`h
HEALTH // Natural Wonder
FIG-ure
THE NUTRIENTDENSE, VERSATILE FIG PACKS AS MUCH POWER IN A BOUQUET AS ON YOUR PLATE.
See recipe on page XX.
' HB
Live Your Ultimate Life
TO COME HERE
by Alexandria Bachert
HEALTH // Natural Wonder
If you say you know this fruit fairly well, you the fig has a surprise for you: It’s actually an inverted flower, says Bill Muzychko, owner of Bill’s Figs in Flemington. Fat-free, sodium-free, cholesterol-free — what’s not to love about biting into the velvety flesh of a fresh fig? “Figs are a source of iron, which helps prevent anemia; calcium, which helps prevent osteoporosis; potassium, which helps maintain blood pressure; and antioxidants, which may reduce the risk of cancer and protect against heart disease,” says Rosa Tamayo, a registered dietitian at Trinitas Hospital in Elizabeth. According to Tamayo, dried figs have less water, but the minerals (such as calcium, iron, and potassium) are much more concentrated. FRESH PERFECTION
Though most often eaten dried, fresh figs are lusciously sweet with a chewy texture and crunchy seeds — and because they’re very perishable, it’s important to know how to select fresh figs and how to store them. In our region, figs peak from August into the fall. “To get a fresh fig, it has to ripen on the tree,” explains Muzychko. His advice: Pluck them off the tree when the fruit is plump and yielding to the touch with smooth skin. Prevent deterioration by using fresh figs immediately or storing them in a cool place for no more than three days. Figs can be frozen in a sealed container for up until one year. The best way to experience a succulent, ripe fig is to grow your own. “You don’t grow figs in the ground because they can’t tolerate freezing temperatures. They can only tolerate about 25 degrees,” says Muzychko, who recommends planting them in tubs.
FLAVORING WITH FIGS
Think beyond the Fig Newton. Figs pair well with honey, sugar, and thin prosciutto. They complement sweet spices such as ginger, cinnamon, and cloves, as well as the zest of lemons and oranges. Dried figs are also a healthy replacement for fats such as shortening or oil in baked goods. FIGS FOR NATURAL BEAUTY
The moisturizing properties in figs make them an ideal natural additive in beauty products. “This antioxidant-rich fruit is
packed with minerals, flavonoids, and polyphenols, which serve as a wonderful healing treat for the skin, most notably for its spectacular anti-inflammatory benefits on cystic acne and other inflamed skin conditions,” says Melissa Astone, a licensed esthetician at the Dermatology Group of Northern New Jersey. She recommends this anti-inflammatory and healing fig masque to nourish the skin: Mash the pulp of several roasted figs while they are still warm and apply it to your skin for 30 minutes, then rinse with cool water. É H B (
HEALTH // Natural Wonder
DECORATIVE ACCENTS
The color and texture of figs make them ideal for decorative arrangements, says Lisa Keslowe of Boxwoods Gardens and Gifts in Lambertville. “It is best to mix them with classic colors — almost like what you would see in Dutch paintings,” she advises. Combine roses, zucchini, and magnolia leaves, then add the figs last as an accent. Since fresh figs perish after four or five days, Keslowe recommends sealing the fruit and arranging it with pomegranates and blood oranges: “Slice the fig in half so you can see inside and layer on a thin coat of Vaseline to seal in moisture and slow down the aging process.”
RECIPE BLACK MISSION FIG CROSTINI WITH PICO GOATS CHEESE AND FIG JAM Serves 4–6
INGREDIENTS 5 or 6 slices of rye bread 5 oz fig jam 1 wheel of Pico (an aged, soft French goat cheese) or substitute with any brie-like cheese 5 large black mission figs, quartered
PROCEDURE Cut rye bread into 20 2” x 3” squares and lay out on a sheet pan. Toast bread in a preheated 350°F oven until the bread starts to crisp slightly (about 4 min). Remove from oven. Spread fig jam onto the bread. Place about a half-ounce of cheese on top the fig jam on each slice of toast.
Source: Jamie Hollander Gourmet Foods, New Hope, Pa.
) HB
Live Your Ultimate Life
ISTOCKPHOTO
Top each slice of toast with one piece of fig and place the toast slices back into the oven until cheese just starts to melt.