Figs
Best in autumn, figs are intensely sweet, so they're used in desserts, though they work in savory dishes and are eaten whole as well. Fresh fig season is short, so enjoy them while you can. Fresh figs have a sweet, honeyed taste and a soft, squishy texture studded with discernible seeds that give it crunch. Dried figs have a concentrated sweetness and a chewy texture; the seeds are nearly undetectable.
The entire fig is edible, so you'll want to wash the outside right before eating. While the stem is digestible, it's often removed because it's dense and fibrous. The fig can be left whole or cut into halves or quarters and eaten as is, chopped, ground, pureed, or cooked. A variety of cooking methods are used, including baking, broiling, frying, and grilling. Figs are popular in syrups and jams and often used as a topping for yogurt, ice cream, and salads.
Figs can be paired with a variety of savory foods. They are famously delicious with blue cheese and salty aged cheeses. Try them with accompaniments like garlic, olives, and capers, citrus fruits such as lemon or orange, or cured meats like pancetta, bacon and ham. They're also delicious with full-flavored vinegar (balsamic or sherry), nuts of any kind, rich dairy products (cream, mascarpone, and crème fraîche), and warm spices (cinnamon, cloves, cardamom, nutmeg, and star anise).
The entire fig is edible, so you'll want to wash the outside right before eating. While the stem is digestible, it's often removed because it's dense and fibrous. The fig can be left whole or cut into halves or quarters and eaten as is, chopped, ground, pureed, or cooked. A variety of cooking methods are used, including baking, broiling, frying, and grilling. Figs are popular in syrups and jams and often used as a topping for yogurt, ice cream, and salads.
Figs can be paired with a variety of savory foods. They are famously delicious with blue cheese and salty aged cheeses. Try them with accompaniments like garlic, olives, and capers, citrus fruits such as lemon or orange, or cured meats like pancetta, bacon and ham. They're also delicious with full-flavored vinegar (balsamic or sherry), nuts of any kind, rich dairy products (cream, mascarpone, and crème fraîche), and warm spices (cinnamon, cloves, cardamom, nutmeg, and star anise).