FIGS
RECIPE COllection
Figs have always felt like a little bit of magic to me. Those beautiful, soft fruits appearing almost secretly among the leaves, then suddenly ripening into something sweet, sticky and completely irresistible ... And it isn't just the fruit I love. Fig leaves have their own wonderful, almost coconut-like fragrance and have found their way into more than a few experiments in my kitchen.
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From cakes and puddings to syrups, cocktails and preserves, there is rather more you can do with a fig than simply eat it straight from the tree.
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So, if you've got a fig tree showing off, come and see what we can make of it.
So What Can You Do With Figs
Quite a bit more than you might think.
Eat them fresh with cheese, bake them into cakes and tarts, roast them with something savoury, turn them into jam or chutney, or use their leaves to make wonderfully fragrant syrups and drinks.
Basically, if the fig tree is giving, we should probably be taking.
SWEET • STICKY • FRAGRANT • A LITTLE BIT UNEXPECTED
Sweet Treats
Savoury Delights
Elegant Sips
Frequently Asked Questions About
Figs
Can you eat fig leaves?
Not usually. Fig leaves are best used to infuse flavour into milk, cream, syrups, alcohol or sugar rather than eaten themselves. Once infused, the leaves are removed, leaving behind their delicate coconut and vanilla-like aroma.
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What do fig leaves taste like?
Fig leaves have a wonderfully subtle flavour that's often described as a blend of coconut, vanilla and fresh green herbs. They're surprisingly delicate and pair beautifully with creamy desserts, cocktails and fruit.
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Which fig leaves should I use?
Choose healthy, fresh green leaves from a fig tree that hasn't been treated with pesticides or chemicals. Young, undamaged leaves tend to have the best flavour.
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Can you freeze fig leaves?
Yes. Fresh fig leaves freeze well and can be infused straight from frozen, making it easy to enjoy their flavour long after summer has passed.
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How do you use fig leaves in cooking?
Fig leaves are most often infused into liquids such as milk, cream, sugar syrup or spirits. Once they've released their flavour, simply remove the leaves before using the infused liquid in your recipe.
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Can you cook with fresh figs?
Absolutely. Fresh figs are delicious served with cheese, roasted with honey, baked into tarts or gently cooked into chutneys, jams and desserts.
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Do figs ripen after picking?
No. Figs stop ripening once they're picked, so it's best to harvest them when they're fully ripe, soft and beginning to droop slightly on the tree.
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Can you freeze fresh figs?
Yes. Fresh figs freeze beautifully and are perfect for using later in baking, preserves, compotes and sauces.
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What flavours pair well with figs?
Figs work beautifully with honey, goat's cheese, blue cheese, walnuts, pistachios, thyme, rosemary, citrus, blackberries and cider. Fig leaf also pairs wonderfully with gooseberries, pears and creamy desserts.
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When are figs in season?
Fresh British figs are usually ready from late summer into early autumn, while fig leaves can be picked throughout the growing season for infusions.
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Jo's Kitchen Notes
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Don't overlook the leaves ...
Before this year, I'd never imagined a fig tree had anything more to offer than its fruit. Then I discovered the delicate flavour hidden in the leaves, and suddenly the whole tree became an ingredient. It's one of those little kitchen discoveries that makes you look at familiar plants in a completely new way x