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eat figs

Winner of our best-shaped fruit award (runner up: bananas), figs also score highly on taste, texture and colour. They make very attractive starters (e.g. served with Parma or Serrano ham) and delicious desserts. Try them drizzled with honey and your choice of cinnamon, thyme and pistachios, then roasted and served with a dollop of mascarpone or crème fraiche. And they're a great addition to an after-dinner cheese board.

HISTORY

Thought to be indigenous to western Asia, the selection and cultivation of figs began in remote antiquity. Stone tablets dating back over 4,000 years record the use of figs in southern Iraq and the harvesting of figs is depicted in an Egyptian tomb painting from around 1,900 B.C.

Figs were grown in Greece by the eighth century B.C. and taken to Spain, Portugal and North Africa with Arab conquests. Later they were spread via European invasions to Central America (sixteenth century), North America (seventeenth century) and Australia (eighteenth century).

BIOLOGY

Technically a single fig is a syconium containing over 1,000 tiny fruits (what are thought of as the seeds).

There are hundreds of varieties of the common fig (Figus carica) ranging in colour from purple-black to yellowish-green. Fig trees can grow to 15m tall and many types are dependent on fig wasps for their reproduction; the wasps pollinate the fig as they move between seed pods laying eggs.

NUTRITION

Figs are rich in minerals and a good source of potassium, manganese and iron. They also contain vitamins A, B and C and a decent amount of fibre.

TIPS

BUYING
Figs do not ripen after picking and so unripe figs are to be avoided. Choose figs that are richly coloured, plump and soft but with unbroken skins. At peak ripeness they may be covered with a light, fuzzy bloom. A sour smell indicates figs that are past their best.

Due to the difficulty of transporting ripe figs undamaged, the very best figs are only found in the countries where they grow. If you are fortunate enough to be in a Mediterranean country during the season, be sure to try a local, freshly picked fig to experience how they should REALLY taste.

STORING
After harvesting, figs have a short life. Keep in the refrigerator and use within a day or two.

PREPARING
Wipe with a damp kitchen towel. If the stem end is hard, cut it off. To show figs at their best, halve them or cut a cross in the top and press your finger in to splay them out.

OTHER STUFF

When the last of the fresh figs have disappeared for the year, get some dried figs and make Figgy Pudding...

PICK OF THE RECIPES

in season:

january
february
march
april
may
june
july
august
september
october
november
december

ONLINE

• Roast Figs with Cinnamon, Thyme and Honey

• Lamb with Figs

IN PRINT

• Roasted Figs with Cinnamon Shortbreads
  A Chef For All Seasons

• Figs and Baked Ricotta
  Simple Food

• Roast Fig and Stilton Salad with Parma Ham and a Port Vinaigrette
  The Complete Cookery Year