Fabulous Fig Recipes (For People Who Don’t Like Figs).

I Don’t Like Figs

Last year I was moaning about how much I really didn’t like figs. I don’t want to say this out loud, but there’s a chance that I’m slowly becoming accustomed to their strangeness. I’m still not a big fan of figs, but I’ve found ways to make them work for me, and mostly I think that involves taking away a lot of the figginess.

When it comes to fig recipes, I like to take away the texture and disguise some of the flavour, but most recipes celebrate the unique qualities of this funny fruit, and it was tricky finding a selection that suited my tastes.

When properly ripe, figs are quite soggy; they have what I can only describe as a pappy texture. They also taste mega sweet and leave behind that sugary aftertaste that real Ribena has. I’m guessing that’s fructose!

As much as I am not keen, I still can’t leave them on the tree. It’s such a waste of a good yield. And they make a mess. So, as well as giving them away, I’ve found some recipes that work for me: a non-lover of figs…

Recipes For Using Up Figs

During fig season, I spend every other day wobbling on a giant step ladder, reaching dangerously high to grab at all the ripe fruit I can find. I have no idea why I go to such lengths, I guess I don’t like to see them go to waste.

Four Great Fig Recipes

Nigel Slater’s Fig Chutney

Nigel Slater’s Fig Chutney is by far my favourite fig recipe. It takes quite a bit of bubbling, but I’ve been highly rewarded. Especially yesterday when I had some with cheese and crackers. It’s even better after a year of sitting in a jar. The only change I made to this recipe was swap raisins for apples. I had cox growing in the garden too, and thought to use those rather than buying more ingredients. I’m not a very tidy chutney potter/canner, so it seems.

Making Your Own Dried Figs

Dried Figs are weird. They have a medicinal quality. But, when I made them, I kept going back for more, so that must mean something. It is very easy to make dried figs and I was surprisingly impressed by such a simple thing.

Fig and Lime Sorbet

I was dubious about Fig and Lime Sorbet, but honestly, there are so few ingredients that I think I was just being stupid and lazy. I haven’t made this for a couple of years, so this year will see its return. Today is probably a fig-picking day, actually, and by chance I have limes in the fruit bowl – they were for mojitos, but I’ll make the sacrifice. I love the citrus. I love lime!

Sticky Toffee Fig Rolls

I’ve not made Sticky Toffee Fig Rolls recipe yet! But the kids have asked for fig rolls, and these have got toffee in them, so they can’t be that bad! Let’s hope I get around to making them.

If anyone has any other fig recipes they’d like to suggest, do let me know. I’m trying to think of boozy things but I’ve got nothing at the moment.

I’ll be saying goodbye to figs next year. This tree is far too big for its boots, and we’re going to chop it. It needs a good pruning. I think you’re supposed to do that in January. As figs grow from the previous year’s twigs that means no figs for at least a year. However, I think it’s safe to assume that I won’t really mind!