Thursday, August 14, 2008

Gettin' Figgy Wit' It

The last time I ate a fig, it was probably in a Fig Newton. And it probably wasn't even a real fig, but rather some processed dried fruit crap. But despite my inexperience with the seedy fruit, I've always loved the smell of Bath & Body Works Brown Sugar and Fig Body Spray, so I figured I must like figs.


I bought these babies at the farmer's market last Saturday with no clue what to do with them. They were overpriced ($6 for about 12 figs ... a vendor down the way was selling them for $4, but the damage had already been done when I stumbled on those). They were also a little over-ripe. Some were even bursting open.

I ate a few of the not-so-ripe ones raw. They were tasty, but I knew they'd end up rotting in my fridge if I didn't find some way to use them in a recipe. I searched the Internets, and found this great recipe for Caramelized Fig Spread:


The spread contains broiled, caramelized figs and onions, balsamic vinegar, and olive oil. I tried it on an everything bagel with Tofutti cream cheese. Hot damn! This is good stuff! Way better than raw figs.

I'd also picked up a crap ton of tomatoes and a cute little jalapeno pepper at the market. And I bought a lemon and some Granny Smith apples at the Piggly Wiggly.


While the figs were broiling for the fig spread, I used the above ingredients (and some evaporated cane juice) to prepare the Tomato Jam from last month's Vegetarian Times:



This was also great served on bagels with vegan cream cheese. The apples, lemon, and sugar give the jam a sweet preserve-y taste, but the tomatoes and pepper lend a bit of a savory kick. I'd never even heard of tomato jam before, but I think I have a new favorite summer tomato treat.

31 comments:

Brad and Ahnah said...

Okay, now we're even. I now have "getting jiggy wit' it" in my head. Though for some reason I keep switching an f for the j.

Damn!

Both of those recipes sound so good!!!!

Anonymous said...

figalicious! I'll have some for my morning bagel, if you please.

Anonymous said...

Figs and tomato jam - how gourmand! The only tomato jam I have ever had comes from Portugal and it is super delish.

LizNoVeggieGirl said...

I looove figs (both fresh and dried) - so luscious!! And WOW does that Caramelized Fig Spread sound good.

VeganCowGirl said...

That fig spread is beautiful! And so versatile - you could put it on ice cream, in a sandwich, on other fruits. Cheers!!!

And the tomato jam .... I never ever would have thought of that.

You rock, and great great title to your post.

J said...

I had never (until now) even seen a fresh fig. I would have never known what to do with them, but that spread sounds great. But that tomato jam, that is really calling my name - seriously. YUM.

Anonymous said...

Thanks for sharing ideas for some new yummy spreads! I ordered my Veg Times subscription so long ago and I can't wait for it to finally arrive!

thedalyn said...

Huh. Tomato jam sounds interesting. And, I've been keeping my out for figs at the Farmer's Market, but apparently CO doesn't grow them or something. They've been MIA.

Anonymous said...

I love love love figs! Fresh, juicy, plump figs are one of my most favourite things in the world (I admit I didn't know this until about 4 years ago...).

Alicia said...

tomato jam and fig spread in one post! wow! I think I don't like figs, but then again I'm not even sure how the taste, so maybe it's just a bad child memory.

jessy said...

that. is. awesome. sweet batman, that's awesome! i need to find figs - NOOOOOOOOOOOWWWWWWWWW! and tomato jam? - hot damn!

Anonymous said...

Daang, that looks mighty fine! I am not sure if I am allergic to figs or not, but I feel compelled to find out so I can try that recipe!!!

Chelsea said...

The fig spread on the bagel is blowing my mind! There's a fig tree growing outside of my apartment building, and they went and cut most of the branches off before they ripened last summer - how rude! So now I have to pay for them :(
I've never cooked with figs, I always eat them plain too fast!

Anonymous said...

mmm I love figs! I'll have to try that spread =)

Anonymous said...

gosh! you really know how to treat a bagel! i want some too, please.

Tofu Mom (AKA Tofu-n-Sprouts) said...

OK, so now I've gone and commented on some random co-worker's blog (which was actually interesting, BTW) instead of yours. Greaaaaaaaaat.

Tofu Mom (AKA Tofu-n-Sprouts) said...

\/\/ Not saying your blog is not interesting!! Quite the opposite!!

Lindsay (Happy Herbivore) said...

your figs are so cute... as are you binanca! getting figgy with it.. adorable!

Latayy said...

What a lovely mix even if I never tasted figs in my life. I know what they are but they do not see here in a preserved form either. I love the pic with the bagel and the figs.
Good job Bianca

To answer your question about avocado and pears here. If someone says they want a pear here we know they mean avocado because pears (the fruit) are not widely used in our cooking. Yes it is confusing

Lisa (Show Me Vegan) said...

The fig spread sounds awesome! I haven't purchased figs before either. Sounds like you found a great way to use them.

Anonymous said...

Yay figs! That tomato jam is making me intrigued, too. My boyfriend say your bagel pictures while I was looking at them and was all "What's that? Can you make that?"

The Voracious Vegan said...

I love figs so you can imagine just how much my stomach is growling right now. Caramelized fig spread.....those words are music to my ears!

ChocolateCoveredVegan said...

Figs are one of my absolute favorite foods. I just wish fig season weren't so short.

urban vegan said...

I love my figs...in any way, shape or form.

And they're so damn good for you, too.

Unknown said...

one thing i dont think ive ever had before is fig.. the only time was maybe a fig newton when i was little but thats about it.
now i must try it..it looks so versatile! :)

Theresa said...

Yum, bagels!

Amey said...

yum!
figs!
caramelized figs!
piggly wiggly!

I have a piggly wiggly magnet on my fridge.

Vegan_Noodle said...

I am pretty inexpereienced with figs as well... but your photos now have me seriously craving a bagel with cream cheese and fig spread...

Sheridan said...

Tomato jam?? Wha?? Sounds A-mazing. I love tomato anything. Figs are good too, but tomato jam? crazy!

Erin said...

I have to boo you for the post title, so "booooooooo". Both the spreads look fab though, I'm of the opinion that anything tastes good on an everything bagel.

Caroline S. said...

I love the idea of this blog...that we can in fact uphold our cultural traditions without supporting the meat industry. I really respect your interest in making vegan food accessible to people with all sorts of tastes!