Shrimp, Bacon and Figs with Goat Cheese Quinoa Drizzled with Fig Balsamic
Last year in Israel, the harvests all came earlier than usual. Each fruit and vegetable season popping up weeks earlier then the year before. And, to my dismay when I returned to Israel from my 6 weeks in China last summer, I found that I had completely missed fig season. Not a fig in sight to be found. It was a painful realization.
Returning to Israel this summer after being in the States, I was sure that this would be my fate yet again. However, as I entered the Mahane Yehuda shuk with Katherine, vendor after vendor had piles of beautiful purple figs. My heart was filled with happiness. I had not missed fig season this year. Quite the opposite, fig season was in full force here in Israel and I was right in the middle of it and going to make the best of it.
Fresh figs wasn’t the only thing I left Jerusalem with that day. Mahane Yehuda is home to one of my favorite food shops in Israel, Basher. Basher is a beautiful cheese shop located in the heart of the busy shuk. Filled with glorious cheeses of every kind, homemade pastas, stewed cherry tomatoes, marinated artichokes and a wonderful collection of Israeli wines, it is no wonder I always leave there spending more money then I had anticipated. The staff at Basher is beyond helpful, always offering tastings of their favorite cheeses for you to try and helping you decide between one cheese over the other. I came home with many small blocks of cheese including a round of one of my favorite goat cheeses.
Figs and goat cheese have always been culinary soul mates and pair beautifully. Together with this amazing idea I found on pinterest, they were the inspiration for this light and delicious dish. The goat cheese makes the quinoa creamy and a bit tangy against the salty crisp bacon, sweet shrimp and fresh figs. The whole dish comes together with a thick aged fig balsamic drizzled on top.
Serve in smaller portions for a fabulous appetizer or larger portions for a delicious and satisfying lunch or dinner. This dish comes together with flavors that work perfect for transitioning into the fall season.
| Shrimp, Bacon and Figs with Goat Cheese Quinoa Drizzled with Fig Balsamic |
- 2 cup quinoa
- 3 cups chicken stock
- 6 ounces soft goat cheese
- 6 slices of bacon
- 3 garlic gloves, minced
- 1/2 onion, minced
- 1 lb shrimp
- 4 figs, cut into chunks
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 4 tablespoons of fig balsamic
- In a medium saucepan, combine quinoa and stock and bring to a boil over medium-high heat.
- Cover and simmer quinoa for about 15 minutes or until the stock is absorbed.
- Remove quinoa from heat and mix in goat cheese until melted and evenly combined with the quinoa. Season with salt and pepper and set aside.
- Cook bacon in a skillet over medium heat until fully cooked and crispy. Remove bacon from pan, chop into chunks and set aside.
- In the same pan that you used to cook the bacon, add the minced garlic and onion to the bacon grease and cook until softened about 5 minutes.
- Add in shrimp and cook until pink and cooked through, about 7 minutes. Remove pan from heat.
- To serve, split quinoa among 4 bowls and top with shrimp, bacon and figs.
- Drizzle each dish with fig balsamic and serve immediately.
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Wowzas! This looks seriously amazing. The quinoa are almost like cheesy grits here, but semi-healthier!
I never liked figs before but this summer I have been enjoying them.,.,
What a lovely dish;I would love that just now,,sans the bacon…
That looks like an incredible combination my friend 😀
Cheers
Choc Chip Uru
Beth, what an intriguing combination of ingredients and flavors. Although I really enjoy fresh figs and goat cheese, the idea of adding lovely shrimp, bacon and quinoa to this dish is so creative and the drizzle of fig balsamic vinegar as the “finishing touch” sounds delicious.
Great post – hope all is well!
Shrimp – check. Bacon – check. Figs – Wha?
What a fabulous combination Beth! Haven’t tried figs, shrimp and bacon but I’m sure it tasted divine.
Simply stunning, my friend. I love fresh figs, but since I didn’t grow up with them, I don’t know how to incorporate them into main dishes as well I could. Thank you for sharing!
What a fantastic way to eat quinoa! I love figs so it’s wonderful to see you used them to match with quinoa! And with shrimp, bacon, and goat cheese in there, I’m sure flavor was awesome.
This looks amazing. Figs, and goat cheese, and bacon? Oh my goodness. I love this recipe. Thank you for sharing!
What a delicious combination of flavours and textures. Salty, sweet and sour, creamy and fleshy. A great recipe indeed!
Good morning, I featured this recipe on my blog today for my weekly seafood round-up. I also FB, Tweet and Pin. Thank you for allowing me to share! Here is the link:http://carriesexperimentalkitchen.blogspot.com/2012/09/seafood-frenzy-friday-week-35.html
I am so in love with figs too! I feel guilty about featuring too many recipes with fig & goat´s cheese that I try and spread them out a bit! I´m sure the bacon´s amazing and that´s coming from a vegetarian!! Oh and I want to come to the shuk with you it looks so inspiring!
What a fabulous combination of flavors…truly irresisitible!!
This looks really yummy!! I need to change the way I often cook the same boring stuff. haha.. I love this! It looks so refreshing and delicious! Quinoa is packed with so much goodies too! 🙂
I was just checking in to see if there was any baby news yet!! I am so excited and can’t wait to hear how everything is going Mama!
Oh those figs are just so beautiful! I cannot wait for fig season here because I am definitely going to give this a try!