Peppered Figs, Air-Dried Ham and Celery

Name: Peppered Figs, Air-Dried Ham and Celery
Yield: Serves 2 as a starter or light meal
Ingredients: freshly ground black pepper to taste; celery 2 tender stalks; sea salt flakes a pinch; lemon juice a squeeze; marjoram or flat-leaf parsley finely chopped to make 2 tsp; air-dried ham (such as San Daniele, Serrano or Parma) 4 slices; baby chard or spinach a small handful; extra-virgin olive oil 2 tsp; semi-dried figs 3; black peppercorns preferably Tellicherry, 2 tsp, cracked; celery leaves a few snipped, to garnish

Preparation info

Serves
2
as a starter or light meal

Difficulty
Easy

Appears in

Pepper

By Christine McFadden

Published 2008

About

Figs with cracked peppercorns are such a good combination of flavour and texture – intense sweetness balances heat, and crunch counteracts soft figgy goo. The ham provides mild background sweetness while crisp celery ribbons add a refreshing cleanness to the dish.

Ingredients

celery 2 tender stalks
sea salt flakes a pinch
freshly ground black pepper to taste

Starter
Main course
Gluten-free
Spicy

Method

Remove the strings from the celery stalks with a swivel peeler. Cut the stalks in half crossways. Using the peeler and working from alternate sides, shave each piece into thin ribbons. Put in a bowl and toss with a pinch of crumbled sea salt flakes, a few twists of the pepper mill, the olive oil, mar