Here in Corfu, the fresh figs are falling from the trees. In an effort to find a delicious use for them, I came across this recipe that Jamie Oliver called, “The Easiest, Sexiest Salad in the World.” Well, I like easy and I like sexy…so it was hard to resist.

I used an olive oil that had a pretty strong flavor and the instead of the lemon, I might try an aged balsamic next time. Or, perhaps even better yet, just a drizzle of balsamic reduction over the top instead of the suggested dressing. The basil we have here has tiny little leaves as you see in the photo but chopped fresh basil of any kind will do.

[Side Note: Today I accomplished something I have wished to do for 3 years. I took a video of a woman making fresh cheese and custard phyllo pies. It is awesome to watch how she swings the phyllo in the air. Like the excitement of homemade pizza times 100. I will work to figure out how to post videos… stay tuned!]

Fig Salad with Prosciutto, Fresh Mozzarella and Basil
from Jamie Oliver… in his words

One thing I do is to criss-cross the figs but not quite to the bottom – 1 fig per person is always a good start. Then, using your thumbs and forefingers, squeeze the base of the fig to expose the inside. At this point you’ll think, ‘Oooh, that looks nice, I think I’m quite clever …’ or at least I do. More importantly, it allows your dressing to get right into the middle of the fig. All these little things really help to make a salad special. Simply place the figs in a dish, weave around 1 slice of Parma ham or prosciutto per fig, throw in some slices of buffalo mozzarella and rip over some green or purple basil. Mix 6 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil, 3 tablespoons of lemon juice, a tablespoon of good honey and some sea salt and freshly ground black pepper together in a bowl and drizzle everything with this dressing. As far as salads go, it’s pretty damn sexy.

PS It’s a good idea to have some spare bread on the table to mop up the juices – always a treat.