Caramelized figs: the recipe for this sweet preserve and how to use it
Caramelized figs are a sweet late-summer preserve, ideal for making when you have plenty of fresh figs available, so you can enjoy these delicious sugary fruits even in the winter.
- black figs, 1 kg
- Granulated sugar, 400 g
- Water, 150 ml
- Rum, 70 ml
- To prepare the caramelized figs, first arrange the figs in a thick-bottomed saucepan, one next to the other and without overlapping them (1).
- Pour the water required by the recipe (2).
- Flavour with rum (3).
- Sprinkle with granulated sugar (4).
- Place on the heat and leave to cook gently for about 1 hour and a half (5).
- When the syrup has thickened and the figs are soft and caramelized (6), turn off the heat.
- Immediately transfer the caramelized figs into sterilized glass jars (7).
- Cover with boiling syrup (8).
- Close the jar hermetically with the cap (9) and let it cool completely.
- The caramelized figs are ready to be enjoyed (10).
Excellent for breakfast or as a snack with a pot of Greek yogurt, or to garnish cakes or ice cream, caramelized figs are also perfect as a dessert or aperitif: they're delicious paired with a blue cheese platter as an alternative to traditional fig jam.
To make caramelized figs in a pan, you only need a few ingredients: figs—we opted for black ones—granulated sugar, water, and rum. The recipe is incredibly simple, but for best results, it's important to choose medium-sized, whole figs that are just the right degree of ripeness to prevent them from falling apart during cooking. You'll also need a bit of time, as the figs will need to simmer for about an hour and a half.
Finally, since this is a preserve, it's essential to strictly follow the Ministry of Health's food safety guidelines and only use sterilized glass jars. Once hermetically sealed and left to cool, caramelized figs will keep in a cool, dry place for about six months; after opening, they should be refrigerated and consumed within 3-4 days.
Learn how to make caramelized figs with step-by-step instructions and tips. If you love fig recipes, also try figs in syrup and fig mostarda, or experiment with other fruit preserves, such as caramelized pears, caramelized apples, caramelized strawberries, peaches in syrup, and cherries in syrup.
How to make caramelized figs
To prepare the caramelized figs, first arrange the figs in a heavy-bottomed saucepan, one next to the other and without overlapping them 1.
Pour the water called for in recipe 2.
Close the jar tightly with the cap 9 and let it cool completely.
