Calorie content and chemical composition of dried figs. What useful substances are contained in the product, are there any contraindications for its use. Methods for preparing dishes with a fig tree. Interesting facts about the fruits of the oldest tree.
Contraindications and harm of dried fig tree
Despite the positive effect in recovery from regular use of the product, there are also negative points that are best known. Sometimes you can face the harm of dried figs, so you should be careful when eating them if you:
- Are prone to flatulence … The ability to produce excess gas can be uncomfortable for those suffering from diarrhea and bloating.
- Suffer from diabetes … Since figs can significantly affect blood sugar and insulin production, you need to be on the lookout for those who suffer from this ailment.
- Suffering from gout and pancreatitis … Metabolic disorders and inflammation of the pancreas are direct contraindications to the use of dried fruit.
- Have hard gallstones … Due to the choleretic effect, the figs will remove small stones, but large ones can get stuck in the ducts, then they will have to be removed surgically.
- Susceptible to food allergies … In this case, you need to start by eating a small amount of dried fruits, and only if the allergy does not manifest itself, you can introduce them into a permanent diet.
How to choose dried figs
When choosing a dried fruit, you should be guided by the following rules:
- The product should be of medium dryness. Too dry fruits may indicate a violation of the cooking technology or that they are very old. On the contrary, soft figs indicate an insufficient degree of dryness, which can cause its fermentation and putrefaction.
- The dried fruit should be about the same size. This indicates the correct selection of fruits during drying.
- The color of the figs should be uniform. Or yellow-golden, if light varieties were taken, or brown, if a dark variety was dried. Light spots on dark and, conversely, dark spots on light figs indicate that rotten fruits were processed.
- Regardless of the variety, dried figs are sweet, and the presence of sourness indicates product spoilage.
Since dried fruit is very fond of all kinds of pests, you need to know how to store dried figs. It should be kept in a hermetically sealed container. For storage up to six months, the best place is the vegetable compartment of the refrigerator; for storage up to a week, a dry, dark place is enough. If you want to keep it for up to a year, you can freeze it. At the same time, it practically does not change the taste after defrosting, but of course, the nutrients in it will diminish.
How are dried figs eaten
Excellent gastronomic features determine the great respect for this type of dried fruit. Dried figs are most often eaten on their own as a dessert.
Before using it, it is imperative to wash it, since it is often contaminated during transportation. This can be done in running water with a brush or by soaking in warm water and then draining it.
Since figs, as already described above, have a gaseous property, they are not recommended to be consumed immediately after a meal. Do it in between, leaving it for snacks - it will fill you up with energy, satisfy your gastronomic needs and fill you with a good mood.
Also, the product is used in cooking for the preparation of complex desserts, side dishes, snacks and meat. It is especially tasty with honey and cheese. We suggest that you familiarize yourself with the recipes for some dishes with dried figs below.
Methods for preparing dried figs
It is no secret that the greatest number of useful components and the best taste in any product are available immediately after preparation. This means that the longer it is stored, the less benefit and taste it contains. Therefore, many people prefer to cook dried fruits on their own. This is not difficult to do.
There are three main recipes for drying figs:
- Under the sun … To do this, you need to take the fruits, spread them under the sun on prepared clean surfaces, cover with thin gauze (from flies and other insects) and dry for 3-4 days, periodically turning them over. They need to be taken indoors at night.
- In the oven … Cut the figs into halves and place them on a wire rack or perforated baking sheet. Heat the oven to 60 ° C and place the fruits there for 8-10 hours. Leave the door ajar and turn them over from time to time.
- In the dryer … Modern devices for preparing dried fruits allow you to cope with this process in 5-6 hours. You just need to cut the figs into halves, load them into the electric dryer and set the appropriate program. The device will do the rest by itself - you do not need to monitor the product and turn it over.
Dried Fig Tree Recipes
The use of this dried fruit in dishes is a sign of high, refined cuisine. The housewives' ability to subtly introduce it into hot and meat dishes, salads and snacks testifies to a certain status of a cook. If you want to please yourself or treat your friends to delicate and unusual dishes, be sure to take note of the following recipes with dried figs:
- Tagine with lamb … Take 1 kg of lamb, wash, dry, cut into large pieces. Cut 2 large onions into half rings and place with the meat in a large saucepan. Add 2 tablespoons olive oil, 1 teaspoon turmeric, 1 dessertspoon salt and pepper mixture to taste, mix thoroughly. Pour the lamb with water to barely cover the meat, simmer over low heat for 1 hour. Add 300 g dry figs and 2 tablespoons of honey, simmer until the liquid evaporates. Toast the crushed walnuts over medium heat. Add to them a couple of cloves of garlic passed through a press and 100 ml of tomato juice, steam over the fire, season the meat with this sauce, mix well. Protomite for another minute, turn it off, let it brew for 20 minutes. Serve with chopped parsley or cilantro.
- Vegetarian pilaf … Take 600g long parboiled rice. Rinse, discard in a colander. Pour 50 ml of vegetable oil into a cast iron with a thick bottom, send 1 large onion cut into half rings and 1 large carrot, cut into cubes. Fry until half cooked over high heat, stirring constantly. Pour rice into the pot, pour boiling water over it so that the water is 1 cm above the cereal level. Add 1 teaspoon of turmeric, a pinch of salt and ground pepper, and 100 g of finely chopped dried figs. Simmer for 40 minutes over low heat.
- Bacon and cheese salad … Put 2 large strips of bacon in a hot skillet, melt the fat, fry until crisp, place on a paper towel, let cool. Place on a plate 100 g of the lettuce mixture, cut into small pieces. Cut 1 red onion on it into thin half rings. On top, put 50 g of finely chopped pieces of dried figs, a handful of pine nuts, strips of bacon steamed in a water bath. In a bowl, combine 1 tablespoon of olive oil, 1 teaspoon of balsamic vinegar, a pinch of salt, pepper and oregano, and 1 teaspoon of mustard seeds. Sprinkle the salad with the dressing and sprinkle with grated goat cheese on top.
- Figs with mascarpone … Take 300 g of dried fruit, rinse, cut off the stalks. Mix 1 glass of dry red wine, 100 g of sugar and 20 ml of balsamic vinegar, cook over low heat until the sugar is completely dissolved. Send the figs there, let it boil for 5-7 minutes. Transfer the contents to a baking dish, sprinkle with chopped nuts (walnuts, hazelnuts, almonds), put in the oven preheated to 180 ° C for 30 minutes. When the figs are tender, place a ball of creamy mascarpone on each rosette and bake for another 3-5 minutes. Serve chilled.
- Cookies with nuts and dried fruits … Grind 200 g almonds or cashews into flour. Add a pinch of salt, cinnamon, 2 tablespoons of maple syrup or honey, and knead the dough. Roll out the cake into a thin sheet - 1-2 mm. Grind the figs in a blender to a paste. If it is very dry, you can add a spoonful of warm boiled water. Form a cookie using the cookie cutters, place a spoonful of fig paste on top of it, cover with another cookie on top. Bake in an oven preheated to 180 ° C for 10-15 minutes.
Dried fruit drinks are distinguished by their spicy taste and a wide range of useful elements:
- Spice compote … Bring 3 L of water to a boil in a large saucepan. Throw in boiling water 200 g pitted prunes, 200 g dried apricots, 100 g raisins and 100 g dried figs. All dried fruits must be thoroughly washed before being sent to the pan. Add 5 pcs. dry cloves and 2 cinnamon sticks. Bring the dried fruit to a boil, while cutting 2 apples and 1 orange and 1 lemon into cubes. Send to boiling water and boil for 3-5 minutes. Turn off and let it brew overnight. Serve chilled.
- Vitamin smoothie … The recipe for this cocktail is very simple, and its benefits are enormous. Take 200 g of low-fat live yogurt, mix with 1 tablespoon of honey, 100 g of any fresh or frozen berries, and 100 g of finely chopped figs. Combine all ingredients in a blender. Drink immediately after preparation.
- Alcoholic cocktail … To create an excellent base for alcoholic cocktails, take 500 g of dried figs, rinse it well, pour 2 liters of boiling water, simmer for 30 minutes. Add the zest of 2 large oranges to the uzvar, bring to a boil, turn off, let it brew for 30 minutes. Then squeeze out the juice of the oranges and send it to the drink along with the cake, leave to cool completely. Refrigerate overnight. Strain, add fresh mint leaves and an alcoholic component - vodka, vermouth, red or white wine - whichever you prefer. It goes well with champagne. If you like light cocktails, dilute the concentrate with carbonated mineral water, if you like it stronger, mix it with pure alcohol.
Interesting Dried Fig Facts
Fig trees are considered one of the most ancient fruit crops. It was cultivated in Arabia, then in Syria and Egypt.
This plant is mentioned in the Bible, because it was with fig leaves that Adam and Eve were covered in order to hide their nakedness. Moreover, there is an opinion that it was the figs that were the forbidden fruit that the couple tasted, and apples in this context were mentioned only in order to make the story clearer and closer to a large number of people.
But then it was about raw fruits, and later already dried figs were mentioned in sources. For example, Alexander the Great respected dried figs very much, always carrying large quantities of dried fruits to battles, as they helped to restore strength, give energy and increase immunity.
A special place in the first-aid kit was occupied by dried figs and by the famous physician Avicena. He used it as an antitussive agent and as a prophylaxis against constipation, skin diseases and digestive problems.
Watch a video about dried figs:
As you can see, the beneficial properties of dried figs were appreciated long before our birth. Therefore, do not neglect such an experience - be sure to use the healing properties of dried fruits and enjoy their excellent gastronomic qualities.
