Umami, sweet, salty, and smokey. All tastes in one bite. In preparation for the TGRWT #9 I tried a simple appetizer where figs rolled in bacon are baked to melt the parmesan cheese and chocolate inside. The TGRWT is a blogging event where one has to develop a recipe using ingredients that theory predicts should go well together, but for which there may be few or no recipes. Round number nine is being hosted by Robert from La Mia Cucina (the photos on the his site are pure eye candy).

Parmesan has a strong umami flavor imparted by glutamic acid, one of the chemicals used to build all living things. The word umami may be new in English, but we have all enjoyed the sensation associated with it: in meats, in the pulp of tomatoes, and in parmesan cheese.

Recipe

This recipe is a variant of a traditional recipe using dates and bacon. The idea is to make little sandwiches, with the figs being the bread and the parmesan and chocolate being the filling. For the recipe you will need:

• dried figs
• parmesan cheese
• milk chocolate pieces or chips
• smoked bacon

1. Heat the oven to 450°F.

2. Cut off the top of the fig to remove the stem. Cut the fig in half along its longer dimension. Press into one half two chocolate chips. Use milk chocolate, as you will need the extra sweetness.

1. Slice the parmesan cheese into 2mm (¹⁄₁₆ inch) slices and then into strips that will fit over the fig halves. Be generous with the parmesan. The first time I tried this recipe I used grated parmesan and could not get enough of the cheese in a roll. Cover with the other fig half and wrap with a bacon strip at least one and half times around. Secure with a tooth pick making sure the two fig halves are pierced. The fat of the bacon will help soften the dried figs.

1. Arrange the figs on toothpicks on skewers placed between the rim of the baking pan or on a cooling rack inserted into the rimmed cookie sheet. You may want to line the bottom of the cookie sheet to help with clean up. Don’t place the rolled up figs directly on the sheet, or they will burn (I’ve done it, even while watching them).

1. Bake for ten minutes. Remove from oven and serve while warm.

I have made these twice. My daughter, who won’t eat figs, kept on munching them. The chocolate and parmesan blend in so well that most people do not notice there is chocolate in the rolls. I made a few with 70% chocolate and some with milk chocolate and I prefer the ones with milk chocolate (this from a no-milk-chocolate chocoholic).