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Fresh Figs: Flowers of Flavor
 With a unique satiny meets crunchy texture and a delicate, juicy
sweetness, eating a fresh fig is truly a culinary delight. But this
fruit that is actually an inverted flower is more than just a pretty
taste. The tiny seeds of a fig are a great source of fiber, both soluble
and insoluble, and without any fat, figs are a healthy way to satisfy a
sweet tooth.
Varieties
First introduced in America in the mid-1700’s by Spaniards, today almost
all domestic figs are grown in California. One of the most popular
varieties, the Mission fig, is named for the mission fathers who planted
the fruit along the California coast. With its dark purple skin and rosy
pink flesh, the striking beauty of a Mission fig nearly rivals its
flavor. Another popular variety, the California version of the Turkish
Smyrna fig, is the Calimyrna. This greenish-yellow fig is noted for its
nutty flavor and tender skin and is the most popular dried fig. Other
varieties include Kadota, Brown Turkey, and Adriatic figs, which are
used for fig bars.
Shopping and Storage
With a very short life span, figs only last about a week once harvested.
When buying fresh, look for richly-colored, plump figs that are soft,
but not mushy. A very firm fig is not ripe and will not ripen any
further. Figs actually fully ripen and begin to dry on the tree, so a
somewhat shriveled fig will be particularly sweet. But beware a slightly
sour smell, meaning a fig has begun to spoil.
Once you get your figs home, store them in a single layer in a covered
container for no more than a few days before eating. Because they are so
fragile, the large majority of figs are dried, but that shouldn’t stop
you from seeking out luscious fresh figs during the fall season.
Terrific in both sweet and savory dishes, and wonderful whether fresh or
dried, the flavorful fig shines in an array of Mary Sue and Susan’s
favorite fig recipes.
Figs Wrapped in Smoked Ham
Chicken with Figs, Olives, and Sun-Dried Tomatoes
Baked Figs and Ice Cream
Spanish Olive Oil and Sherry Cake with Figs
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