We planted a fig tree in our backyard on Christmas Day 2010. I wanted to plant a fig tree for a number of reasons, the main one was seeing an old one in our neighborhood while on a bike ride with my boys. The leaves are beautiful and since we have already planted plum, cherry, nectarine, mandarin orange, avocado (it didn’t make it), lemon and apple trees, I thought it would fit right in.
Last summer our tree produced about 8 figs (it was a twig when we planted it). I wasn’t sure how I was going to use the figs…when I tried the first one it wasn’t very sweet, had little taste and the texture wasn’t something I really wanted to eat again raw (my boys felt the same way). I am hoping this is just due to the age of our tree and as it gets older the figs will get sweeter and therefore, better tasting.
So, I went looking for recipes for how to use the figs and this is my favorite. Fig Preserves.
Ingredients:
1 pound fresh black figs
1 cup sugar
How to Make:
Wash figs
Cut figs into small pieces (I prefer them this way vs. leaving them whole with just the tops off as the recipe offers)
Measure out 1 cup of sugar (I used 1/2 cup white sugar, 1/2 cup raw sugar)
Combine figs and sugar in a sturdy medium-sized pot on low heat for 30 minutes. Keep the lid off and stir occasionally.
After 10 minutes it will look like this. Stir every few minutes and keep the lid off.
After 30 minutes it will look like this. The last 5 minutes you will need to pay attention and stir more often, including scraping the bottom of the pot so it doesn’t burn.
It makes about 8 oz and keeps in the refrigerator for about 3 weeks and easily freezes for up to 3 months.
Enjoy on everything from toast in the morning to adding a dab to a cracker with good cheese as a fig preserves/cheese/cracker combination. YUM.
Our tree full of figs this year. Any favorite ways to use them? Please share or everyone I know is getting some fig preserves…maybe that isn’t such a bad thing.
Looking for more recipe inspiration? Check out this CSA link-up! http://inherchucks.com/2012/08/08/whats-in-the-box-38/
I was just thinking yesterday about planting a fig tree!!! I love fresh figs – they are seriously delicious and probably one of my favorite fruits. Your recipe sounds yummy. I’ve never eaten them any other way but fresh or in a fig newton
Maybe you can find a recipe for those! A friend of mine on fb talked about making fig newton smoothies the other day.
Wow, fig newton smoothies! I looked around and made fig cookies (not so good) and thought about fig newtons too but the recipe reviews weren’t very good. If you find one you like please let me know
This looks delicious! Thanks for linking up
of course! Its more versatile than one might think and REALLY easy.
I was surprised at how easy it looked. I can imagine it on loads of things
Great idea! We’re coming into fig season.
Here too. The figs I used for these Preserves were from Trader Joes since my tree is still getting ready to give me some great figs. So, I will be making more for sure.
I think fig trees are very beautiful. Whenever my wife and finally move on from apartment-living, I’m fully planning to plant one in our yard. Good to know they can produce fruits so quickly. DC actually has a number of fig trees planted around the city on public land – I’ve been thinking about doing a little urban foraging and getting some to make preserves. Now I might just be brave enough to look silly picking figs on the side of the road in order to try this recipe!
Sounds like an interesting adventure
I was surprised how quickly this tree produced fruit too. New figs are ripening everyday!