Southern Fig Preserves Recipes

SOUTHERN FIG PRESERVES RECIPE

Steps:

• To make fig preserves, start by slicing the stems off of the figs and give the figs a rinse. Add the figs to a stock pot and add the sugar. Mash the sugar and figs together. Add the water, lemon juice, ginger, and salt and stir to combine.
• Over medium heat bring to a simmer. Turn the heat down to medium low and continue to simmer for two hours, stirring constantly. Cover but leave the lid cracked for evaporation during cooking.
• The last half hour while the figs cook boil enough water to sanitize five 1/2 pint (8 oz.) mason jars, lids, and rings. When the jars are prepared, allow to cool enough for handling - add your cooked fig preserves, filling to the top. Add the lid and ring and close tightly. Add the filled jars back to the water bath and process for 15 minutes. Remove and allow to cool completely. Be sure to tighten lids after cooling as they tend to loosen during the cool down.
• Refrigerate the preserves after they've cooled completely. Enjoy the preserves as a spread, a topping, or use it as a filling for pocket pies.

SOUTHERN FIG PRESERVES

Steps:

• Combine the whole figs, sugar, and lemon juice in a large saucepan.
• Cook and stir until the sugar is dissolved and the juice is as thick as desired (Grandma uses a candy thermometer and stops at the soft-ball stage).
• Pour the mixture into hot, sterilized canning jars, cap, and store.
• *Can also be used in homemade jam cakes.
• *.

FIG PRESERVES

Steps:

• Place the orange zest and orange juice in a medium (10-inch) heavy-bottomed pot or Dutch oven, such as Le Creuset. Add the sugar, vanilla bean, and figs to the pot. Cover and bring to a full boil over medium heat. (Don't worry; it may look dry.) Stir the mixture and boil hard for 1 minute, stirring to dissolve the sugar. Lower the heat, and cook uncovered at a full simmer for 50 minutes to 1 hour 15 minutes, stirring occasionally. You want the little bubbles to be throughout the pot, not just at the edges. After 45 minutes, refrigerate a small amount of the liquid to see if it becomes syrupy. It should be like a soft fruit preserve. Keep cooking just until the liquid starts to gel when cold. If the liquid is too firm, add a little orange juice or water, cook for a minute, and test it again until it's right. Depending on how ripe the figs are, they will probably keep their shape, but it's fine if they don't. Discard the vanilla bean and serve or refrigerate.

STRAWBERRY FIG PRESERVES

Steps:

• Mix figs and sugar together in a large saucepan, place over medium heat, and cook, stirring often, until sugar has dissolved. Mix in strawberry gelatin; bring the mixture to a boil and boil for 7 minutes. Mash preserves with a potato masher if desired.
• Sterilize the jars and lids in boiling water for at least 5 minutes. Pack the fig preserves into the hot, sterilized jars, filling the jars to within 1/4 inch of the top. Run a knife or a thin spatula around the insides of the jars after they have been filled to remove any air bubbles. Wipe the rims of the jars with a moist paper towel to remove any food residue. Top with lids and screw on rings.
• Place a rack in the bottom of a large stockpot and fill halfway with water. Bring to a boil and lower jars into the boiling water using a holder. Leave a 2-inch space between the jars. Pour in more boiling water if necessary to bring the water level to at least 1 inch above the tops of the jars. Bring the water to a rolling boil, cover the pot, and process for 10 minutes.
• Remove the jars from the stockpot and place onto a cloth-covered or wood surface, several inches apart, until cool. Once cool, press the top of each lid with a finger, ensuring that the seal is tight (lid does not move up or down at all). Store in a cool, dark area.

OLD FASHIONED SOUTHERN STYLE FIG PRESERVES

Steps:

• Try to select figs of equal ripeness. Wash.
• Cut stems a wee bit around, do not expose inside of figs. If extra ripe, don't worry, just get stem.
• Sugar is measure for measure but I like it rounded for figs. So not quite equal measure.
• Put sugar over figs (and lemon slices). Cover. Put aside until morning. (If you cook right away keep your heat low to begin with.) (Water added here.) Water different for juice. I'd say if over night, it will turn into juice so you won't add much then. If cooking right away, try 1/4 measured to fig measure. I like to have juice to cover figs in jars. Left over juice can be used for another cooking of figs.
• Cook slowly. Makes better figs & syrup. Might be longer cooking. You judge by your syrup thickness. Keep boiling gently. Your bubbles will show a good syrup. Little water can be added if juice gets low. Sometimes 2 or so hours. Try a fig.
• Put in jars but don't seal. Place in hot water bath. Cook until sealed. Will Pop.

SOUTHERN FIG PRESERVES

Steps:

• In a wide, heavy-bottomed, nonreactive pot, layer the figs with the lemon slices, sugar, sliced ginger, and lemon juice.
• Cover and refrigerate at least 4 hours or overnight.
• The next day, add the cup of water and cover the pot with a lid .
• Bring the fig mixture to a simmer over medium heat. Turn the figs down to low and slow cook covered for 1 hour. (watch carefully)
• After the figs have cooked covered for 1 hour, vent the lid and cook for another 1/2 hour with the lid vented. ( or until the figs are translucent and the syrup has thickened.)
• Transfer the fig mixture(with the lemon and ginger) to sterilized jars and refrigerate
• or process for 5 minutes in a water-bath canner to store on the shelf.

FIG PRESERVES

Steps:

• In a medium saucepan, mix figs and sugar together and cook on low heat, uncovered, about 30 minutes.
• If processing, pour hot preserves mixture into a hot, sterile 1-quart or 2 (1-pint) glass canning jars, filling jar to within 1/8-inch from top; wipe rim and seal jar with lid. Put jar in water-bath canner or on rack set in a deep kettle and cover with hot water by 1 to 2 inches. Bring to a gentle simmer (180 to 185 degrees), and process, covered, 5 minutes. Transfer jar to a rack using tongs and let cool completely. Store in a cool, dark place.

FIG PRESERVES CAKE

Steps:

• Combine first 8 ingredients in a large mixing bowl; add oil and eggs, beating at medium speed with an electric mixer until blended.
• Add buttermilk and vanilla, beating well.
• Stir in preserves and pecans.
• Pour batter into a greased and floured 10-inch tube pan.
• Bake at 350 for 1 hour and 10 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean.
• Cool in a pan on a wire rack 10 minutes.
• Remove from pan and place on a serving plate.
• Pour buttermilk glaze over cake while both are still warm.
• For Buttermilk Glaze: Bring sugar, baking soda, buttermilk, butter and corn syrup to a boil in a Dutch oven over medium heat.
• Boil 4 minutes, stirring constantly until glaze is golden.
• Remove from heat, stir in vanilla.
• Cool slightly.
• Yield: 1/2 cups.

JUDY REED'S FIG PRESERVES

Steps:

• Trim stem ends and rinse figs. Put into a heavy-bottomed saucepan with sugar, lemon slices and 1 cup water. Simmer over low heat, stirring occasionally, until a thick syrup forms.
• Transfer hot figs to 2 sterilized 1-pint Mason-type jars, top with sterilized lids and seal in a hot-water bath according to the jar manufacturer's directions. Cool and store in a dark place.