Spiced Figs In Port Recipes

FIGS IN PORT

Steps:

• Remove the stems from the figs and cut them in half lengthwise.
• Place a 10-inch stainless-steel or enamel-coated saucepan over medium-high heat until hot but not smoking. Sprinkle the sugar evenly over the surface. It will melt right away and begin to caramelize and smoke. Immediately place the figs, cut side down, onto the caramelizing sugar. Reduce the heat to low and let the figs cook for 2 to 3 minutes. Do not stir or toss or turn the figs. The figs will naturally release their own juices which will dissolve the sugar.
• Carefully add the port to the saucepan. Keep the pan over low heat until the caramel melts completely and begins to coat the figs. Add the peppercorns, first enclosing them in a tea ball or cheesecloth, if desired. Use heat-resistant tongs to flip the figs over and cook for 2 to 3 minutes more. Transfer the figs to a platter, cut side up, and cover to keep warm.
• Return the pan to medium heat for 3 to 5 minutes, using a heat-resistant rubber spatula to stir and occasionally scrape the bottom to pull up all the caramel and peppercorn goodness that may be stuck there. Remove and discard the peppercorn via the tea ball or cheesecloth or a slotted spoon. The port sauce should be deep purple, thick, and velvety. Remove the pan from the heat.
• Drizzle the warm figs with the port sauce and serve immediately.

FIGS IN BLANKETS WITH PORT-MUSTARD SAUCE

Steps:

• Place figs in a 2-quart saucepan, add port, bring to a simmer, remove from heat and let soak, covered but not refrigerated, overnight.
• Make the dough: Cut the frozen butter in 8 pieces and grate using a shredding disc of a food processor. Change to the regular blade. Add the flour and pulse 15 or 20 times, until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Add the sour cream and pulse for a minute or so until the dough starts to come together.
• Turn the dough out on a floured surface and knead briefly to form a smooth ball. Divide the dough in half and flatten each piece. Place each in a resealable sandwich bag, press out any air, seal the bag and use a rolling pin to roll the bag until the dough fills the bag, forming a square. Refrigerate 2 hours or overnight.
• Drain figs, reserving the port; you should have about a half cup of the port. Spread figs on several layers of paper towel to dry for about 30 minutes. Return the port to the saucepan and boil 6 to 8 minutes until syrupy and reduced to 1/4 cup. Remove from heat and set aside. Cut a slit in each of the figs and insert a small nugget of the cheese, less than a half-inch, in each.
• Remove the dough from their bags by cutting the bags and peeling them off. On a lightly floured board roll one square of the dough into a rectangle 8-by-12 inches. Cut it in 8 strips each an inch wide, across the width of the rectangle. Cut each strip in thirds. You should have 24 pieces, each 1-by-4 inches. Wrap 24 of the figs in the strips of dough, moistening the ends to seal. Cover a baking sheet with foil. Place the wrapped figs on the baking sheet, seam side down. Repeat with the other square of dough and figs.
• Make the sauce: Stir the mustard into the reduced port and transfer to a serving dish. This mixture will keep, refrigerated in a covered container, at least three weeks.
• Heat oven to 350 degrees. Bake wrapped figs about 35 minutes, until golden. Some of the figs may have oozed residue of the port which can be brushed off. Serve the baked figs at once or let cool and refrigerate or freeze. To reheat, let them come to room temperature, then warm at 250 degrees for 15 minutes. Serve with port-mustard sauce alongside for dipping.

SPICED FIGS IN PORT

Steps:

• Rinse figs, cover with water and simmer 20 minutes. Drain, reserving the liquid. Return one cup of the cooking liquid to the pan, along with the remaining ingredients and simmer briefly, just until the sugar dissolves.
• Return figs to the pan and simmer 10 minutes longer. Cover and allow to stand overnight in syrups.
• Transfer to clean jars or containers and refrigerate or reheat to boiling, transfer to clean, hot, 16-ounce canning jars, process 15 minutes in a boiling water bath and seal with new lids according to manufacturer's directions.

FIGS POACHED IN PORT

Steps:

• Combine the port sugar, vanilla pods and seeds, cinnamon, orange peel and peppercorns in a large saucepan. Bring to a boil and reduce the heat. Simmer until the liquid has the consistency of a light syrup, about 20 minutes. You will have about 1 1/2 cups of syrup. Add the figs and simmer for 15 to 20 minutes. Turn off the heat and cool the figs in the syrup. Serve the figs in a bowl with their juices spooned over.

POACHED FIGS IN SPICED HONEY SYRUP

Steps:

• Combine water, sugar and honey in heavy large skillet. Stir over low heat until sugar and honey dissolve. Add allspice, cloves and juniper berries. Bring to simmer. Add figs, cover and simmer until figs are just tender, about 20 minutes. Using slotted spoon, transfer figs to bowl. Chill until cold.
• Bring cooking liquid to boil. Boil until reduced to syrup consistency, about 5 minutes. Strain. Cool.
• Arrange figs in dessert goblets. Drizzle syrup over. Garnish with mint and serve.

ROASTED FIGS AND NUTS WITH PORT REDUCTION

Steps:

• In saucepan heated to medium, combine port, sugar, cracked pepper and mint, and simmer until consistency of syrup, about 30 minutes. Remove from heat and let cool.
• Preheat oven to 415 degrees F. Cut figs in half, from top to bottom. Line a baking sheet with a large sheet of Reynolds Wrap® Aluminum Foil. Fold up the sheet in the center to create a barrier, splitting the sheet into two sides. On one half, place figs cut side up, and top each with about 1/2 teaspoon of goat cheese.
• Toss the nuts in a bowl with butter, salt, pepper and chili powder. Spread in single layer on the other side of the foil-lined pan. Roast 10 minutes. Keep an eye on the nuts so they don't burn.
• To serve, chop the nuts and sprinkle bits on the figs. Drizzle figs and nuts with port reduction.

BAKED FIGS IN PORT

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F.
• Prick each fig with a fork in a few places and place them in a single layer standing on end in a shallow baking dish.
• Pour wine over.
• Bake, basting often with wine, until figs are puffed and tender, 25-30 minutes.
• To serve, arrange 3 figs in a serving dish.
• Spoon a little of the wine over and drizzle each serving with 1/2 teaspoon of honey, or more, to taste.
• Garnish with raspberries and pass the whipped cream.

GRILLED PORK SAUSAGES WITH SPICED FIGS

Steps:

• Stir first 5 ingredients in heavy medium saucepan. Let stand 30 minutes. Stir over low heat until sugar dissolves. Bring to boil; reduce heat to mediumlow and simmer until figs are softened and vinegar is slightly syrupy, about 45 minutes. Mix water and cornstarch in small bowl; stir into fig mixture. Boil and stir to thicken slightly, about 1 minute. Let stand 1 hour. DO AHEAD: Fig sauce can be made 1 day ahead. Cover and chill.
• Prepare barbecue (medium heat). Grill sausages until browned and cooked through, turning frequently, about 15 minutes. Remove from grill. Holding sausage with tongs, cut in half lengthwise. Repeat with remaining sausages. Grill sausages, cut side down, until browned, about 3 minutes.
• Place 1 sausage half on each plate. Divide figs among plates, about 3 per serving. Drizzle sauce over and serve.

SPICED FIGS POACHED IN WINE

Steps:

• In a large saucepan, combine the first eight ingredients. Stir in figs. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 35-45 minutes or until the figs are tender. Remove figs and set aside., Bring poaching liquid to a boil; cook until liquid is reduced to about 1/2 cup. Strain into a small bowl; add figs. Cool. Serve with ice cream or yogurt if desired.

SPICED POACHED FIGS

Steps:

• Combine wine, sugar, lemon peel, peppercorns, cinnamon stick, bay leaves, thyme, ginger, star anise, and cardamom in a small, deep saucepan. Place pan over medium-high heat, and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low, and simmer 10 minutes. Cover, and simmer 20 minutes more.
• Add whole figs to the syrup; return to a simmer, cover, and poach gently until the figs are soft but not mushy, 10 to 15 minutes. Transfer figs and syrup to a bowl, and let stand to cool, until no more steam rises. When cool, cover the bowl with plastic wrap, and refrigerate overnight.
• Combine mascarpone and confectioners' sugar in a medium mixing bowl. Slit vanilla bean lengthwise, and, using a small paring knife, scrape out the seeds into the bowl with the mascarpone mixture. Stir together with a spoon or rubber spatula until well combined.
• Remove chilled figs from the refrigerator, and let stand until room temperature. Transfer figs to another bowl, and strain syrup, discarding the solids.
• Place 2 figs, sliced in half, in the center of each plate. Spoon some of the poaching liquid to cover plate, and place a dollop of vanilla mascarpone next to figs.

SPICED FIGS

Steps:

• Sprinkle soda over figs, pour boiling water over figs and allow to stand for 5 minutes.
• Drain.
• Mix syrup ingredients.
• Lemon chunks may be added (I don't use).
• Whole Ginger may be used also (I don't use).
• Bring to boil, add figs and boil for 10 minutes.
• Boil figs in syrup 10 minutes for 3 days.
• On 3rd day can in sterilized jars.
• Note: for 12 quarts of figs, use 10 pounds of sugar.