Burgers with Figs, Caramelized Onions, and Goat Cheese

in Beef, Burgers & Sliders, Cookouts & Picnics, Figs, Goat cheese, On the grill

The Fig Burger

A burger so nice that last week, we had it twice. In a row. Seriously.

Fancy burgers have been a thing around here for a while (Exhibit A. And Exhibit B.) but this one is my new summer favorite.

The Fig Burger

Do you like figs? And caramelized onions? And wine? And burgers that you have to transfer inside to finish cooking because your grill was shooting flames from the gas line?

3 out of 4 ain’t bad. (And somewhere about an hour from here, my dad is shaking his head and muttering how this would never happen with charcoal.)

Our little fig tree pushed it’s first real crop this year. Add those to the figs we hopped the fence to pick from my friend Harmony’s not-so-little fig tree while she was out of town, and you get things like this.

Fresh figs with honey

And this.

Fresh figs, honey, and brie

But you’re here for this one, so let’s cut to the chase.

The Fig Burger

While you’re heating the grill (and hopefully yours doesn’t turn into the weapon that ours did), you caramelize some onions. And then you add figs, the wine or booze of your choice, a splash of balsamic vinegar and then you let it simmer away until the liquid is gone.

What you have left is a slightly sweetened concoction bursting with flavors that are kind of magical.

And by kind of, I mean completely. Pair that with a juicy burger and some goat cheese, and you have our new favorite burger. And I suspect, one of your new favorites.

Burgers with Figs, Caramelized Onions, and Goat Cheese

Figs, caramelized onions, and red wine (or Madeira) are cooked down into a flavorful, glazed topping perfect for summer and fig season.

Ingredients

  • For the fig topping:
  • 1 tsp olive oil
  • 1 small white or yellow onion
  • 4-5 oz fresh figs, quartered
  • 1/4 cup wine*
  • 2 tsp balsamic vinegar
  • Pinch of salt
  • For the burgers
  • 4 burger patties, made & grilled to your liking
  • 4 buns
  • Honey goat cheese, crumbled
  • *Use whatever you have open; we've used a Malbec Rose and Madeira. The Madeira (my favorite) will make for a sweeter topping coated in a thicker glaze than a non-fortified wine.

Instructions

  1. Cut the onion from pole-to-pole (root to stem end) and then cut each half into 1/4-inch thick slices.
  2. Heat olive oil over medium heat and add the onions.
  3. Cover and stir ever 4-5 minutes, for 15 minutes.
  4. The onions will be a nice amber color at this point - add the figs, wine, balsamic, and salt, stirring to mix.
  5. Cover (if your lid doesn't have a way to steam to escape, leave slightly ajar), reduce heat to medium-low, and simmer for another 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until there is no standing liquid remaining.
  6. Top your burgers with a generous scoop of the fig-onion mixture and crumbled goat cheese (honey flavor is my favorite).

Notes

Yields: 4 servings

Source: Confections of a Foodie Bride

Estimated time: 45 minutes

20 comments… add one
  • Such an unusual burger topping. Looks delicious!!

  • This looks fabulous – as soon as my wedding is over and I can eat bread again, I’m making this! For now maybe I’ll just try the fig/brie combo….

  • I’m so insanely jealous of your fig tree. Figs won’t make an appearance in the stores here for at least another month, and even then, fig “season” will last maybe a week or two. But if I do happen to get my hands on any, you’d better believe this burger is happening!

  • That topping sounds fantastic! I just need to track down some figs…and then I will probably be topping everything I make with it 🙂

  • That is one pretty looking burger! I’d certainly be open to having one two days in a row too!

  • I never thought to add figs to a burgers, but my mouth is watering. I wish I could have one right now.

  • You have no idea how I’m drooling over my laptop right now!!! I know why you had it twice in one week – it looks AMAZING!!!

  • Holy moly. I never would have thought of putting figs on a burger but with this whole recipe it just makes sense. What I wouldn’t give for a fig tree magically growing outside of my window (magically since I live on the 10th floor with no balcony….).

  • Figs make me giddy. And damn do these sound good…and that’s from someone who has no desire to eat meat!

  • Still jealous of your backyard figs. Beautiful burger!

  • These sound SO ridiculously good! Love figs and goat cheese!!

  • Oh my gosh! I’m loving the flavor combinations here. Must make this one!

  • Girl, your burgers are no joke. This is UH-mazing!

  • Gosh, I love figs and this is definitely a unique and delicious pairing for a burger!

  • What beautiful flavors going on in this burger.. Just mouth watering!!

  • This sounds like such a flavor explosion. This reminds me of a fig marmalade I love that has figs, almonds, rosemary and Italian chiles. I always eat it with goat cheese and crackers. I have been seeing burgers with Fig at some of my favorite restaurants and I don’t know why I haven’t tried it because your burger is lookin pretty fanfreakingtastic! This is a must make for sure.

  • I just recently discovered my love of figs..and this burger sounds so heavenly, I want it today, for lunch!

  • Jaxie

    I had a pizza with a similar fig and onion topping with the goat cheese sprinkled around and baked with then some arugula added in the center just before serving. Incredible! So make a double batch of the fig and onion part and then have one burger and one pizza in a week’s time.

  • Figs in a burger? LOVE IT! I could always use a bit of sweetness in my burgers.

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