Fig & Goat Cheese Sliders

Fig & Goat Cheese Sliders are the perfect appetizer; since there’s only a small amount of meat in each slider, they’re not super filling but will still tide you over while you’re waiting for the main course. An elegant upgrade to regular sliders, the fig jam, goat cheese and arugula may remind you of charcuterie. Who needs a cheese board when you have these scrumptious swanky sliders? 

The grocery list.

• Ground beef – It’s really important to get good quality meats for your recipes. Not only is it better for you, it’s better for the environment. ButcherBox is a great way to receive an assortment of high quality and local meats regularly! 
• Kosher salt – What’s the difference between kosher salt and regular table salt? Kosher salt is preferred by chefs because of its large flake size, which makes it easier to pick up and use in cooking. Also, kosher salt oftentimes does not contain additives that regular table salt has. 
• Arugula – Arugula has a bitter flavor with a bit of spice that pairs so well with the sweet fig jam. 
• Olive oil – Arugula has such a strong flavor, I think the best way to dress it is just with a simple olive oil and lemon juice dressing. 
• Lemon juice 
• Slider buns – If you can’t find slider buns at the store, you can just use regular hamburger buns and cut them in half. Or, if you want perfectly circular buns, use a circular cookie cutter or just a cup and use it to cut out smaller buns out of your regular sized hamburger rolls.
• Fig jam – Fig tastes amazing with cheese, especially something salty and potent like goat cheese. It milds out the flavor of the cheese and adds a sweetness.
• Goat cheese – I think of goat cheese is a summery cheese, though you can of course eat it all year round! It tastes best alongside fruits. 

The preparation.

You’re going to cook your smash burgers on a large cast iron pan or griddle, not a grill, as they can be messy. Heat your pan over medium heat. 

Divide the ground beef into 4-6 small patties. Season your patties with salt. Your meat doesn’t require much seasoning because the fig, arugula and goat cheese will provide the flavors for this dish. 

Place the patties on the hot pan and smash them flat with the backside of a spatula or the bottom of a mug. Watch your patties carefully, they will cook quickly because they are so flat. Cook for 1-2 minutes on each side, smashing more as they cook to thin out your patties. 

While the burgers cook, dress the arugula. Toss the arugula, olive oil and lemon juice in a small bowl. For me, the best way to full dress the greens is by using my hands to really work the oil into the arugula so the dressing doesn’t just pool at the bottom of your bowl instead of fully coating the greens. You can use salad server utensils or a couple of forks if you’re keen on using your hands. Set aside your dressed greens until you’re ready to serve. 

Once your burgers are cooked to your desired doneness, assemble your sliders! You can lightly toast your buns if you would prefer. Start assembling your patties by smearing the bottom slider buns with the fig jam. Place your thin patty on top. Top each beef patty with goat cheese and a small handful of dressed arugula. Place the other bun on top and enjoy! 

Substitution options.

The flavor of fig jam is so distinct, so switching out this ingredient will change the dish itself. However, not everyone likes fig jam so the essence of this recipe will remain pretty much the same if you would rather use a different jam, such as apricot jam or blueberry jam. 

Goat cheese has a very strong flavor and can be replaced by any potent cheese. Feta has a similar texture and flavor to goat cheese, but brie and camembert are both cheeses that pair well with anything sweet like fruit. 

If you want to make this recipe gluten-free, you can use gluten free buns, or use lettuce wraps. They’re a great healthy option and also add a lovely crunch! 

Looking for more appetizers?

Here are a few to try:

Summer Charcuterie Board Spread

Bacon Wrapped Banana Peppers Stuffed w/ Sweet Potato

Athletic Brew Beer Shrimp

Lastly, if you make this Fig & Goat Cheese Sliders recipe, be sure to leave a comment! Above all, I love to hear from ya’ll and do my best to respond to every comment. And of course, if you do make this recipe, don’t forget to snap a pic and tag me on Instagram! Looking through the photos of your dayyyummm good recreations is my favorite!

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