Grilled Blue Cheese Stuffed Figs w/ Grilled Red Onion on Mixed Greens Drizzled with a Strawberry Satsuma Balsamic Reduction

This recipe is perfect for an al fresco summer evening. I made the balsamic reduction earlier in the day to get it out of the way as it can take some time to complete, but definitely easy and worth the time. If you don't have a grill, the broiler in your oven works just fine for the onions and blue cheese figs. All the flavors blend so well together and are especially well accompanied with a nice cold Pimm's cocktail. Enjoy!

Strawberry Satsuma Balsamic Reduction

1 c. sliced strawberries
1 satsuma or tangerine cut in half
1 c. balsamic vinegar

Juice satsuma into a medium sauce pan then add the rinds, strawberries, and balsamic vinegar and boil on medium heat for about 10 minutes stirring occasionally. Then, with a slotted spoon, remove all fruit pieces and rind. Turn heat up to high and stir. The sauce will start to reduce and get thicker. Turn off and remove from heat once it seems the liquid has reduced to about 1 cup(less if you desire a thicker reduction) about 20-25 mins. Pour into glass bowl and set aside in room temperature till ready to use.

Blue Cheese Stuffed Grilled Figs and Grilled Red Onions on Mixed Greens

4 fresh figs quartered 
1/3 c. blue cheese
1/2 large red onion sliced
3 Tbs. olive oil
1 bag of fresh mixed leafy greens
salt and pepper to taste

 Preheat broiler or grill. Add onion and figs to a large bowl and drizzle with 2 Tbs of olive oil and dashes of salt and pepper(I used a special flavored pepper that I found at a farm stand but any pepper will work just fine). Remove figs and line them up skin side down on a board. Toss onion in remaining olive oil till evenly coated(figs are too delicate to toss). Remove onion from bowl and replace with fresh mixed greens and toss with 1 more Tbs of olive oil and dash of salt and pepper, set aside.

Press chunks of blue cheese into the soft centers of each fig quarter then place on a foil lined baking sheet, evenly spaced and put into broiler or grill. Check on the figs every minute or so and remove once the cheese had melted and bubbling. Now put the onion in one layer onto a foil lined sheet and place under broiler or grill till browning occurs then remove. 

Toss onion into greens and then place figs on top for a beautiful display and drizzle the balsamic reduction over everything with a spoon. Now it's ready to dance on the taste buds! Ps....Don't forget the pims!

Recipe on my Instagram!