Chocolate-Dipped Figs (Fichi al Cioccolato)

By jennKI

Moist dried figs stuffed with nuts and dipped in chocolate are nice as a little after-dinner treat.

I like to buy candied orange peel at Kalustyan's, a shop in New York City that specializes in spices, dried fruits, and nuts. Because they sell a lot of it, it is always fresh and full of flavor. Many other specialty shops sell good candied orange peel.

You can also order it by mail. Supermarket candied orange peel and other fruits are chopped into small bits and usually dry and tasteless.

Ingredients

• 18 moist dried figs (about 1 pound)
• 18 toasted almonds
• 1/2 cup candied oranges peel
• 4 ounces bittersweet chocolate, chopped or broken into small pieces
• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter

Details

Servings 8
Adapted from dvo.com

Preparation

Step 1

1 Line a tray with wax paper and set a wire cooling rack on top. Make a small slit in the base of each fig. Insert an almond and a piece of orange peel into the figs. Pinch the slit closed.

2 In the top half of a double boiler set over simmering water, melt the chocolate and butter, about 5 minutes. Remove from the heat and stir until smooth. Let stand 5 minutes.

3 Dip each fig in the melted chocolate and place on the wire rack. When all of the figs have been dipped, place the tray in the refrigerator to set the chocolate, about 1 hour.

4 Place the figs in an airtight container, separating each layer with wax paper. Store in the refrigerator up to 30 days.



From "1,000 Italian Recipes."