Figs for the winter: recipes for jam with a fantastic taste. Figs for the winter: preparations from healthy berries

Recently, figs have become very popular among Russians. This healthy and tasty fruit is distinguished by its sunny mood, smooth purple skin and sweet pulp, vaguely reminiscent of strawberries in taste. And dried figs are even more loved - they are sickly sweet, honeyed and satisfying - one handful of dried figs can satisfy even the most severe hunger. Figs can also be used in various types of dishes, as they are versatile. It can be cut into fruit salads, baked with meat, made into jam and spread on sandwiches, and also prepared in various smoothies. But this option is good when there is fresh product available. But what if you want to save the purchased figs for the whole winter? How to freeze figs at home or dry them so that the product does not spoil?

The easiest way to preserve figs for a long time is to freeze them at a very low temperature. Typically, a powerful freezer is used for this. Why a separate freezer and not part of the refrigerator? The fact is that such a unit will produce more cold, which means that figs will be able to survive at low temperatures longer than when stored in a refrigerator. Another more radical option is suitable for those people who have free balconies. There you can put figs in bags in the cold season. As practice confirms, fruits do not spoil in conditions of persistent subzero temperatures. At the same time, they are not frozen, that is, there is no spoilage from the expansion of liquid inside the fruit. In general, this is a “cheap and cheerful” option suitable for everyone.

Another way to preserve the beneficial qualities of figs for a long time is to dry them. As a rule, the fruits of this plant are dried without subsequent freezing, but experts still advise putting dried figs in the refrigerator or freezer after the main procedure. It is known that the thermal effect on the pulp of fig fruits can benefit it. But under one condition, according to culinary experts - the temperature effect must be combined with drying. If you remove excess moisture from the fruit, the figs can be kept much longer in a relatively fresh state. And some doctors were able to find out through long studies that dried figs are more beneficial for human health than fresh ones. Therefore, there is a valid reason to dry the fruits of this plant for the winter.

How to dry figs so that they retain their beneficial properties, rich, rich taste and color? There are several different options for preparing dried figs. Our grandmothers loved to make dried fruits using hoods. What was this procedure? Sliced ​​figs were laid out in a thin layer on the newspaper, then the newspaper with the slices was laid out on top of the kitchen hood. There it should have been left for several days until the fruits were completely dry. Another way to dry figs involves using an oven. Figs are cut into thin slices, laid out on parchment, and the parchment itself is laid out on a baking sheet. Light the oven, set the thermostat to 2 or 3, and leave the figs to dry for 6 hours.

After this procedure, you can take the figs out of the oven and put them in a wooden or cardboard box for several days. You can leave the figs in this form, or you can freeze them so that they can be stored in proper form longer. You can take the container with the lid closed to the balcony or loggia and leave it there. Cold air and almost sub-zero temperatures will allow the figs to remain relatively fresh for a longer period of time and avoid spoilage. If it is possible to put dried figs in the refrigerator or freezer, then you need to take a container or a thick plastic bag, pour all the dried fruits into it, cover with a lid or tie it in a knot, and then place it in the lower tier of the refrigerator or freezer. You can store the product as long as needed.

There are several more options on how to preserve figs for as long as possible. But to do this, you need to know how to dry figs at home, as well as how to freeze them. To quickly and efficiently dry the product, you can use kitchen electric dryers. They are produced by all well-known manufacturers of household appliances - Bosch, Scarlett, Braun, Samsung, etc. You need to pour sliced ​​figs into the lower tier of the unit, then cover with a lid and put the device in express drying mode (however, if there is no need for this , you can put the device in normal mode). Soon you will be able to extract perfectly dried fig slices from the appliance drawer, distinguished by their sweet taste and exquisite aroma. They can be frozen in the freezer, with artificial ice on top, or, alternatively, placed in the cold.

Now everyone will know how to properly prepare figs for winter using the most accessible methods. Dried and frozen slices of this fruit will melt in your mouth and remind everyone of the hot sunny summer. But it should be remembered that only properly dried and frozen fruits will allow them to retain their excellent taste, exquisite spicy aroma and beneficial properties.

Figs contain a number of beneficial vitamins and minerals. Among them are potassium, iron, vitamin C. Thanks to the fact that it is possible to make fig jam, we can enjoy the taste, aroma and benefits of the berries not only during their ripening period, but throughout the year.

Recipe for classic fig jam.

How to make fig jam? Despite the fact that the berry is quite exotic, there is nothing difficult in making jam from it.

What is needed for this?

• figs 1 kg;
• water 0.3 l;
• sugar 1 kg;
• citric acid (add to taste).

Step-by-step preparation scheme:

1. Wash small figs thoroughly, tear off the stems and prick with a toothpick in some places. Tip: use light figs, as dark figs have a tough skin and will take longer to cook.
2. Pour the required amount of water into a pan (preferably enameled) and set to heat. When it boils, add the figs. Let it boil for 10 minutes.
3. Remove the boiled berries and leave to drain on a towel.
4. At this time, prepare the syrup. To do this, mix sugar and water, put it on fire and wait until we achieve homogeneity.
5. Add figs to the prepared mixture and boil for ¾ hours.
6. A few minutes before the end of time, add citric acid. Try it first. If the jam is too sweet for you, add more acid. If you like everything, then just a little.
7. Place the jam in sterilized jars, fill with syrup and roll up.

As you can see, everything is quite simple!

Recipe for fig jam with lemon.

Fig jam with lemon is suitable for lovers of a sweet and sour combination. Figs are a rather sweet berry, and lemon gives it a pleasant sourness.

Products:

• figs 1 kg;
• sugar 1 kg;
• water 0.3 l;
• lemon 1 pc.

Preparation:

1. The recipe is very similar to classic jam. Wash the figs well, peel and pierce them.
2. Pour water over the berries and bring to a boil.
3. Then take it out, cool it and let it dry.
4. In the meantime, let's start cooking sweet syrup from water and sugar, the required quantities are indicated at the beginning.
5. After the syrup has become homogeneous, add our dried berries.
6. Cook until the jam stops spreading when it hits the plate.
7. After the jam has boiled, instead of citric acid, add lemon cut into slices.

The taste that lemon gives is very original when combined with sweet figs. This jam is not cloying.

Fig jam with hazelnuts.

Adding toasted hazelnuts to the jam will add richness to the taste and unsurpassed aroma. So, what do you need to make this aromatic jam?

• figs 1 kg;
• hazelnuts 200 g;
• water 240 ml;
• sugar 1 kg.

Cooking steps:

1. Dry the hazelnuts in the oven and peel them.
2. Wash the figs, pierce them and dry them.
3. Cook the jam filling. Combine sugar and water and boil in a saucepan. The main thing is that the sugar melts completely.
4. Add the figs to the syrup and start cooking. The cooking process consists of three stages. At the first stage, bring the figs to a boil over low heat and leave to rest for 10 hours.
5. After this time has elapsed, bring to a boil again and turn off.
6. After another 10 hours, cover the figs with nuts and turn on the heat.
7. Cook until fully cooked.

How to check if the jam is ready? Drop syrup onto a plate. If it spreads, cook some more. If not, then you're done. It's time to put it in jars. After rolling, turn the jam onto the lid and let it sit for several days.

Recipe for figs and oranges.

This jam is perfect for preparing for the winter. The fresh aroma of orange will add a winter festive mood. Usually jam is prepared by adding spices. Interestingly, jam can be served as a sauce for duck if you add a little balsamic vinegar to it.

What do we need?

• chopped figs 1 kg;
• sugar 0.5 kg;
• oranges, cut 2 pcs.;
• orange zest 2 tsp;
• lemon juice 6 tbsp;
• ginger, cloves, cinnamon 0.5 tsp each.

Prepare jam according to the following recipe:

1. Combine all ingredients and add sugar.
2. Leave for ½ hour.
3. After all the products have given juice, put them on the stove and start boiling, stirring.
4. Cook until done. How to check readiness? Drizzle syrup onto a chilled plate and see if it spreads or not. If not, you're done!
5. Please note that the jam in the pan will decrease by 1/3 during the cooking process. This is fine.
6. The resulting mass can be blended with a blender until smooth.
7. We roll them into jars and put them in the closet.
8. In winter we open it and enjoy the taste and aroma.

Sweet preparation with walnuts.

Another variation for winter preparation of figs is to add roasted walnuts. This type of preparation is very popular in eastern countries. Even the appearance speaks of oriental flavor. This is delicious!

So, the list of products:

• figs 1 kg;
• walnuts 6 tbsp;
• sugar 1 kg;
• citric acid on the tip of a knife.

How to cook?

1. First of all, be sure to wash it, remove the tails and make punctures in the figs.
2. Fry walnuts in a frying pan until golden brown.
3. Cut the figs from the larger side.
4. Then the fun part begins: insert a nut into each berry. If it fits, you can have several.
5. Place everything in a saucepan and add sugar. You can leave it overnight.
6. The fig-nut mass will give juice, after which it needs to be put on fire. At low temperature, just bring to a boil and simmer for 15 minutes.
7. Then turn off for 4 hours. Wait until it cools down.
8. Return to the heat and bring to a boil. Simmer for another 20 minutes.
9. At the end add citric acid. Some people prefer to put a whole lemon instead of acid. This is a matter of taste and will not harm the preparation itself.
10. While the fruit mixture is still hot, pour into jars and seal.

A little about the benefits of figs.

As mentioned at the beginning, this is a storehouse of usefulness. To be more precise, it includes:

• iron;
• selenium;
• phosphorus;
• calcium;
• magnesium;
• vitamins B1, B6, B2, C, A;
• pectin;
• protein.

For those who count calories, figs are not dangerous. Its kcal is 50 per 100 g.

How is it useful for the body? Figs help relieve constipation. In addition, this berry helps relieve fatigue after a hard day, improves mood, and accelerates the production of serotonin.

Of course, it is always better to eat fresh fruits and berries. However, dried fig cakes are very popular. They retain up to 70% of all beneficial properties. Winter preparations contain slightly less vitamins, however, they also have benefits. The sweet taste and aroma brings aesthetic pleasure, which helps the production of the joy hormone.

Interestingly, if you have certain diseases, doctors recommend eating this berry to relieve unpleasant symptoms. This applies to the following diseases:

• angina;
• kidney disease;
• problems with the cardiovascular system;
• thrombosis (the berry thins the blood);
• anemia.

Despite all the positive properties of figs, people with the following problems should treat them with caution:

• diabetes;
• gout;
• stomach ulcer;
• stones in the kidneys;
• pancreatitis.

Fig tree or figs famous for its healthy fruits. The most beneficial substances are found in fresh fruits, but they do not last long. During the ripening season, various preparations are made from figs.

Fig jam

Jam from ripe fruits is made at the rate of one liter of water and half a kilogram of sugar per kilogram of figs. Each fruit must be pierced with a toothpick in several places. Make syrup from sugar and water, bringing the liquid to a boil. The prepared syrup is immersed in boiling syrup and boiled for 5 minutes without stirring. If the fruits are at the top, use a wooden spatula to immerse them in the syrup. Afterwards the workpiece is removed from the heat, leaving for 12 hours.

Next, boil the jam again for 5 minutes. After this, the jam is turned off and left to infuse for 12 hours. The third time, after boiling for 5 minutes, the hot jam is put into jars.

Dried syrup

This is not just a delicacy, but also an excellent remedy for colds and coughs. Drying figs is carried out in two ways: natural and artificial.

For drying, you need to use ripe fruits that have fallen themselves. They must be clean and intact. If the fruits need to be washed, this should be done carefully, since ripe figs have thin skin. The fruits are placed on a sieve and water is carefully sprayed from a spray bottle.

When the figs dry (after about half an hour), each fruit is dipped into boiling syrup for a couple of seconds. This treatment prevents the fermentation process. Next, the figs are laid out on a wooden grid, with the tails of the fruit pointing towards the sun.

If the weather is rainy, the fruit rack is removed indoors. Also, the fruits need to be picked up at night. The figs are turned over every 2 days to prevent staleness. After a week or a week and a half, the fruits will wilt and can be removed from the grill. Now the figs are slightly flattened, that is, the top part needs to be pressed in so that a dense disk is formed. After this, the prepared fruits are strung on a thread and the string is placed under a canopy until completely dry. If the weather is not sunny, you will have to dry the figs using gas, but in this case the taste of the dried fruit will be slightly different.

Frozen figs

Not a very common way to prepare figs for the winter, but quite fast. Experts advise using dark figs that have been previously washed. The wet fruits are dried, after which they are placed in a bag, the air is removed and placed in the freezer.

Pickled figs

Ingredients:

• 1 cup dried figs;
• 1 glass of port;
• 0.25 cups balsamic vinegar;
• a teaspoon of orange and lemon zest;
• spoon of sugar;
• half a glass of crushed nuts;
• salt, ground pepper.

Preparation:

Dried figs are placed in a jar, port wine and chopped zest are poured into it. In this form, the workpiece is left in the refrigerator for a day. Then you need to drain the liquid and add the remaining ingredients according to the recipe, put it on fire. When the filling boils, add figs to it. Boil the mixture over low heat for half an hour with the lid open. When the workpiece has cooled, it is transferred to a clean jar and placed in the refrigerator for storage.

Fig liqueur

To prepare fig liqueur you will need 0.8 liters of water, a kilogram of figs and sugar, and a liter of alcohol. Fresh figs are washed, then they need to be crushed and filled with water. The workpiece is left in this state for 4 days. Next, the mass needs to be filtered and pressed. Sugar is dissolved in the liquid and alcohol is added. The preparation is left to infuse for several days.

The filtered liquid is poured into bottles and stored in a cool, dark place.

Wineberry, fig tree, fig tree - all these are the names of the most ancient cultivated plant, which was originally grown in Arabia, and only in the 16th century came to America. People have successfully used the medicinal properties of figs in medicine and cosmetology.

Exquisite jams, excellent pastilles, all kinds of cocktails and aromatic drinks have been and continue to be prepared from sugar fruits. Below is a small selection of delicious fig jam recipes.

Simple fig jam for the winter - step by step photo recipe

The easiest and most affordable way to prepare a unique product in winter is fig jam.

Cooking time: 15 hours 0 minutes

Quantity: 2 servings

Ingredients

• Figs: 1 kg
• Lemon juice: 1-2 tbsp. l.
• Sugar: 700 g

Cooking instructions

The total time for preparing fig jam was two days. We got an amazing dessert made from fruits that looked like delicious jelly candies. By consuming sweet berries, we stimulate the production of serotonin, providing ourselves with the so-called happiness hormone.

How to make fig and lemon jam

Figs are a very tasty and healthy fruit, but in jam they can be too sweet. You can radically change the taste of a dish, give it a piquant sourness, by adding lemon to the list of products.

Ingredients:

• Figs – 1 kg.
• Lemon – 2 pcs.
• Granulated sugar – 0.6 kg.
• Cloves – 4 pcs.
• Balsamic vinegar – 2 tsp.
• Water – 100 ml.

Algorithm of actions:

1. Both green and purple figs are suitable for this jam. Stage one is fruit selection. Naturally, you need to take the best ones; wrinkled or cracked ones are rejected.
2. Using small scissors, trim the tail off each berry.
3. On each base (on the side of the fruit opposite to the tail) make a cross-shaped incision. Hide clove buds in four berries.
4. Prepare the lemons - wash them with a brush. Cut into thin transparent circles. Be sure to remove the seeds, as they may cause the jam to taste bitter.
5. Pour the lemon juice into a container in which the jam will be cooked. Add water and balsamic vinegar there.
6. Add sugar, add lemon mugs. Boil the syrup for 10 minutes, skim off the foam periodically.
7. Place figs into the hot syrup and stir with a slotted spoon so that they are “bathed” in the syrup on all sides. Boil for 3 minutes.
8. Remove from heat and leave the jam to steep for 3 hours.
9. Repeat the cooking procedure twice - boil the jam for 3 minutes, leave for 3 hours.
10. Fill sterilized containers with figs, add syrup to the rim, and seal.

With this method of cooking, the berries do not become soft, retain their shape, are soaked in syrup and become very beautiful - transparent amber.

How to make fig and nut jam

Experiments with fig jam can be continued. In addition to lemon, walnuts make a wonderful company for them. In some ways, this dish is reminiscent of the famous royal jam made from gooseberries and walnuts; fortunately, there is no need to waste effort putting the kernels inside the fruit.

Ingredients:

• Figs – 3 kg.
• Sugar – 1.5 kg.
• Lemon juice – 1.5 tbsp. l.
• Walnuts – 300 gr.
• Water 1.5 tbsp.

Algorithm of actions:

1. The process begins with selection - you need to choose the most beautiful, ripe figs. Rinse. Using a sharp knife or scissors, trim the tails.
2. Remove shells and membranes from walnuts. Chop into small slices.
3. Fill the container in which the jam will be prepared in layers: first a layer of figs, then sugar, and so on until the very top.
4. Leave for an hour - during this time the fruits should release juice. Add water as required.
5. Place on low heat. After the syrup boils, cook for another 15 minutes with the lid tightly closed.
6. Then remove the lid and continue cooking for 15 minutes. Remove the foam that forms on the jam with a slotted spoon.
7. From time to time, use the same slotted spoon to stir the jam so that all the fruits are immersed in the syrup one by one.
8. Add walnuts and wait until the jam starts to boil again. Leave to infuse.
9. Repeat the procedure again, but add lemon juice at the end of cooking. The jam should cool slightly before packaging.
10. Sterilize small glass containers (from 300 to 500 ml) over steam or in the oven. Tin lids should also be sterilized in boiling water.
11. Place warm fig and walnut jam into containers and seal.

All you have to do is wait until winter to organize a delicious tea party with the most unusual jam in the world, where the fruits become transparent honey, reminiscent of a hot, sun-drenched summer.

Delicious fig jam without cooking

Housewives know that the slightest heat treatment negatively affects the vitamins and minerals contained in fruits. Therefore, naturally, everyone would like to have a recipe for jam without cooking, in which the substances beneficial to the body would be preserved to the maximum. But it is also impossible to preserve fruits without heat treatment. How to be? There is a recipe when sugar syrup is boiled or boiled, and the fruits are only infused in it.

Ingredients (portion of fruit and sugar can be increased):

• Figs – 700 gr.
• Sugar – 500 gr.

Algorithm of actions:

1. Select the ripest fruits. Wash thoroughly. Sometimes it is advised to cut off the skin, but in this case the berries may lose their shape.
2. Place figs in a container. Sprinkle sugar evenly over the surface. Leave for 3 hours. During this time, juice will be released.
3. Place the pan on the fire. Cooking time - 5 minutes, holding time - 10 hours.
4. Before cooking, drain the syrup and boil it, pour the hot figs. Repeat the same procedure two times.
5. Seal as you would any other jam.

Cooking, in fact, will only take 15 minutes; unfortunately, the process will be extended over time. But the result that the housewife and household will see is worth it. The berries will be whole, transparent, soaked in syrup, like a lot of sunshine in one container. You can add a little vanilla or lemon juice at the very end of cooking.

When cooking, figs may crack; to prevent this from happening, you need to place them dry, that is, after washing, blot them with paper towels.

Not only lemon can be added to fig jam, but also other citrus fruits - orange or lime.

Figs are a bright and juicy fruit that has a very sweet taste. In cooking, figs are added to salads and desserts, and compotes and preserves are prepared from them for the winter. The aroma of the fruit is especially juicy in a duet with any soft cheese: ricotta, cottage cheese, mozzarella, etc. Wedding cakes are decorated with pieces or halves of figs.

But since the seasonal harvest of such fruit is very short, we recommend that you stock up on it in advance by freezing sliced ​​figs for the winter. From such a preparation you can create a fragrant compote, sauce, jam or cream, and also add it as a decoration for desserts.

Ingredients

• 0.5 kg fresh figs

Freezing figs

1. Before buying figs, do not hesitate to “massage” the fruits - do not buy ones that are too soft, as they may be spoiled. The juicy fruit has an attractive appearance, gives in slightly to pressure, but then its peel immediately “springs” back. We wash purchased or picked figs in water and cut off the tails from each fruit. Let's cut it in half, and then in half again, so that we get attractive quarters.

2. Transfer them to a board or flat plate. Place the cut figs in the freezer for at least 1 hour, maximum 6 hours to freeze.

3. After this, remove the frozen slices and separate them from the plate or board.