Chef Dean
Antipasto Skewers
The abundance of an Italian antipasto platter captured on a single pick: folded salami, sharp provolone, briny olives, and tender artichoke hearts, finished with fresh basil and a bright olive oil drizzle.
Culinary Explorer
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Fresh Fig and Prosciutto Crostini
Created by
Ripe figs torn open to reveal their ruby flesh, laid on crisp grilled bread with salty prosciutto and a drizzle of your best olive oil. This is what late summer tastes like.
Appetizers & Snacks
Italian
Dinner Party
Special Occasion
15 min
Active Time
5 min cook•20 min total
Yield12 crostini
Start with the figs. They should be soft when you press them gently, fragrant at the stem end, and heavy for their size. Perfect ripeness is everything here. If your figs are hard or pale inside, wait for better ones. This is not a dish that tolerates compromise.
When I first tasted figs in the south of France, I understood why people write poems about them. A truly ripe fig needs almost nothing. Split it open and you find that garnet center, those tiny seeds, that honeyed sweetness balanced by something faintly earthy. Prosciutto adds salt and savory depth. Good bread gives you crunch. Olive oil ties it together.
Every meal is a meaningful choice. When you seek out figs from a farmer who picks them at the right moment, who knows the variety and tends the trees, you taste the difference. You also keep that farmer growing beautiful food for your community.
Do not overthink this. Good ingredients need you to get out of the way. Your job is simple: assemble with care, serve immediately, and let things taste of what they are.
The technique, the tradition, and the story behind every dish.
Discover Culinary ExplorerIngredients
ripe fresh figs
Quantity
6
preferably Black Mission or Brown Turkey
rustic baguette
Quantity
12 slices
cut 1/2-inch thick on the bias
prosciutto di Parma
Quantity
4 ounces
thinly sliced
extra-virgin olive oil
Quantity
3 tablespoons, plus more for drizzling
flaky sea salt
Quantity
to taste
black pepper
Quantity
to taste
freshly cracked
fresh basil leaves (optional)
Quantity
small handful
| Ingredient | Quantity |
|---|---|
| ripe fresh figspreferably Black Mission or Brown Turkey | 6 |
| rustic baguettecut 1/2-inch thick on the bias | 12 slices |
| prosciutto di Parmathinly sliced | 4 ounces |
| extra-virgin olive oil | 3 tablespoons, plus more for drizzling |
| flaky sea salt | to taste |
| black pepperfreshly cracked | to taste |
| fresh basil leaves (optional) | small handful |
Equipment Needed
- •Grill pan or outdoor grill
- •Pastry brush for oil
- •Large wooden serving board
Instructions
- 1
Grill the bread
Heat a grill pan or outdoor grill over medium-high heat. Brush both sides of each baguette slice lightly with olive oil. Grill until you see distinct char marks and the bread turns golden, about one minute per side. The bread should be crisp on the outside but still have some give when you press it. Set aside on a board.
Day-old bread works beautifully here. It crisps without becoming brittle. - 2
Prepare the figs
Trim the hard stem tip from each fig. Stand the fig upright and cut it in half from top to bottom. Then cut each half in half again, giving you quarters. The interior should be deep garnet or pink, glistening with natural sugars. If it looks pale or dry, the fig is not ready.
- 3
Tear the prosciutto
Separate the prosciutto slices gently. Tear or fold each slice into loose ruffles rather than laying them flat. Prosciutto tastes better when it has some texture and airiness, not pressed down like deli meat on a sandwich.
- 4
Assemble the crostini
Arrange the grilled bread on a serving board. Drape each slice with a ruffle of prosciutto, letting it fold naturally. Place two fig quarters on each crostino, cut side up so the ruby interior faces the sky. Press them gently so they nestle into the bread.
Work quickly once assembled. The bread will soften if it sits too long. - 5
Finish and serve
Drizzle your best olive oil over each crostino in a thin stream. The oil should glisten on the figs and pool slightly on the prosciutto. Finish with a pinch of flaky sea salt and several grinds of black pepper. Tear a few basil leaves over the top if you have them. Serve immediately while the bread still holds its crunch.
Chef Tips
- •Buy figs the day you plan to use them. They do not improve after picking and turn quickly. Look for fruit that yields to gentle pressure and smells sweet at the stem.
- •Black Mission figs have deep purple skin and jammy interiors. Brown Turkey figs are milder and golden inside. Both work beautifully. Use what your market has at peak ripeness.
- •Seek out real prosciutto di Parma or San Daniele, aged at least eighteen months. The cheap supermarket versions taste more like ham than the nutty, silky meat you want here.
- •Late summer through early fall is fig season in most regions. If your figs are out of season, consider fresh pear slices with a drizzle of honey instead.
- •The olive oil matters. Use the best you have, something grassy and peppery that you would be happy to drink from a spoon.
Advance Preparation
- •Bread can be grilled up to two hours ahead and kept at room temperature. The texture holds if stored uncovered.
- •Figs should be cut just before serving. Their flesh oxidizes and weeps if left too long.
Frequently Asked Questions
Nutrition Information
1 serving (about 60g)
Calories
140 calories
Total Fat
6 g
Saturated Fat
1 g
Trans Fat
0 g
Unsaturated Fat
4 g
Cholesterol
6 mg
Sodium
310 mg
Total Carbohydrates
16 g
Dietary Fiber
1 g
Sugars
4 g
Protein
5 g
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