Caramelized fig, orange, and feta salad.

Caramel salad, can't go wrong (and from Ottolenghi!) Picture here: http://ift.tt/2auZ5Tf

Serves: 4

Ingredients

½ cup superfine sugar 16 ripe figs, cut in half lengthwise 4 medium oranges, topped and tailed, peeled, and sliced into rounds 1 cm thick 2 tbsp lemon juice 1½ tbsp Rakı, Pernod, or another aniseed-flavored liqueur 1 tsp aniseeds or fennel seeds, lightly toasted 1 clove garlic, crushed 1/3 cup olive oil 7 oz feta, broken into 1 cm chunks 1 tbsp oregano leaves, small leaves whole and larger ones chopped 3 cups arugula coarse sea salt and black pepper

Method

Place a large sauté pan over medium heat and add half the sugar. Leave for two to three minutes, or until it turns a golden caramel colour; don’t stir the sugar at this stage. Once nice and golden, add half the figs, cut side down. Cook for two minutes, until starting to soften, before turning to cook for a minute more. Remove from the pan and add the second batch of figs and repeat the cooking process. You might need to add a tablespoon or two of water to the pan if the figs aren’t very juicy.

Add the remaining sugar to the pan, return to the heat, and let the sugar start to caramelize before adding the oranges and leaving for one minute on each side. They should take on a rich caramel colour. Remove and add to the plate of figs.

Take the caramel off the heat and whisk in the lemon juice, liqueur, aniseeds, garlic, ¾ teaspoon coarse sea salt, and a generous grind of black pepper. Once combined, whisk in the olive oil and set aside.

Arrange the oranges and figs on a large platter and dot with the feta pieces. Drizzle any juices left on the fruit plate over the top, followed by the dressing. Sprinkle with the oregano and arugula and serve.

bon appetit