Fresh Fig Spread Recipe Will Be Love At First Bite (4 Ingredients) by Terri Kendrick

About 20 years ago, I was introduced to fresh figs by my mom, who delivered a boxful to my door. Honestly, I was a little taken aback by these eyeball-shaped fruits, which are not actually fruits at all but a cluster of many flowers and seeds contained inside a bulbous stem. After asking how to eat them, I bit into the soft flesh with true trepidation. But it was love at first bite!

My mom has since passed away, but a couple of years ago, a friend, who happens to be named “Pat” like my mom (apparently all “Pats” are fig people!), told me her new house had a fig tree in the backyard. I was never happier! Ever since, this friend has been sharing her fig harvest with me. Usually, I just slice them up and toss them in my salads or yogurt; however, this year, I decided to challenge myself to make something with my haul. Fresh fig spread was the result!

To make this summer fresh fig recipe you will need fresh figs (read about the health benefits of figs), granulated sugar, vanilla extract, lemons for juicing and water. Cooking up in about half an hour, this fig spread is tasty as an appetizer or snack served with goat or blue cheese on a cracker or hunk of bread, used as a glaze on pork or chicken or just eaten by the spoonful!

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Cuisine: American
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 25 minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes
Servings: 6

Ingredients

• 7 large figs or 15 small figs 
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 1/2 cup water
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 1 teaspoon lemon juice, or to taste

Recipe Notes

• I used extremely large figs (the size of a clementine).

• When refrigerated, the spread should last about five to seven days.

• If you want a sweeter, more jam-like spread, add more sugar.

• Feel free to leave pieces of fig if you don't want the spread to be too smooth.

• The spread will last in the refrigerator for five to seven days, so eat it up quick!

Here's how to make it:

1. Remove the stems from figs and quarter them. For larger figs, cut into eight pieces.
   
2. In a small saucepan, add the figs, sugar, water and vanilla extract. Over high heat, bring to a boil.
   
3. Once the water is boiling, lower the heat and simmer uncovered, for about 25 minutes or until the water has mostly evaporated. Stir occasionally with a wooden spoon, breaking up the figs and mashing them as much as you prefer. Remove from the heat and let the mixture cool.
   
4. Add lemon juice, which adds a little brightness and accentuates the natural sweetness, to taste.
   
5. Spoon the spread in a glass jar and refrigerate. The mixture will thicken more in the refrigerator.
   
   
   

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