Dried figs are foods prepared in various Italian regions by drying the fresh fruit, the fig. The fig is the fruit of the xerophilous plant of the same name (Ficus carica) that belongs to the Moraceae family. It is a tree formed by a short trunk full of branches, which can reach up to 10 m in height. The bark is wrinkled and ash-colored, while the branches are rich in pith with sharp terminal buds. The leaves are oblong and large and dark green in color. The fruit (syconium) is nothing more than a large fleshy inflorescence, rich in sugars. The color ranges from green to blue-purple and inside there are small unisexual flowers. The fig plant is grown mainly in Calabria, Campania, and Puglia, but also in Sicily, Lazio and Abruzzo. Figs are generally harvested from the beginning of summer to the beginning of autumn and in some cases the fully ripe fruits are dried to prepare dried figs. This processing takes place mainly in Calabria, Sicily, Puglia, Campania and Tuscany with different techniques depending on whether it is industrial or home production.

Dried figs: recipe

To prepare dried figs you need to pay attention to a series of steps to follow:

1. Harvest fully ripe figs.
2. Whitening.
3. Display the fruits on a wicker rack in the sun, well separated from each other and with the eye facing upwards, so that the juice inside coagulates completely.
4. During the drying process, the figs should be turned frequently, so that both sides come into contact with the air and the sun.
5. At the end of the drying process, the figs must be disinfected by placing them in an autoclave for two hours.

To achieve the right drying, figs must lose about 30-35% of water. We also remember that there are different varieties of figs, and in the case of dried figs, Brogiotto, Farà, Pissalutto, Fico dottato and so on are used.

How to make homemade dried figs

Dried figs can also be made at home, you just need to have a little patience and pay attention to storage, using clean and dry containers. Here's how:

1. Wash the figs and flatten them with a rolling pin, being careful not to break them.
2. Arrange the figs on a baking tray or wooden surface, covering them with a cotton cloth and leave them to dry in the sun, remembering not to leave them outside overnight.
3. Turn the fruit every 6 hours. Proceed in this manner for 5 days.
4. The dried figs are ready! You can cut them and insert an almond or a piece of walnut inside. Dry the figs completely by putting them in the oven at 180 degrees for about 20 minutes.
5. Cool and store in clean, completely dry airtight jars, alternating the fruits with bay leaves. You can also store them in metal containers or vacuum packs.

Baked dried figs: how to make it

Alternatively, you can prepare the dried figs in the oven . Just place them on a baking tray lined with baking paper at a very low temperature (30° but, if this is not possible, 50° or 60° is also fine). Remember to leave the oven door half-open and leave the figs in the oven for about 3 hours, checking every now and then to prevent them from burning.

Properties of dried figs: what are they?

Regarding the properties, first of all it should be noted that dried figs are high in calories: per 100g of product there are about 270 kcal. Each dried fig weighs more or less 20g, therefore it has about 54 kcal. The fresh fig instead has fewer calories: about 50 per 100g. If we take a look at the other properties, we discover that dried figs contain about 58% carbohydrates, 3.5% proteins and 2.7% fats. 13% instead is made up of dietary fiber, useful, together with syconin, to improve intestinal functions. They are also rich in magnesium, potassium, iron, mineral salts, vitamin C and A. Finally, thanks to the enzymes present, they are easily digestible.

How to eat dried figs

Dried figs can be eaten like normal fruit at the end of a meal or they can be the basis of both sweet and savory recipes. For example, you can prepare a bruschetta with cheese, dried figs, almonds and speck: just arrange the ingredients on toasted bread and enjoy it with a good glass of wine. You can also combine figs with any type of cheese, such as gorgonzola or pecorino, or with cured meats such as raw ham or bacon. As for desserts, you can really indulge yourself: from the classic tart with dried figs and walnuts, to filled biscuits, through to the cake with dried figs and chocolate.