Recipes with figs

It's cool time! Let's find out more about this delicious late summer fruit: how many calories do they have? What are the properties and best recipes to enjoy them?

The end of summer gives us sweet and juicy fruits like figs which, between August and September, make their appearance on our tables. With a pleasant and sugary taste, they are not only good but also rich in properties – and what's more, they can be used to make many delicious recipes (from jams to cakes).

The scientific name is Ficus Carica , and there are different varieties: the main ones are the black one (drier, sugary and less delicate), the purple one (very sweet and delicate) and the green one (juicy and with a thin skin). It is difficult to trace the origin of the common fig, but legend has it that in Ancient Rome, the basket of Romulus and Remus (the one that was entrusted to the waters of the Tiber) stopped right under a wild fig, where the she-wolf found them and took care of it.

Let's find out more about this delicious fruit!

• Properties and calories
• FIG jam
• Caramelized figs
• Dried figs
• Figs Cake
• Fresh fig tart
• Figs in syrup
• Vincotto of figs
• Fig risotto

Calories and properties of figs

The calories in fresh figs are around 60 kcal per 100 grams (a value more or less in line with many other fruits): they are not many, but we recommend moderation for those following a low-calorie diet. It is wrong to say that figs are absolutely fattening, but they are certainly not the least caloric fruit around.

They are rich in fiber and therefore suitable for those who have constipation problems. However, you should not overdo it otherwise, as with prunes, their laxative properties can create the opposite intestinal problems.

The amount of calcium and mineral salts inside them makes them perfect for the health of skin and bones, as well as very energetic immediately: the perfect snack for those who have a low sugar level and want something healthy!

The wisdom of grandmothers, however, teaches us that fig leaves also have beneficial properties: they help reduce triglycerides in the blood and cure coughs and toothaches. All you need to do is make an infusion with the fresh leaves in boiling water and then drink it cold.

On the contrary, fig milk is highly stinging, which is why in the past it was used by our grandmothers to treat and eliminate warts (as well as to curdle milk).

Fig jam recipe

Ingredients for the fig jam (for 10 people)

• 2 kg of figs
• 1 kg of sugar
• 2 untreated lemons

If you have ripe and very sweet figs available, you can also reduce the quantity of sugar, but in general we will use 1 kg.

1. Start by removing the peel and place them to macerate in a bowl with the lemon juice and zest for 45 minutes .
2. Then cook for 10 minutes, sift to remove the seeds and add the sugar. Cook for another 45 minutes. As soon as the mixture is firm and not dripping , the jam is ready and you can transfer your fig jam into sterilized glass jars.

Read also

Sugar-free fig jam

Caramelized figs: recipe

Surely you know that caramelized figs can be made both in the oven and in a pan ; today we see the second version (even if they are not too different from each other).

Ingredients for making caramelized figs (for 8 people)

• 1 kg of figs
• 400 g of sugar
• 1 untreated lemon
• water to taste

1. To prepare caramelized figs, wash the figs , remove the stems and insert an almond into each one. Place them in a large pan.
2. Cover the figs with sugar, lemon zest and juice and a little water. Leave to macerate overnight .
3. The next day, caramelize the figs over low heat without stirring, until the syrup becomes thick and the figs turn brown.
4. Transfer the figs into sterilized jars , cover with the boiling syrup, close and leave to cool upside down to create a vacuum.

How to make dried figs?

Of course, you can buy them ready-made , but if you want, dried figs can also be made at home: you just have to be patient for the entire drying time (which will be quite long). For the rest, the ingredients are simple.

Ingredients for dried figs (10 people)

• 1 kg of fresh figs
• walnut kernels to taste
• lemon zest to taste

1. Wash the fruits and cut them in half before leaving them on a tray in the sun for about 3 days. Every evening you must remember not to leave them outside and it is better if you cover them with a net to protect them from insects and small animals.
2. After these 3 days, fill them with toasted walnuts and grated lemon zest, then brown them in the oven at 180°C for 15 minutes.

Dried figs: properties and calories

The calories of dried figs are much higher than fresh fruits: we are talking about around 250 kcal per 100 grams . So be careful not to overdo it!

As regards the properties, however, they maintain those of the fresh fruit thanks to the presence of mineral salts and vitamins . They are therefore excellent for intestinal, skin and bone health.

The recipe for fresh fig cake

We cannot make a list of recipes with figs without mentioning the classic cake with fresh figs , to be prepared when you want a breakfast with an extra boost or you want to propose a different dessert for lunch to use the last figs of the season. Don't worry, it's very easy.

Ingredients to prepare the cake with figs (for 8 people)

• 350 g of flour
• 3 eggs
• 100 ml of seed oil
• 500 g of ripe figs
• 150 g of cane sugar
• 200 ml of milk
• 1 sachet of baking powder
• 1 lemon

1. Beat the eggs and sugar until the mixture is light and fluffy . Add milk, oil and lemon zest, stirring constantly with the whisk. Sift flour and yeast, incorporating them slowly with a spatula.
2. Lightly flour the figs , insert them into the dough, leaving some aside.
3. Pour everything into the cake tin, add the figs remaining on the surface and cook at 180°C in a static oven for about 30-40 minutes .
4. Leave to cool before turning out and serving.

The recipe for fresh fig tart

If, however, you want to prepare something a little more delicious and elaborate , you can try the fig tart .

Ingredients for fig tart recipe (for 10 people)

• 135 g of cold butter
• 250 g of 00 flour
• 2 egg yolks
• 100 g of icing sugar
• 1 vanilla pod
• 1 pinch of salt
• 300 g of fig jam
• 500 g of figs
• 30 g of granulated sugar
• 30 g of peeled almond flakes

1. Let's start with the shortcrust pastry: in the mixer add the flour, a pinch of salt, the vanilla, the icing sugar and 125 g of cold butter cut into cubes and mix. After leaving the mixture in the fridge to rest for half an hour , roll it out and place it on a cake tin.
2. Bake in a preheated oven at 180°C for 25 minutes . Then spread a layer of jam and complete with the fresh figs that you have caramelized in the pan with the granulated sugar and almonds.

Figs in syrup

To preserve summer fruits with all their sugary taste you can also try preparing figs in syrup . You will only need 3 ingredients and that's it, we're sure the result will amaze you and you can prepare this recipe with both white and black figs, depending on the quality of fruit you find or have in excess at home (or in the garden).

Ingredients of figs in syrup (for 4 people)

• 500 g of fresh figs
• 125 g of sugar
• 1/2 untreated lemon

1. To prepare green figs in syrup, begin by carefully cleaning the fresh figs , dry them gently and remove the hard stems if present. Place the figs in a bowl and cover them with sugar, lemon zest and squeezed and filtered juice. Cover everything with cling film and leave the figs soaked in sugar for 12 hours .
2. After this resting phase , transfer the figs together with the juice into a pan and bring to the boil. Then reduce the heat and leave to simmer for about 10 minutes or until the syrup thickens.
3. Bottle the figs with their syrup in clean and sterilized glass jars , taking care to completely cover the figs, but leaving a space of about a centimeter under the lid. Seal the jars, turn them upside down and let them cool in this position before storing them in the pantry.

Vincotto of figs

Penultimate recipe, but no less important, a typical preparation from Puglia: fig vincotto. It is a sweet sauce based on these summer fruits which are subjected to long cooking to become an irresistibly good nectar.

Ingredients for the fig vincotto (for 4 people)

• Ripe figs to taste
• water to taste

1. Wash the figs, cut them into four parts and place them in a saucepan covering them with water . Cook until you get a liquid mush.
2. Filter the mixture through a fine mesh cloth, then cook the resulting liquid over a low heat for 1-2 hours.
3. Bottle the cooked fig wine hot but not boiling, close the bottles and store in the pantry.

Read also

Grape vincotto: the Apulian nectar