I've been bothered about figs for years now. We have a fantastic fig tree here in the south of France which produces two crops every summer. Most of them just fall to the ground, eaten by the wild boar.

I like figs, but they're VERY sweet. So I'm not really interested in jams or desserts involving figs (Nigel Slater has just shown roast figs with honey on: far too sweet for me).

I've seen figs with duck breast here, and figs with goat's cheese.

I tried dyring figs during the summer, but failed.

Any suggestions?

phil

Interesting problem....

first off.. As far as I'm aware there are two crops from the fig tree one being better quality than the other.... (I think the first crop being much sweeter and more flavour where the second is more bland)

As soon as you said fig I thought Feta, open the figs up and grill or even bake then spinkle crumbled feta on top...

Maybe make a strong chutney/sauce (things like brown sauce tend to have odd ingredient like fig in them)

As I was in baking mood yesterday, what about using them in a bread with cheese?... or maybe even date, fig and walnut cake?

PS failing all that, let the wild boar eat them... then catch the boar ! lol

Steve

Thanks, Steve

Feta and figs sounds like a good idea: I'll give it a go next summer.

Yes, the first crop is the best.

I did an 'Indian' fig chutney a few years back, with lots of spices. It was great, but I could eat only small amounts at a time, since figs ae so very sweet.

Perhaps if I try a different drying method, the dried figs will work.

I envy you your capacity to bake. I wouldn't dare!

Phil

My best suggestion, I'll come and visit, help you harvest them, eat as many as I can stuff into my face, then make preserves from the rest and steal them back home with me! ;)

You lucky lucky thing!

:)

PS Best tip for baking is to just give it a go.

It's so much easier than you'd think and the first success gives confidence to keep trying!

Ideas keep jumping out...

how about a sort of tart with cheese and fig.. (in my head I'm seeing a crispy filo pastry almost flat like a pizza, with small chunks of fig, a hard crumbly cheese like lancashire or feta, and a good helping of caramalised onions with a hint of balsamic...(the onions might have to be done seperately and put on before serving...)

Steve

Kav, too many figs are said to have a laxative effect ;-)!

Mum

Oh, pfffbbt! My entire digestive system is kerfooey half the time, a few figs won't make a difference! ;)

Kavey: if you're passing by in the summer, help yourself!

Steve: cheese does seem to be a good idea: I saw roast figs with goat's cheese on Saturday Kitchen today. Looks good.

Filo pastry? Great idea, but I have a fear of all things involving pastry. Perhaps a set of scales would help!

Phil

Figs with Parma Ham is a good combination. A generous squeeze of lemon juice or drizzle of balsamic vinegar helps if they are too sweet.

Figs, goat's cheese and parma ham are a wonderful combination.

If the figs are already sweet, you won't need to drizzle any honey but for less sweet ones, a little honey or a honey-based salad dressing is very nice.

You could look at making fig roll biscuits, what the americans call fig newtons. I'd love to have plentiful figs to be able to make these from my own produce!

Thanks, folks: looking forward to those suggestions next summer.

I wish I knew how to dry them properly: I cut them in half and left them outside in the blazing Mediterranean sun. Result: when I opened the box during the autumn, they were full of maggots! Not properly dried out, obviously.

Phil

I don't think I've ever noticed totally dried figs anywhere?.. and was shocked to find things like "dried dates" were coated with vegetable oil !

Steve

Maybe you're right, Steve: totally dried figs doesn't seem to make much sense. Maybe sun-drying isn't the right method for figs. I have a French friend who says that drying his c?pes in the wind is the best method. Maybe I should do the same thing with sliced figs.

Phil

Phil, here are some tips on drying:

http://www.ochef.com/9.htm

http://www.gardeningcentral.org/dry_figs/dry_figs.html

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/gardening/howtogrow/fruitandvegetables/6273242/Fruit-how-to-dry-figs.html

Kavey

When I was growing up in India, dry figs were the only figs I had seen, until I went to a hill station where they grow. We were given on each night throughout the winter, also when bunged up. They have slight laxative effect.

Dry figs are sold threaded on a string generally, see;

http://www.shreejidairy.com/images/anjeer_basudi_bg.jpg

http://www.google.co.uk/imgres?imgurl=http://static.ifood.tv/files/Anjeer%2520Burfi1.JPG&imgrefurl=http://www.ifood.tv/recipe/anjeer_burfi&h=531&w=800&sz=183&tbnid=cZVmiW-qDot3PM:&tbnh=95&tbnw=143&prev=/images%3Fq%3Danjeer%2Bpictures&usg=__zlw_6bbHg0IE0Q1gboPT4jQKTck=&ei=uxZMS_K-DZPu0wSGuZyGDg&sa=X&oi=image_result&resnum=3&ct=image&ved=0CA0Q9QEwAg

Most will be from dry figs, because fresh ones are not available everywhere in India. Also, these are usually for sweets.

Fig Ice ream is something I have eaten, but not made; http://www.zimbio.com/Recipes/articles/1984/Anjeer+Ice+Cream+Fig+Ice+Cream You could reduce the sugar if you like them less sweet

Figs can also be made into yoghurt shakes. I have had it but not made it because they are so expensive here. My fig tree might make this possible in the future. Take the outer skin layer off and blend with yoghurt and a little iced water. Add sugar to taste. Yummy!

Chutney?s are not too sweet. These fig chutneys looks good, worth a try; http://www.reallynicerecipes.com/recipe/sauces/fig-chutney or http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/emeril-lagasse/fresh-fig-chutney-recipe/index.html

Most chutney recipes are pretty similar, you can use your own version. If you do not enough figs at a time, you can prepare them and then freeze in bags until you have enough. Personally, I would use halved figs, not chopped, for making a chutney.

I also found a chicken (not duck) fig recipe on YouTube, but it was in Hindi. It is by one of the famous chefs of India, Sanjeev kumar. Here is his recipe: http://www.sanjeevkapoor.com/Recipe.aspx?RecipeId=19&Header=Indian%20Recipe&MenuId=28

If you preserved your fresh figs (recipes on the web), you can use them in hundred of Middle eastern recipes for rest of the year.

OK, thanks both. One of those links says that the best method is to dry them in the sun, which is what I did during our very hot summer. Maybe it wasn't my drying technique, but the fact that I didn't then stick them in the freezer to kill of bugs/insect eggs. Thus the maggots. I'll have a go again this summer.