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10 ways to serve fresh figs
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This sweet fruit is an irresistible ingredient in appetizers, salads, main dishes and desserts.
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By Tammy Sutherland
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When you think of figs, you probably imagine dried figs or the classic fig cookies, but fresh figs are not only a great tasting addition to your grocery list, they're also a healthy food choice.
"Count a 1/2 cup of California fresh figs as one of your daily servings of fruit and you get four grams of dietary fibre, 380 milligrams of potassium, 75 milligrams of calcium, and one milligram of iron, to say nothing of an abundance of antioxidants for just 120 calories," says Karla J. Stockli, chief executive officer of the California Fig Advisory Board. Considering all that goodness, it's no wonder that athletes in classical Greece ate figs when they trained for the Olympics.
Choosing the ripe one: What to look for when buying figs
Don't be alarmed if the figs at the grocery store look a little weathered -- it's to be expected.
"Select firm ripe figs of all varieties, but do not be deterred by some scarring that occurs when the leaves rub against the figs as they grow and ripen." However, don't take that as a sign you can toss them around. Figs are thin-skinned and bruise very easily, so handle with care.
Figs are also quite perishable, so store in the refrigerator for no more than three days, but serve them at room temperature to bring out their flavour.
Now that you've got the goods, be creative and put them to use in your meals. Stockli offers the following 10 ways to serve figs.
Fig appetizers
1. Halve fresh figs lengthwise, drizzle with honey and pop them under the broiler until they're bubbling. "These make great appetizers, garnished with a small scoop of soft cheese, like mascarpone, and a tiny mint leaf, " says Stockli.
2. Wrap figs in strips of pancetta or prosciutto, thread onto skewers and cook on the grill.
3. Cut a slit into the side of a fig and stuff with toasted almond or walnut pieces for a nutty surprise.
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