National Fig week

Jump to:  Fig recipes

1st - 7th November is National Fig Week. Figs are thought to be one of the oldest cultivated fruit, dating back over 6000 years, so it seems fitting that they should have a week to themselves and National Fig Week is the ideal time to celebrate these flowers. Flowers? Yes, figs are indeed inverted flowers, so not strictly speaking a fruit but for the purpose of this editorial, we’ll continue to call them fruit.

© Monika Adamczyk - Fotolia.com

Unlike many fruit, figs don’t contain much vitamin C, however nutritionally, they outgun most others in numerous ways. They are a better source of vitamin B6, have higher quantities of minerals, including potassium, and contain dietary fibre than many other fruit. As a consequence of the high fibre content, figs are a mild laxative. Dried figs are also an excellent source of calcium

Historically figs have been referred to and revered from the earliest of times, though we doubt there was a National Fig week.  They are mentioned in the first book of The Bible (Genesis) and some scholars believe the forbidden fruit picked by Eve was a fig rather than an apple, which would actually make more sense as it’s supposed to be a fig leaf which Adam chose to ‘protect his modesty. The ancient Greeks are believed to have fed figs to their athletes (Spartans) to induce strength and vitality and the Roman's gave fresh figs to their agricultural slaves to help keep them fit and therefore able to work harder. Not forgetting old Cleopatra with her basket of figs hiding the asp .

Figs are also considered a symbol of fertility in many cultures possibly because each fruit contains between 30 and 1,000 seeds…sometimes more.

Whatever the reason, be it for its nutritional values or its exquisite taste, below are some recipes to help you celebrate National Fig week. If you want more information about figs including origins, history, cultivation, buying and storing the visit our Figs Ingredient Analysis page.

Enjoy National Fig Week and Happy Cooking !
 

Starters

Parma Ham With Fresh Figs   CD  HD  Italian  10mins

Figs Stuffed with Tapenade    CD  HD  15mins

Pan Fried Figs With Chorizo    HT  HD  15mins

Figs with Goat Cheese   Veg  HT  BBQ  HD  25mins

Prosciutto Roasted Figs    HT  HD  30mins

Main Courses

Oriental Chicken Salad   CD  MC  15mins plus marinating

Duck Breasts with Figs    HT  MC  French  45mins

Roast Salmon with Caramelised Figs    HT  MC  45mins

Lamb with Figs     HT  MC   90mins

Jabalí con Higos en Rioja   (Wild Boar)  HT  MC  Spanish 115mins

Accompaniments

Fig and Pistachio Couscous   Veg  CD  ACC  15mins plus cooling

Dessert Fig Sauce    Veg  HT  ACC  25mins

Gingered Figs     Veg  HT  ACC  45mins

Fig and Wild Rice Salad    Veg  CD  ACC  50mins plus cooling

Honey Baked Stuffed Squash    Veg   HT   ACC  55mins

Desserts, Cakes and Baked Fayre

Figs with Raspberry Cream   Veg   CD  DP 15mins plus chilling

Whiskey Baked Figs    Veg  HT  DP  20mins

Dessert Fig Sauce    Veg  HT  ACC  25mins

Fig Soufflé    Veg  HT  DP  35mins plus cooling

Fig Cake   Veg  CD  CBF  65mins