sparkleeeeee Posted September 1, 2007 Share Posted September 1, 2007 i remember we had a fig tree at the school i used to teach at and someone said that you can eat them but they take two years to mature. the kids used to pull them off anyway so "Ooops, word censored!"ody ever picked them. we have since moved house and we have a rather large fig tree in the garden, there are loads of figs on it and some are going bad. i was just wondering if they can in fact be eaten and what i should do with them. i didnt want them to go to waste if they can be used, even if the chooks would eat them. i was looking at them at 6am this morning when the builders were getting ready to go off and suddenly thought someone on here would know what to do with them, the omlet forum is a fountain of knowledge. sorry if i am asking a really stupid question i have never had a fig tree before Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Posted September 1, 2007 Share Posted September 1, 2007 You are so lucky - I'm envious! I have a very young fig tree. The ripe fruits can be eaten raw or baked with a drizzle of honey. I like mine baked with honey and a little bit of cheese in the middle. Just cut a cross in the pointy top and press slightly on the sides to make it open out like a flower. Drop a cube of creamy cheese in and drizle the honey over. Bake until the cheese bubbles I'm sure others will have more ideas...... or look on deliaonline.com..... or just google fig recipes. The tree will bear little fruitlets this year which will develop next year - hence the two year wait. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cinnamon Posted September 1, 2007 Share Posted September 1, 2007 Oh my goodness Lesley - that has started my mouth watering.I love figs. I bet you could make preserves from them too Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nicola H Posted September 1, 2007 Share Posted September 1, 2007 I love figs..............When we were on holiday in Spain we just picked them off the tree and ate them they tasted great, beware though don't eat too many, we all know what effects they can have on your tummy........... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted September 1, 2007 Share Posted September 1, 2007 Yep...baked with a drizzle of honey and served with a dollop of creme fraiche. Divine. You cut a cross in them downwards from the top before you bake them......if you see what I mean. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sparkleeeeee Posted September 1, 2007 Author Share Posted September 1, 2007 hi i have just go back online thank you for your help that all sounds great i will be trying that tomorrow. i have been really stumped all day, there are so many that even my father-in-law brought one in to show me they were there and ask me if they could be eaten. the poor fig tree has almost been chopped down twice by the workmen as it is in a little alcove alongside the drive they reverse down all the time. it keeps growing outwards so they cant see. i have had to stop them taking the whole tree down and just cut branches off. it is such a lovely tree and i love the leaves, just a shame it is in the way and i am sure its too old to be moved now, nevermind when the windmill is finished it will be able to grow in peace. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Christian Posted September 1, 2007 Share Posted September 1, 2007 I have just given my nextdoor neighbour a recipe for fig and lime marmelade! She has the book at the mo, but let me know if you want the recipe and i'll post it for you. c x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted September 1, 2007 Share Posted September 1, 2007 There's a family recipe for a sort of bruschetta starter: Top slices of ciabatta with some tomato sauce (toms, tom puree, garlic, onions and basil, cooked then liquidised) and a drizzle of olive oil. Add a slice of Parma ham, half a fig and some grated cheese. Top with drizzles of honey and bake slowly.... divine! This one's a fave at home and can be a whole meal if you make big enough slices! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sparkleeeeee Posted September 1, 2007 Author Share Posted September 1, 2007 oh that sound lovely claret and yes please christain i have never made marmelade but i am willing to give it a go. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Christian Posted September 1, 2007 Share Posted September 1, 2007 Ok Sparkleeeeee I am in Duesseldorf at the moment (oh the glamour, not. brown room - desk, bed, floors, doors etc) will be home on Monday. Will rush next door and wrestle the book out of her hand for you! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Christian Posted September 3, 2007 Share Posted September 3, 2007 Just got the recipe book bac, BUT its dried figs you need, sorry i didn't know that at the time Lime and Fig Jam 10 large limes (1kg) 2 litres water 1.3kg sugar approx 240g dried figs thinly sliced (i guess you could use fresh figs and not add as much water)? remove the rind from the limes, cut rind into thin strips. remove and reserve pith from the limes, chop flesh coursely, reserve seeds. tie pith and seeds in a piece of muslin. combine rind, flesh, muslin bag and water in a large saucepan, bring to the boil. reduce heat and simmer, covered, about an hour or until rind is soft. disgard muslin bag. measure 3/4 cup of fruit mixture to 1 cup (165g) sugar. return fruit mixture and sugar to the pan and boil til setting point reached. take off heat, stir in the dried figs and put into sterilised jars. C x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kannie Posted September 15, 2007 Share Posted September 15, 2007 Top slices of ciabatta with some tomato sauce (toms, tom puree, garlic, onions and basil, cooked then liquidised) and a drizzle of olive oil. Add a slice of Parma ham, half a fig and some grated cheese. Top with drizzles of honey and bake slowly.... divine! Claret that sounds just wonderful! I love fresh figs! In fact having a fig tree is definately on my list for 'must do one day'. Do you know if your figs are ripe sparkleee? I think thats the problem with growing them in this country, that they don't always ripen. They're never the same from shops as they need to be really ripe to be good. In fact the best fig I ever had looked a little dried and wrinkly on the outside, but inside it was just lusciously sweet and syrupy! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted September 17, 2007 Share Posted September 17, 2007 They need to be ripe enough so that when you cross-cut the top and squidge the sides in, the flesh oozes out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Posted September 17, 2007 Share Posted September 17, 2007 I had figs at lunchtime - stuffed with Dolcelatte cheese (- and wrapped in Parma ham. I hadn't read the menu properly so I took the ham off) The figs with just the cheese were lovely - I also pinched the apple and cinnamon chutney from Carl's starter and ate that with them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Los Tres Pollos Posted September 18, 2007 Share Posted September 18, 2007 We've had about 40ish from our tree this year, first year any have ripened which considering the summer is quite remarkable. They are perhaps not as sweet or sticky as the ones we pick from the trees in Spain but that's also probably down to the lack of sun this summer. They are best if left to ripen fully on the tree. Almost fed up eating them but favourite is with Serrano ham (spanish equiv to Parma but tastier) on a salad, lettuce, tomatoe, etc about 4 -5 figs cossed and pushed open each with a slice of ham, all drizzled with unfiltered extra virgin olive oil and balsamic vinegar. OH also made a variation of this http://uktv.co.uk/food/recipe/aid/593187 Also the chucks go wild for the trimmings , 'tops and tails' of the ones we eat. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sparkleeeeee Posted September 19, 2007 Author Share Posted September 19, 2007 oh i did give some to the chooks and i brought some in for the marmelade but they went bad before i got chance to get the limes as they didnt have any in the farm shop. i did try them with cheese and they were nice. i might make the marmelade with the dried figs as i bet it tasts great Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
