Figs In Spiced Syrup

Figs in spiced syrup
Desgrieux / Getty Images
Prep: 5 mins
Cook: 15 mins
Total: 20 mins
Servings: 3 to 4 servings

Fresh figs are notoriously, problematically fragile. There are endless ways to incorporate them into a meal, but by lightly cooking them in a spiced syrup, you transform delicate fresh figs that last but a day or two into heartier, deeper flavored, longer-lasting treats.

Note that this is a particularly lovely way to make use of less-than-supremely-sweet figs, especially brown turkey figs, since they get cooked in a sweet syrup. Serve the figs and their syrup on their own—or, even better, over ice cream to great effect. They're also lovely alongside plain, unsweetened yogurt (as breakfast or dessert), spooned onto oatmeal or other hot cereals, or even on pancakes or waffles. These syrup-cooked figs are also lovely as an accompaniment to meats that benefit from a sweet hit like pork, duck, or lamb.

Ingredients

  • 12 fresh figs

  • 1/2 cup sugar

  • 1/2 stick cinnamon

  • 2 to 3 whole cloves, optional

  • 2 to 3 whole black peppercorns, optional

  • 1 to 2 whole cardamom pods, optional

  • 2 allspice berries, optional

  • 1/4 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg, optional

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

  2. 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.

  3. 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.

  4. Trim off and discard the stems from the figs.

  5. Put the figs in the syrup. Simmer about 5 minutes. Don't cook them too long, or they will completely fall apart.

  6. 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!).

  7. Once slightly cooled off, strain the syrup, discard the spices, and pour the syrup back over the figs.

Tip

  • Use the figs warm—they are truly luscious at this point—or store, covered and chilled, for up to about two weeks (they may well last longer, but the figs will get softer and softer over time, and they will start to fall apart a bit after that). I like to put the figs in a glass jar and pour the syrup over them to store in the fridge—that way I can see them and remember to use them sooner rather than later.
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
134 Calories
0g Fat
35g Carbs
0g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 3 to 4
Amount per serving
Calories 134
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 0g 0%
Saturated Fat 0g 0%
Cholesterol 0mg 0%
Sodium 1mg 0%
Total Carbohydrate 35g 13%
Dietary Fiber 2g 5%
Total Sugars 33g
Protein 0g
Vitamin C 1mg 5%
Calcium 19mg 1%
Iron 0mg 1%
Potassium 117mg 2%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

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