Fig Bread: A Recipe To Try

A light recipe, without milk, flour, butter and eggs. Discover a delicious way to make bread.

Fig bread is a semi-sweet with a light texture, but very substantial. Figs give it softness and taste. It is easy to prepare and can accompany a sweet or savory meal; it is especially ideal in autumn and winter.

The fig is the typical autumn fruit. In reality, from a botanical point of view, it is not really a fruit, but rather an infructescence, that is a set of fruits. In this respect it is similar to strawberry or pineapple.

The first figs are harvested around May-June and are called fioroni. The second harvest, of the so-called real figs, takes place in August and September. Naturally in the southern hemisphere of the world, fioroni are harvested in December and real figs in March. In ancient Greece the fig was considered a main food in the diet of athletes and soldiers; it was also called “fruit of the philosophers”.

Nutritional characteristics of figs

• Figs contain a percentage of water ranging from 70 to 80%.
• The 12 – 19% is instead composed of carbohydrates, in particular fructose, glucose and sucrose.
• They are rich in vitamins and minerals including potassium, magnesium, calcium and phosphorus, beta-carotenes and vitamin C. Some of these nutrients have antioxidant functions.
• They offer a high intake of fiber.
• When eaten fresh or dried, their nutritional value varies considerably.
  • Fresh fig contains 80% water and 12% sugar. The dried fig contains 20% water and about 48% sugar.
  • Furthermore, dried figs contain more magnesium, calcium, phosphorus, sodium, iodine and zinc than fresh figs.

The recipe for fig bread that we are about to show you is of Spanish origin. It is traditionally prepared in the mountainous region of Cordoba and is eaten in September.

Properties of figs for health

Several studies have demonstrated the antioxidant properties of figs, a characteristic that makes them a very healthy food. Others, however, have focused on their usefulness in the field of beauty and cosmetics. Figs:

• They help regulate insulin and fat levels in diabetic people.
• They can be used for skin care in case of eczema, vitiligo and psoriasis.
• They help moisturize and strengthen the hair.

Fig bread: ingredients

• 1 kg of dried figs
• 1 liter of water

• 2 cups of walnuts (200 g)
• 1 pinch of ground cloves
• 1 tsp ground cinnamon
• 2 tablespoons of toasted sesame seeds (10 g)
• 2 large cups of toasted almonds (250 g)
• fennel (250 g)

Let’s prepare the fig bread

1. Remove the stem from the figs and cut them into small pieces.
2. Chop the fennel and put it to cook in a pot with boiling water. Let it cook for 10 minutes, then remove it without throwing away the water.
3. Pour the figs into the remaining water and add more water so you can cook them. Boil them for about 4 minutes.
4. Remove the figs with a slotted spoon.
5. Shell the almonds and walnuts and put them for a few moments in boiling water.
6. Peel the almonds and toast them briefly in the pan, removing them continuously to prevent them from burning.
7. Then, toast the sesame seeds.
8. Chop the almonds and walnuts.
9. Put the figs back into the saucepan; add the toasted nuts, sesame, cloves and cinnamon. Mix well.
10. Line a mold with cling film or use a springform mold.
11. Add the dough little by little and mash with a spoon to make sure it adheres well to the shape.
12. Once you have reached a thickness of 3 or 4 cm, fold the film and press the dough so that it remains flat and uniform.
13. You can use several smaller molds or one large one.
14. Remove the foil and place the bread or loaves on a baking tray covered with aluminum foil. Cover it with a light cloth and add some weight.
15. Let it sit for a day to get some air.
16. After 24 hours, remove the weights from the surface, but leave the cloth for at least a couple more days. At the end, the fig bread is ready to be tasted.

How is it consumed?

Fig bread can be eaten as it is or accompanied with jam, for example with berries. It is also good in latte.

Its ingredients lend themselves to a balanced diet, so you can eat it without remorse. You will also receive all the substances offered by dried fruit.