F
reshfigscanbepurple,
green,white(actually
palegreen),orred.
Differentvarieties
differinfirmnessandsweetness.
Theinteriorofa figisa massof
minute,edibleflowersandtiny
potentialfruitsthatcrunchlike
seeds,allembeddedinsoft
flesh.Whenthefruitisfully
ripe,thetextureatthecentre
ismoistandluscious.Freshfigsarelovelytoeatas
theyare.Theyarea classic
firstcoursewithprosciuttoor
warmedanddrizzledwitha
gorgonzolasauce;raworgrilled,
theygowellwithhotorcold
ham,porkorpoultry.They
canbepoachedorbakedwith
sugaranda littlewater,plus
flavouringssuchasorange
flowerwaterorspices.
Quarteredandsoakedfora
coupleofhoursinport,orange
juiceoranorangeliqueur,they
makeanelegant,simple dessert.PREPARATION
Removethehardbitand
anystalkatthestemendof
freshfigs.Thewholefruitis
ediblebutcanbepeeled;for
presentation,slittheskin
downward into quarters, peelingIN-SEASON FRUIT
Apples
Figs
Fingerlimes
Guava
Kiwifruit
Mangosteens
Nashi
Oranges:Valencia
Passionfruit
Papaya
Pears
Plums
Pomegranates& VEGETABLES
Beans
Broccoli
Capsicums
Cucumbers
Eggplant
Kale
Mushrooms
Okra
Pumpkin
Sweetcorn
Swisschard
Witlof
Zucchiniit backlikepetals.Driedfigs
maybesteamedtosoften
thembeforeaddingtoa cake
orpuddingmixture.CHOOSING
Dependingonthevariety,a
perfectlyripefigmaysaga little,
butallvarietieswillyieldwhen
gentlypressed.Avoidfigsthat
arehard,damaged,splitor
mouldy.Theyshouldsmell
sweet—whenfullyripe,they
arefragileandfermentreadily- don’tbuyif there is a hint
ofa sourodour.
STORING
Fullyripefigsshouldbeeaten
thedayyoubuythem.Assoon
asyougethome,arrangethem
ina singlelayerona plateor
trayandputtheminthefridge.
Removethefigsanhourorso
aheadofservingtobringthem
backtoroomtemperatureasthe
colddullstheirfragranceand
flavour.TheItaliancustomof
placingroom-temperaturefruit
ona bedoficeforservingsuits
figsperfectly.Ifyouhaveto
holdfigsfora dayorso,store
ina singlelayer,covered,in
the fridge crisper.AWW FOOD•ISSUE FIFTY EIGHT 15
In Season