Fig Filling For Pastry Recipes

FIG FILLING

Steps:

• Combine all ingredients and cook over low heat, stirring often, until reduced to a thick paste, about 10 to 15 minutes.
• Spread filling on a baking sheet to cool.

FIG SQUARES

Steps:

• For baking: 1 egg, beaten For dough, in a large mixing bowl, mix dry ingredients. Add 1/4 pound soft butter and work finely into flour. Cut cold butter into 1/2 pieces and add to bowl. Work in until butter is left pea-sized. Drizzle water over mixture and toss in. If dough is dry, add more water, 1 tablespoon at a time, as needed. Dough should be loose in bowl, not in a ball. Turn out onto work surface and pull together. Divide into 2 equal portions, flatten each slightly, and wrap in plastic. Chill at least 1 hour before rolling. (Refrigerate up to 3 days, freeze up to 6 months.) For the fig filling, in a large saucepan, combine all but 1/3 of the grated zest and butter, and bring to a boil over medium heat, stirring frequently to dissolve the sugar. Reduce heat and simmer for 30 to 40 minutes until fruit is soft and liquid thickened. Transfer to a food processor and puree until smooth. Add butter and puree to blend. Add remaining zest and pulse in. Transfer to a bowl and allow to cool. To assemble and bake, preheat oven to 375 degrees. Line a 11 by 17-inch baking sheet (up to 12 x18) with parchment paper. Remove one of the wrapped pieces of dough from the refrigerator and unwrap. Roll dough on a floured surface into a rectangle to fit the bottom and sides of the baking sheet. Line the sheet with the dough. Place the baking sheet in the freezer while the second piece of dough is rolled out in the same way. Remove baking sheet from freezer and spread fig filling evenly over the surface of the dough. Top with the second sheet of dough and pinch the edges to seal. Trim the excess dough. Brush surface of dough with beaten egg. Prick through the top layer of dough with a fork evenly over the surface (about 1 1/2 apart.) Place baking sheet on bottom rack of oven. Bake 25 to35 minutes, until dough is a light-medium golden brown. Remove from oven and cool on a wire rack. Cut into portions (squares are traditional.)

FIG FILLING FOR PASTRY

Steps:

• Remove stems from figs with scissors. Chop in food processor in batches.
• In a non-stick pan, combine chopped figs with orange zest, chocolate chips, whiskey, walnuts, maple syrup, and cinnamon. Heat over medium heat until chocolate melts, stirring frequently. Cool completely.

FRENCH FIG TARTS

Steps:

• For the pastry, place the flour, sugar, and salt in the bowl of a food processor fitted with the steel blade. Pulse a few times to combine. Add the butter and pulse 10 to 12 times, until the butter is the size of peas. With the motor running, pour the ice water down the feed tube and pulse just until the dough starts to come together. Dump onto a floured board and knead quickly into a 5-inch-round flat disk. Wrap in plastic and refrigerate for exactly 1 hour.
• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Line a sheet pan with parchment paper.
• On a floured board, roll the dough to a rectangle a little larger than 10-by-14 inches. Wrap the dough around your rolling pin and transfer it to the prepared pan. Using a ruler and a small knife, trim the dough to a 10-by-14-inch rectangle. Refrigerate for 15 minutes.
• Remove the stem of each fig and cut them in quarters through the stem (or in sixths, if the figs are very large.) Place the figs in rows on the dough. Sprinkle with the full 1/2 cup of sugar and dot with the butter.
• Bake for 50 minutes to 1 hour, until the pastry is browned and the fruit starts to brown. Rotate the pan once during baking. If the pastry puffs up in one area, cut a little slit with a knife to let the air out. Don't worry! The juices will burn in the pan but the tart (and the pan!) will be fine! When the tart's done, loosen it from the pan while it's still warm and transfer it to a board or clean piece of parchment paper.
• In a small pan, heat the apricot jelly with 2 tablespoons water and brush the fruit and pastry completely with the mixture. Allow to cool, cut into squares, and serve warm or at room temperature.

SCRUMPTIOUS FIG SQUARES

Steps:

• For filling: Finely chop figs in processor (do not puree).
• Combine with juice, sugar and peel in small saucepan.
• Simmer until thickened to consistency of jam, stirring frequently, about 3 minutes.
• Remove from heat and mix in vanilla and cinnamon.
• Cool completely.
• For pastry: Preheat oven to 350F (160C).
• Line 9 x 13 inch pyrex baking dish with foil.
• Cream butter with mixer until light; add sugar and vanilla and beat until light and fluffy, about 5 minutes.
• Combine flour, cornstarch and salt in small bowl to blend.
• Add to butter until mixture just starts to come together.
• Separate in half.
• Press one half into pan, just coming up sides slightly.
• Brush pastry edges with egg white.
• Spread filling over pastry, leaving a ¼ inch border.
• Crumble remaining pastry evenly over pan, and lightly pat down with hands, bringing to edge of pan.
• Combine 2 tblsps sugar with 1 tsp cinnamon.
• Brush pastry crust with remaining egg white and sprinkle evenly with cinnamon sugar.
• Bake until crust around edge is firm to the touch and pastry just begins to colour, about 1 hour, 20 minutes.
• Cool on rack.
• Remove pastry from pan, using foil as aid.
• Cut into 1 ½ inch squares.

BRITISH FIG ROLLS - ALMOST BETTER THAN SHOP BOUGHT!

Steps:

• Lightly grease a baking sheet.Pre-heat oven to 175C/350F/Gas Mark 5.
• Put the figs in a saucepan with 300 ml (1/2 pint) water. Simmer for about 20 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the figs are tender and the liquid is well reduced. Set aside to cool, then puree in a blender or food processor.
• Put the remaining ingredients for the pastry in a blender or food processor with 30 ml (2 tbsp) water and mix to a dough.
• Knead the dough on a lightly floured surface, then roll out to an oblong about 40 x 12 cm (16 x 5 inches).
• Spread the fig puree down the centre of the dough rectangle and carefully fold in the sides so that they overlap over the filling.
• Trim the ends of the roll and cut into 3 cm (1 1/4 inch) wide slices. Turn the rolls over and place on the prepared baking sheet.
• Mark the top of each roll with a wet fork and bake for 25-30 minutes, until lightly browned. Cool on a rack.

SICILIAN FIG PASTRIES

Steps:

• In a food processor, combine the flour, shortening and salt; cover and process until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. In a small bowl, dissolve sugar in warm water; stir in egg and vanilla. Gradually add to crumb mixture; pulse until dough forms a ball. Cover and let rest for 10 minutes., In a food processor, combine the figs, walnuts, water, grape jelly, orange zest and cinnamon; cover and process until blended. Set aside. , Separate dough into six portions. On a lightly floured surface, roll each portion into a 12x8-in. rectangle (dough will be very thin). Cut into 4x2-in. rectangles. Place a teaspoon of fig mixture on one short side of each rectangle; fold dough over filling. Press edges with a fork to seal. , Place 1 in. apart on ungreased baking sheets. Brush with egg and sprinkle with sugar. Bake at 375° for 15-17 minutes or until golden brown. Remove from pans to wire racks.

HONEY-ROASTED FIGS IN PUFF PASTRY

Steps:

• In a small bowl, mix cream cheese, brown sugar and vanilla. Divide into eight small mounds. Refrigerate 30 minutes or until firm., Meanwhile, preheat oven to 400°. Split vanilla bean lengthwise. Using the tip of a sharp knife, scrape seeds from the center; place in a small microwave-safe bowl. Add honey and balsamic vinegar. Microwave, uncovered, at 80% power for 20 seconds, stir to mix., Slice each fig lengthwise into six slices; place on a parchment paper-lined 15x10x1-in. baking pan. Drizzle with 2 tablespoons honey sauce. Roast 8-10 minutes or until softened. Cool on pan on a wire rack., Unfold one sheet of puff pastry. On a lightly floured surface, roll out pastry just enough to smooth surface. Cut into four equal pieces; trim off corners to round. Cut in about half way from each rounded corner in towards center. Place a cream cheese mound in the center of each. Top with six slices cooled roasted figs; drizzle tops with 1/4 teaspoons honey sauce., In a small bowl, whisk egg with water; brush pastry with egg wash. Fold up 1 "petal" of dough wrapping around filling. Wrap second petal around first one from the opposite side lightly pressing ends to stick. Continue with other two petals. Tuck last two points under "rose" and cup in hand gently to round the base., Place on parchment paper-lined baking sheet. Repeat. Use excess corner trimmings to make leaves and place slightly under and next to roses. Brush outside of pastries with egg wash. Bake 25-30 minutes or until golden brown. Remove to a cooling rack. Place roses on a serving plate; drizzle with re-warmed remaining honey sauce. Top with pistachios; serve warm.