Figs

We're getting into fig season now, and I'm looking for things to do with the lovely purple orbs. Of course, some get eaten right off of the trees. I've also done my share of wrapping them in prosciutto and grilling them. As of last night, I have a couple dozen soaking in vodka (along with a few fig leaves) in hopes of producing a tasty fig liqueur. I will also probably give homemade fig bars a try.

So what other treats can be made with fresh figs?

[Robin Garr]

I love fresh black mission fig season and look forward to enjoying them through the season. Eat 'em out of hand, and I'm happy. Or cut up with fresh peaches and berries and other good things with vanilla yogurt for breakfast.

Few survive these ends for fancier destinations, but they are mighty good cut in half and each half loaded with a little scoop of mascarpone.

And yes, the prosciutto-wrap and grill is a mighty nice thing to do to them.

A squeeze of lime over them is good, too.

Here's another trick: Get a crusty bread, make it up for ham and cheese (...well, prosciutto and brie), lay a few cut figs on it, toast under the broiler a bit, and have a crunchy, hammy, cheesey, figgy sandwich.

Adore figs in many manners but one of my favorites is to select purple figs, just ripe enough to cut with a knife, and to place small chunks in a salad of baby leaves, Romaine lettuce, sliced red onions, perhaps a few cherry tomatoes and with a gentle oil, lemon and Dijon mustard sauce.

Do them at home but more often go to a cafe in my neighborhood at which they make the salad precisely to my taste.

Best
Rogov

That salad and the sandwich both sound excellent! Thanks for those.

[Jenise]

I love figs halved and seared in butter, topped with a bit of blue cheese and served with sherry.

YUMMMM....

Speaking of figs, one of the most delightful things we tripped over in France were tiny wild figs growing all over the place. Had my husband hold one up for the camera:

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The Pont du Gard. I love the South of France. You also went to Nîmes? Aigues Morte?

Nice fig too

[Jenise]

The Pont du Gard. I love the South of France. You also went to Nîmes? Aigues Morte?

Nice fig too

Nimes, yes. But I don't recognize the name Aigues Morte, so we must not have gone there.

[Jenise]

Ah yes, dead waters, now I remember!

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Aigues Morte had the most wonderful little shops. One had every imaginable kind of preserved fruit, plus interesting candies, like silver coated jordan almonds. It was so colorful it was like a Christmas tree. I think Louise bought a dress there too. It had been a port during the Crusades but the coastline moved several miles outward and left it high and dry, hence the name.

We stayed in Arles for several days and explored those places on side trips.

I've been enjoying black figs this Summer...

Back to the figs. A few years ago, we had some figs freshly plucked from the tree with some German blue cheese, along with some awesome Cab Sauv. This was in the back yard of the Wight's home on Lewelling Lane in St. Helena. Dave Wight was pouring some of his awesome Lewelling Vineyards Cabs along with the figs, cheese and a baguette. A fabulous wine poured by a most incredible winemaker and a true gentleman.