) for the second time in my life a few weeks ago and I must say it was a way better experience than the first time. It is delicious! I never tried it in a salad though.
Added to my to do list 😉
Living The Sweet Life says
Mmmm - now THAT'S a salad!! I love figs around this time of year, I feel like they're so much sweeter than usual.