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There is nothing nicer than a fresh, organic, wonderfully sweet fig. Sadly they are not available all year round, so the next best option are dried figs. Figs are very nutritious, great for your health, and can be added to both sweet and savoury dishes.
Figs are the fruit of the Ficus tree, which is a member of the Mulberry family. They can be traced thousands of years ago to Egypt and later to Greece and Rome where they were held in high esteem. Spanish missionaries introduced them to the Americas. Figs come in many varieties and colours, like the pale green/yellow Calimyma with amber flesh, the dark purple Mission with pink flesh and the green Adriatic with tan flesh.
They are a very healthy fruit to add to your five-a-day, whether they are fresh or dried. They are a good source of soluble and insoluble dietary fiber, potassium, manganese, iron, vitamin B6 and calcium. Figs are low in sodium but high in fruit sugars. Internally figs’ potassium helps to control blood pressure, their fiber content is a good weight management aid and also relieves constipation, their calcium helps to promote good bone density and drinking fig juice helps to soothe irritated bronchial passages.. Externally the juice of green figs is said to soften corns, reduce skin pigmentation, and relieve many other skin problems. Fig leaves are said to help diabetic patients reduce their amount of insulin intake.
Note : Figs contain measurable amounts of oxalates. Therefore individuals with kidney or gallbladder problems may want to avoid eating figs.
Fresh Figs are very perishable so only purchase what you intend eating in a few days. Store figs in the fridge. They can also be frozen. Freeze individually then store in a plastic container in the freezer for up to 3 months. Freezing will change the texture and the figs will be much softer when thawed, but will still be very tasty. Some people like to dehydrate any excess figs rather than buy commercially dried figs. If buying commercially dried figs, look for those that are organic, sun-dried, and which have no added sulphites.
Figs are in season in the North at the moment, so those lucky enough to see them in your local shops, pop a few in your basket and enjoy a very tasty treat.
GF Vegan Homemade Fig Roll (newton) recipe.
Chef Jeenas Sweet gluten free pastry (see below)
8oz Dried figs
Note.You can use 4oz Dates (chopped, stones removed) and 4oz dried Apricots (unsulphured) instead of 8oz of figs.
-How to make a Fig Roll
-Dust a large piece of plastic wrap with rice flour.
-Take half of Chef Jeenas sweet gluten free pastry and press it down using your fingers and gently roll out.
-If any gaps occur use your fingers to mould the pastry into shape.
-Place all of the figs or dates and apricots into a blender.
-Blend the fruit by switching the blender on then off again until you end up with a sticky mushy ball of dried fruit.
-Take half of the fruit mixture and roll into a large sausage shape.
-Start to roll the fruit mixture up being careful not to wrap the plastic wrap up with the fruit.
-You can place the fig roll into the fridge for a while before slicing it if you like.
-Slice into 2 inch fig roll biscuits and place onto a greased and floured baking tray.
-Cook in a hot oven at 350F for 10 minutes or until golden.
-Cool on a cooling rack.
Leave to cool completely.
Enjoy Chef Jeenas gluten free fig roll recipe with a cup of tea or coffee.
Sweet Gluten Free Pastry Recipe Recipe
3oz Sunflower margarine
1oz Fine cornmeal flour (fine polenta)
1oz Light brown muscovado sugar
4oz Rice flour
1/2 tsp Vanilla extract
1/2 tsp Xanthan gum
1/2 Tbsp Rapseseed oil or vegetable oil
1/2 tsp Baking powder
2 heaped tsp Cornflour (corn starch)
3oz ground almonds
How to make Gluten Free Sweet Pastry
-Place all ingredients except sugar and butter into a mixer and mix well.
-Add sugar and margarine and blend into a crumbly texture, you can do this by rubbing the mixture together using your fingers tips alternatively.
Add very tiny amounts of water and pulsate the blender little by little until it all clumps together.
Do not pour water in or use large amounts of water or it will turn into a cake batter not a pastry dough.
Roll pastry into a dough ball and cover with plastic wrap and place into the fridge for 30 minutes-2 hours.
Roll out and use for biscuits cookies and pastry.
Because only a small amount of xanthan gum is used in this recipe it may be necessary to use your finger tips to help with the rolling out process.
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An interesting facts about Fig Newton click here
Remember the Fig Newton commercial from the 70’s? LOL
Fig Newton has always been one of my very favorite snack..
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