Spicedfigs Recipes

SPICED PICKLED FIGS WITH GINGER AND CARDAMOM

Steps:

• Gather the ingredients.
• Wash the figs. Pierce each fig 2 to 3 times with the tip of a paring knife. (This is to allow the pickling brine to permeate the fruit.)
• Put the water, sugar, cinnamon stick, ginger, allspice, cloves, cardamom pods, and bay leaf into a large pot over high heat. Stir until the sugar is completely dissolved. Add the figs.
• When the liquid returns to a boil, reduce the heat and simmer the figs in the liquid for 20 minutes.
• Add the honey and apple cider vinegar to the other ingredients, stirring gently to dissolve the honey but not break up the figs. Raise the heat to high and bring the liquid back to a boil. Reduce the heat and simmer until the figs start to appear translucent, about another 20 minutes.
• Use a slotted spoon to transfer the figs carefully into clean pint or half-pint canning jars. It is not necessary to sterilize the jars for this recipe. Pour the hot liquid the figs were cooked in over the fruit, leaving half an inch of headspace between the surface of the food and the rims of the jars. Keep in mind that if you include the whole spices in the jars along with the figs, the spice flavor will intensify in storage. You can strain out the smaller spices but add one of the cinnamon sticks to each jar as an attractive garnish.​
• Wipe the rims of the jars with a clean, damp dishcloth or paper towel. Screw on the canning lids.

FIGS IN SPICED SYRUP

Steps:

• Gather the ingredients.
• Bring the sugar and 1 cup water to a simmer in a medium saucepan (it should be large enough to hold all the figs). Stir as needed to dissolve the sugar.
• Add the half of a cinnamon stick and whatever other spices you choose to use (or all of them!) and simmer the syrup for about 10 minutes.
• Trim off and discard the stems from the figs.
• Put the figs in the syrup. Simmer about 5 minutes. Don't cook them too long, or they will completely fall apart.
• Remove the figs from the syrup and let the figs and syrup cool separately for about 15 minutes (if you leave the figs in, they will soften and start to fall apart a bit, so if that sounds good, leave them in!).
• Once slightly cooled off, strain the syrup, discard the spices, and pour the syrup back over the figs.

SPICED FIGS

Steps:

• Sprinkle soda over figs, pour boiling water over figs and allow to stand for 5 minutes.
• Drain.
• Mix syrup ingredients.
• Lemon chunks may be added (I don't use).
• Whole Ginger may be used also (I don't use).
• Bring to boil, add figs and boil for 10 minutes.
• Boil figs in syrup 10 minutes for 3 days.
• On 3rd day can in sterilized jars.
• Note: for 12 quarts of figs, use 10 pounds of sugar.

SPICED FIG PRESERVES

Steps:

• Finely chop lemon in processor. Add figs. Using on/off turns, process until figs are coarsely pureed. Transfer mixture to heavy large saucepan. Add 2 1/4 cups sugar, cinnamon stick, 2 1/4 teaspoons minced ginger and 1/8 teaspoon ground cloves. Simmer until mixture thickens to jam consistency and candy thermometer registers 200°F, stirring often, about 20 minutes. Discard cinnamon stick. Divide hot preserves among hot clean jars. Cover tightly and refrigerate up to 2 months.

SPIEDIES

Steps:

• Place the cubed chicken into a large resealable plastic bag or container, add the olive oil, vinegar, lemon juice, salt, garlic, garlic salt, oregano, garlic salt, mint, basil, and black pepper. Seal the container and shake until combined. Refrigerate for 1 to 3 days, shaking the container to turn the meat every 6 to 8 hours.
• Preheat an outdoor grill for medium-high heat and lightly oil grate. When you are ready to cook, remove meat from the marinade and place on skewers.
• Place the skewers on the preheated grill and cook, turning every three minutes until cooked through and the internal temperature of the meat reaches 170 degrees F (75 degrees C). Be careful not to overcook or the meat will be very dry. Serve the grilled meat on Italian bread or hot dog rolls.

SPICED FIG PRESERVES

Steps:

• Finely chop lemon in processor. Add figs.
• Using on/off switch, process until figs are coarsely pureed.
• Transfer mixture to heavy large saucepan. Add sugar, cinnamon stick, minced ginger and ground cloves.
• Simmer until mixture thickens to jam consistency and candy thermometer registers 200°F, stirring often, about 20 minutes.
• Remove from heat, discard cinnamon stick.
• Divide hot preserves among hot clean jars. Cover tightly and refrigerate up to 2 months.
• This is great for holiday gifts. Excellent served with crackers and cheese, and can also be served with meats, especially pork and ham.

SPIEDIS

Steps:

• In a glass or plastic bowl, combine the first 9 ingredients. Add meat and toss to coat. Cover and refrigerate for 24 hours, stirring occasionally. , Drain and discard marinade. Thread meat onto metal or soaked wooden skewers. Grill, covered, over medium heat until meat reaches desired doneness, 10-15 minutes, turning occasionally. Remove meat from skewers and serve on long Italian rolls or hot dog buns.

SPICED BAKED FIGS WITH GINGER MASCARPONE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6. Lay the figs in an ovenproof roasting dish, dot over the butter and drizzle with honey. Sprinkle over the sugar and cinnamon, then pour over the orange juice and mix lightly. Nestle the star anise amongst the figs and roast for 15-20 minutes.
• When ready to serve, mix the ginger and syrup through the mascarpone. Place 4 fig halves, drizzled with syrup, on a plate with a dollop of mascarpone and some shortbread fingers.

SPIEDIES

Steps:

• Make the marinade: Whisk together all the ingredients in a large bowl.
• Add the meat to the marinade and cover tightly, or place into large, re-sealable plastic bags and refrigerate for 24 to 36 hours (or 10 to 12 hours for chicken).
• Build a fire in your grill, leaving about 1/3 of grill free of coals, or set a gas grill to high.
• Remove the meat from its marinade and thread onto metal skewers, or wooden ones that you have soaked in water for 30 minutes or so. The chunks can be placed quite close together. Sprinkle with salt and pepper.
• When coals are covered with gray ash and fire is still quite high (you can hold your hand 5 inches above coals for only a couple of seconds), place the skewers of meat directly over the flames. Allow the meat to cook, undisturbed, for approximately 3 to 4 minutes, then use kitchen tongs to turn them over and repeat on the other side. Continue turning the skewers every couple of minutes until the meat is deeply crisp at its edges, and cooked entirely through, approximately another 5 to 7 minutes. (Remove them to the cool side of the grill if they begin to burn, and cover the grill to allow them to smoke-roast until finished; this is much less likely to happen on a gas grill.)
• Allow the spiedies to rest on a cutting board for a few minutes, then remove the meat from the skewers onto cut hero rolls or a plate. Serve with hot sauce on the side.

SPICED POACHED FIGS

Steps:

• Combine wine, sugar, lemon peel, peppercorns, cinnamon stick, bay leaves, thyme, ginger, star anise, and cardamom in a small, deep saucepan. Place pan over medium-high heat, and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low, and simmer 10 minutes. Cover, and simmer 20 minutes more.
• Add whole figs to the syrup; return to a simmer, cover, and poach gently until the figs are soft but not mushy, 10 to 15 minutes. Transfer figs and syrup to a bowl, and let stand to cool, until no more steam rises. When cool, cover the bowl with plastic wrap, and refrigerate overnight.
• Combine mascarpone and confectioners' sugar in a medium mixing bowl. Slit vanilla bean lengthwise, and, using a small paring knife, scrape out the seeds into the bowl with the mascarpone mixture. Stir together with a spoon or rubber spatula until well combined.
• Remove chilled figs from the refrigerator, and let stand until room temperature. Transfer figs to another bowl, and strain syrup, discarding the solids.
• Place 2 figs, sliced in half, in the center of each plate. Spoon some of the poaching liquid to cover plate, and place a dollop of vanilla mascarpone next to figs.

MOROCCAN FIG PORK ROAST

Steps:

• Preheat an oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Pat pork roast dry with a clean towel. Mix curry powder, turmeric, garam masala, ground ginger, chili powder, cumin, cayenne, salt, and pepper in a small bowl. Rub spice mixture all over the pork roast.
• Heat the olive oil and butter in a large, heavy bottom pot or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Place the seasoned pork roast into the pot and cook until evenly browned, about 2 minutes on each side. Remove pork and set aside. Stir in the garlic and onion; cook and stir until the onion has softened and turned translucent, about 5 minutes. Stir in the fig compote, until well blended. Return pork to the pot, coating it with the fig mixture. Pour in the tomatoes and chicken broth. Cover, and bring to a boil.
• Place covered pot in the preheated oven. Cook until the pork is no longer pink in the center, about 2 hours. An instant-read thermometer inserted into the center should read 145 degrees F (63 degrees C).