Fancy a Fig?

If you’ve visited a Whole Foods grocery store lately, you may have noticed that fresh figs are plentiful these days in the produce section. And if you’re wrinkling your nose in distaste thinking of all those Fig Newtons you munched on as a kid, consider giving the fruit another chance.

Fig Facts

Figs have been around for a long time. Favored by Cleopatra, and eaten by ancient Greek athletes for strength and vigor, figs were introduced in California by Spanish missionaries who planted fig trees. Today, there are over 150 varieties to choose from. Some of the most popular are:

• Black Mission (blackish-purple skin with a pink-colored flesh)
• Kadota (green skin with purplish flesh)
• Calimyrna (greenish-yellow skin with amber flesh)
• Adriatic (light green skin with a pink-tan flesh)

An excellent source of dietary fiber and disease-fighting antioxidants, figs make tasty snacks by themselves or combined with cheese. They’re also a good source of bone-building calcium and potassium, a mineral believed to help control blood pressure.

And you can eat the skin. But fresh figs won’t last long at room temperature, so eat them within a day or two. Keep them in a mildly cool refrigerator and they’ll last a few more days.

Dried or fresh, figs are a sweet way to include more fiber in your diet. Try slicing them into halves and tossing them on your morning oatmeal or into a salad.

We wanted to share our absolute favorite figgy recipe (for now) with you. It's quick and easy and so mouth-watering good that you probably won’t want to share it.

Heavenly Honey-Balsamic Glazed Figs over Cottage Cheese

Ingredients:
¼ cup pistachios, shelled
6 Tbsp. balsamic vinegar
6 Tbsp. honey
12 oz. low-fat cottage cheese
12 large (18 small) fresh figs, halved
1 Tbsp. olive oil

Instructions:

1.       Preheat oven to 350⁰ F. Chop pistachios in a food processor and place on a baking sheet. Toast for 8 minutes. Remove and let cool. Set aside.

2.       Combine vinegar with 4 Tbsp. honey in a saucepan. Boil, stirring often. Cook for 2-3 minutes until sauce reaches a thick, syrupy consistency.

3.       Puree cottage cheese and remaining 2 Tbsp. honey until smooth. Spread on a serving platter.

4.       Preheat broiler. Place figs cut side up on a baking sheet. Brush with olive oil, and balsamic honey glaze. Broil figs for 2-3 minutes until edges begin to brown.

5.       Arrange fig halves over cheese, drizzle with balsamic glaze and sprinkle with toasted pistachios.

6.       Enjoy!

Each serving provides:
Calories: 262
Protein: 9 g
Total Fat: 5 g
Carbs: 48 g
Cholesterol: 3 mg
Sodium: 159 mg
Fiber: 4 g
Sugars: 42 g
Adapted from Vegetarian Times.

What’s your favorite fig treat? Please share it with us!