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I'd never really tried figs before this year, except in shit like fig newtons. Trying them 'fresh and raw', I didn't find them to be particularly tasty. I've been roasting them, slowly, for about an hour, with spices (cinnamon, cardamom, ginger, clove, anise) sprinkled on top, and they've been amazing. Anyone got any other suggestions on how to eat figs?

Thanks.

Figs Stuffed with Ricotta


19 fresh ripe small figs (about 1 ¼ lb.)
¼ cup honey
½ cup part skim ricotta cheese
¼ cup almonds, toasted and chopped
Sliced almonds for garnish


Mash the ripest fig with honey and press through a sieve.

Cut a deep X in the top of each fig and spread it apart to make “petals.”

Combine ricotta and almonds and spoon into figs.

Arrange figs on a platter and drizzle with honey.

Sprinkle with sliced almonds if desired.

I don't normally watch food network, but Lynn Crawford covered figs the last time I flew back east.

http://www.foodnetwork.ca/ontv/shows/pitchin-in/video.html?titleid=248404&releasepid=Z7Ii3ZMvMQDkB9ICJfQ4z_6L1HMDF7LU&type=specialshow

you talking Mission figs (black skin) or kadota (pale green, pale flesh)?

yourname2000 saidI'd never really tried figs before this year, except in shit like fig newtons. Trying them 'fresh and raw', I didn't find them to be particularly tasty. I've been roasting them, slowly, for about an hour, with spices (cinnamon, cardamom, ginger, clove, anise) sprinkled on top, and they've been amazing. Anyone got any other suggestions on how to eat figs?

Thanks.

Usually I eat them raw, cut in half and turned inside out.. They're particularly good with crackers and blue cheese and a nice vintage of your favourite wine.

I buy dried figs all the time. Fresh figs are too messy and I don't like the texture of the fresh skins. My secretary has a fig tree in her yard and she makes fig jam for me...plain or mixed with vanilla...and it's delicious on a peanut butter sandwich.

With your food hole.

Just wash the fig, and then eat the entire thing, skin included. The skin contains the greatest concentration of nutrients anyhow.

They are also delicious with meat if you cut them in half and pan fry them in the jus until a bit browned. Then make a reduction from the remaining jus.

Menergy_1 saidyou talking Mission figs (black skin) or kadota (pale green, pale flesh)?

Both, actually...the missions are on for $6/lb, and (pale green) "sierras" are on for $4. The missions are much smaller. I actually prefer the taste (after roasting) of the sierras --less cloying.

To those saying enjoy raw, they're not exactly a tasty fruit raw...kinda chalking/gritty/pasty. Roasted, the sugars caramelize and they taste like raisin tarts --uber yummy.

Thanks for the suggestions so far, guys....the ricotta ones sound awesome, JDuderrr.

WhyWhySee saidI don't normally watch food network...

Yeah right --I bet you're watching the Food[-porn] Network right now! Thanks for the link...not sure what's "creepy" about it, but I'll check it out.

yourname2000 said

Menergy_1 saidyou talking Mission figs (black skin) or kadota (pale green, pale flesh)?

Both, actually...the missions are on for $6/lb, and (pale green) "sierras" are on for $4. The missions are much smaller. I actually prefer the taste (after roasting) of the sierras --less cloying.

To those saying enjoy raw, they're not exactly a tasty fruit raw...kinda chalking/gritty/pasty. Roasted, the sugars caramelize and they taste like raisin tarts --uber yummy.

Thanks for the suggestions so far, guys....the ricotta ones sound awesome, JDuderrr.

WhyWhySee saidI don't normally watch food network...

Yeah right --I bet you're watching the Food[-porn] Network right now! Thanks for the link...not sure what's "creepy" about it, but I'll check it out.

Maybe I would be if I had more than 3 channels.

They're obviously not creepy - I'm not a big fan of the texture, but I just chose 5 random threads. Condoleezza Rice is actually creepy.

No idea what figs are like in Cali, but the figs grandad grew in Lebanon I used to LOVE just picking fresh, washing, and eating raw.

Nothing tastier. I've actually never had cooked fig before, don't think.

@YYC: Yeah, me too....just have an antenna hooked up to the 60" plasma, lol...I get about 6 channels (but the digital quality is actually better than cable, ironically.) Who has time to watch TV, lol....that would eat into my RJ time!

And yeah, Condi Rice is uber-creepy. Ever see her play piano and sing...I just don't even...know...how...to....describe.

From Fresno, the former fig capital of the world before urbanization moved the industry to Australia, we once had huge acreages of the female calimyrna figs pollinated by the male capra figs. Of the many things which one can make with the fresh calimyrna fig, my personal favorite is fresh fig cookies, a soft cookie with a delicate fig flavor.

Of course, the way the capra tree fucks the calimyrna tree is quite unusual--it involves paper bags and a ménage à trois with a wasp--well, it really is a ménage à quatre with a guy involved, too.