Now as far as fruit goes, I think you will be hard pushed to find a better tasting fruit, than a voluptuous fruity fig, that’s in season.

I absolutely LOVE figs. Nothing beats them. Yes, I’m like everyone. I enjoy strawberry and raspberry season, but I long for my first taste and mouthful of a fresh fig. Fig season is the beginning of September and I will tell you now, I do not share my figs.

I have a large Italian family, and I think that in everyone of our gardens in the UK, you will without a doubt find a fig tree or two. In Italy the fig trees grow every where, in poor soil they seem to thrive. They love the sunshine and that is what is missing from the UK this year. This year saying that my parents trees have not produced a leaf never mind a fig!! So the weather has clearly affected the crop.

Look what I have found………..

There are many varieties of fig, I would say the common one is the ‘Brown Turkey’, the purple one. My Nonna has her tree laden with large green figs. She is fabulous and covers them with netting to protect them from the birds, but to be honest she seems to be loosing her battle this year. The birds seems to be very persistent and clearly have good taste. The must be Italian birds!!

Every year I munch my way through so many fresh figs, I dread to think how many, and every year I say to my parents, ‘This year I will make fig jam and a large tart’. But I never do. I think that a fig should just be enjoyed, however if I am given a bumper crop then I would very much like to have a go at making some jam, fig jam is yummy.

Cooking with figs.

Baked Figs
Place the figs on a baking tray and cut into four, keeping the bum intact. Fill with goats cheese or drizzle some rum over the figs with a little honey and cinnamon. Bake for about 15 minutes 180C.

Figs are wonderful with parma ham, cured meat and salad.

Fig jam, frangipane and fig tart.

Keeping figs.
Keep them in the fridge. If you manage to buy or pick fresh figs, I normally leave them on a plate in my kitchen, so that I can see them, eat within 2 days or that very same evening. They have gone past their best if they weep or are split.

If you have never tasted a fig,  make this year your first! Let me know your recipes or flavour combinations.

Carmela x