Thursday, August 25, 2011

Orange and Spice Fig Jam




Last week, one of our local grocery stores chains had a new store grand opening sale with lots of great offers. One of them was a carton of 12 fresh figs for $6.99. Growing up in the Midwest, I don't believe I even ate a fresh fig until I was an adult and the only figs I knew were found in Fig Newtons. More stores here are carry them now when they are in season but they are still quite expensive so this was a great deal. The figs I bought were called Brown Turkey figs and they were quite large compared to other figs I've seen.


I've been seeing lots of fig jam recipes on the internet recently, and knew I had an opportunity to finally try making some with when I saw this sale. The recipe that I decided to try I found on Simply Recipes for Spicy Fig Orange Microwave Jam. I thought - I can do that! The flavors or orange, cinnamon and cloves in the recipe sounded wonderful to me. My figs must have been a lot bigger than those in the recipe so I needed to double all of the ingredients. They did not want to cook down in the microwave and my Pyrex dish was getting so hot I could hardly hold onto it when I stirred the jam. I finished the jam on the stove and next time, I'll skip the microwave altogether!


Even with the recipe not cooperating at first, the jam turned out wonderfully and is so delicious! I've been having some each morning on toasted baguette slices and I know it will be delicious as an appetizer served with brie on crackers too. I'm keeping two jars in the refrigerator and freezing one. While fresh figs are still available, I know I will be making this recipe again soon so I'll have some to enjoy throughout the winter.


Orange and Spice Fig Jam
Inspired by Simply Recipes
Printable Recipe

Note: I doubled these ingredients for my 12 figs and this made 3 jars of jam (1 Mama, 1 Papa, and 1 Baby-sized jar).

1 1/2 cups diced fresh figs
1 1/2 teaspoons grated orange peel
1/2 cup seeded, peeled orange, diced
1 1/2 cups of sugar
3 Tbsp lemon juice
1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon butter

Place all of the ingredients in a large, glass bowl and allow to macerate in the sugar for at least 30 minutes. Turn everything into a heavy saucepan and simmer until reduced and thickened (about 45 minutes on medium low) until everything is reduced by 1/3 to 1/2 original volume, stirring occasionally. Watch carefully that the jam doesn't start to burn on the bottom of the pan. Reduce heat, if necessary.

Pour the jam into jars, leaving 1/4-1/2 inch of headroom from the top of the jars. Refrigerate or freeze.

58 comments:

  1. This recipe sounds amazing. I have one Fig tree planted at our farm in N GA. It has yet to produce any figs but I still hold out hope. I think it is a Brown Turkey too. We rely mostly on the rain at the farm since it is a second home and it has been so hot here in our area that I haven't been up there much. We have lots and lots of other fruit trees as well but none of them had any fruit this year because of such little rain. One day I will have those figs, hopefully.

    Carolyn/A Southerners Notebook

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  2. Susan, I do love good jams and jellies and this one sounds so delicious! I love fresh figs. You bought those at a great price, they were off the charts here when they first arrived in stores. xo,

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  3. Oh Susan:)
    I just prepared a Fig post for next week..
    I was even older than adult the first time I tasted a fresh fig and it was love at first bite..
    Your jam looks soo good! I made some last year w/out the orange and J is still relishing it..(Should be jamming it:) )..

    I love having things in the "Cold Room" that I have made during summer..
    Thanks for the recipe:)

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  4. I hate to admit it but it wasn't until this year that I tried a fresh fig. They were amazing! I don't know why I never got around to it - I know Martha Stewart was really pushing them a few years ago. What a beautiful and luscious fruit and I am sure the jam is the same. Great prices too.

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  5. Don't believe I have ever had a fresh fig, but I bet I would like them. The jam sounds delicious just the sort of flavors to herald in fall. Don't think I would make jam in the microwave -- I can just imagine it bubbling all over the place. I don't see fresh figs in my small town. Joni

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  6. The closest I came to fig growing-up was Fig Newtons too. I grew up in South Florida. Living in North Florida, I am the proud owner of a turkey fig tree. Having fresh figs can be wonderful-if the birds spare a few for you to enjoy.

    Fig jam is perfect for fresh figs. No doubt it was wonderful.

    Another good idea, is take to figs and halve them. Place a little blue cheese and wrap the half in a thin slice of prosciutto, and place under the broiler for a couple of minutes. :-)

    Cheers.
    Velva

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  7. Hmmm, on toasted baguette slices sounds so good. I must send Pat over here so she'll see this recipe. She has a fig tree!

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  8. Sounds like a wonderful jam Susan, gonna share your post with a fig lovin' friend:@)

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  9. I am not a breakfast person, so rarely eat jams/jellies, etc., but that does sound good. Have not had a fresh fig in many years. A market here has Amish made fig preserves and I need to get a jar before the season is over. A neighbor has a fig tree, but others keep the crop cleaned out - at least what the birds don't get first. :D
    Thanks for sharing.

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  10. I have been looking forward to making Fig Jam since our grocery store had samples of a special cheese that they served with the fig jam way back in January.

    I liked it so much I bought a jar of the jam at Home Goods. It is delicious and I can't wait to make my own. I have a couple of recommended recipes and now this one of yours. They all sound good!

    We will be visiting a friend in North Jersey in mid-September who has a fig tree. He mentioned that they should be ripe when we visit. Maybe he will have some extra to share :)

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  11. Susan...I love fresh figs -- we never get them here in Nebraska. I so remember picking them as a child off a tree in our yard in CA -- I am betting the combo of fig and orange is heavenly :)

    Thank goodness I can get dried figs ;)

    Blessings!
    Gail

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  12. Susan, you are so fortunate to find this recipe. Enjoy the fig jam. We first had it when we moved to Florida, made by a friend of our daughters. Fig jam is excellent with a creamy cheese such as goat. Oh....I love it.

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  13. Oh yes! I bet that would be great with brie!
    I was a Fig Newton only gal too, although I think at Tgiving my mom would buy dried figs and dates. I probably wouldn't eat them then though!

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  14. An artist friend of mine inherited an old fig tree when she moved to a house in Brooklyn. Evidently, Italian immigrants planted a lot of them in the area early in the 20th c. Like you, I always thought figs were a luxury item until she gave me a whole grocery bag full and I had to come up with things to make with them! I so wish I had this recipe... great to combine a marmalade and I fig jam in one jar.

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  15. Your fig preserves recipe sounds delicious and different. We were running over with figs a few weeks ago, and our fig crop has finished now.
    I made two large batches using 6 cups of fruit each batch. Mine is just plain fig preserves and we eat is on biscuits or like you...with brie and crackers. I'm saving your recipe for next year. Thanks for sharing and enjoy.

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  16. I wish I came across this recipe a couple of weeks ago. I have 2 fig trees in my yard and we had so much that I kinda give them away, cause I did not know what to do with them. I might take a look and see if the birds left me some so I can make that delicious jam.
    Thank you for sharing:)

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  17. Oh yes, this recipe does sound delish. I thought of you yesterday when I accidentally dropped and broke one of the jars of Habanero Gold Jam that I had to make after spying your amazing photo last year.

    I saw fresh figs recently at Costco, but I didn't buy them. Perhaps I'll give this recipe a try if I see them there again.

    Have a nice weekend.

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  18. Susan this sounds so delicious! Our fig tree is about 7 feet high. We trimmed the top by two feet last year so that we could pass it more easily through our garage door when we put it to rest in winter. The figs rippen at different intervals, so we usually have enough to eat fresh each day for two weeks. I'd love to try this jam so I hope the impending hurricane doesn't destroy our tree :(

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  19. wow this looks amazing I bet you will headed back to get more figs and thanks for adding the twitter icon I often tweet, facebook your recipes easier for me :-)

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  20. This sounds so good! I've been wishing for some fresh figs, but they're hard to find unless you know somebody with a fig bush. If I find some though, I'm definitely making this!

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  21. Several friends grow figs and it's hard to know what to do with them so this is a welcome addition to my file. I'd eat it just as you suggest, on a baguette with brie.

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  22. I have been thinking to make some fig preserves...then you posted this! Now I really hope figs are still available here.

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  23. I love fig jam and we find them occasionally at Costco -- this year I forgot about jam and just bought enough to eat fresh and then didn't get back!!! Sigh -- there is always next year. Your recipe looks really good and I have filed it for next year. I love fig jam and likeyou the only figs I grew up eating were in newtons!

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  24. I finally had a fresh fig a few years ago. I didn't know what I had been missing all these years.

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  25. I have not tried fresh figs, only dried ones! Your jam looks wonderful and something that I would love to try! Have a lovely weekend!

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  26. This is fig season all right. I have a fig post coming up too. We had a large fig tree in the yard when I was growing up and my mom was very creative in the way she used them. This jam sounds delicious, Susan, and I can almost taste it on a cracker with a little goat cheese.

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  27. One of my goals this year is to become a better cook so I've joined your followers Carol. i like the way you have a picture with your recipe. Everything looks so good and healthy! I'm going to make some of your cucumber fridge pickles today. thanks for the inspiration!

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  28. Fresh figs....you are so lucky!! I love them, but they are hard to find. Your jam sounds amazing! Have a great weekend:)

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  29. This jam sounds fantastic! I still need to attempt making homemade jam. I'm sure it beats store bought anyday!

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  30. Susan,
    This sounds like amazing Christmas gifts! Saving it....
    Carol

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  31. The recipe looks amazing Susan. The jam combination of flavour is wonderful as well. Great job.

    Have a great weekend.

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  32. Figs are delcious fresh,I love my fig tree and standing by the tree and eating them one by one when in season. This recipe sounds delicious with the added orange and spices, and your photo's are lovely.I agree a little spread with some fresh soft cheese would be a treat!

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  33. What an amazing combination of ingredients; figs a so special; i never would have thought to make jam with them. Great photo!
    Rita

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  34. I certainly did not grow up eating fresh figs. Love the orange flavors in this. Marvelous presentation.
    Sam

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  35. I certainly did not grow up eating fresh figs. Love the orange flavors in this. Marvelous presentation.
    Sam

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  36. I just loooove figs and this jam sounds divine! Can't wait to try it and thanks for sharing your recipe tweaks too - always appreciate that:) Hope you're having a wonderful weekend - Cheers!

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  37. What a lovely creations. I got both oranges and figs from my in-law's garden and I know what to make when I visit them next time! The figs they have on their trees are huge, almost as big as my palm! I think similar to those that you've got. Thanks for the warning of not making them in the microwave. I'll definitely give this recipe a try. Have a wonderful Sunday.

    Amy

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  38. Susan, this looks amazing ! I print the recipe ! I love fresh figs and I'm sure that would be great with cheese ! Have a lovely Sunday, a hug...

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  39. Wonderful comments, thank you! I am envious of those of you who have your own fig trees.

    Velva, thank you for the great fig appetizer idea.

    Deana, leave it to you to offer the historical perspective :)

    Pat, if I ever see a fig tree for sale, I'm going to try your idea!

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  40. I made fig jam last year and it was SO good. I only got a few jars but my family loved it! I love your recipe and I am going to try it this year... My son has a fig tree and the figs are almost ready! Whoo hoo!

    I'm inspired!
    Rainey @ The Project Table

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  41. This jam looks delicious! I'm sure it smells divine while cooking too. I've never made anything with fresh figs...perhaps I should try this. I do enjoy great jams, jellies and preserves. Thanks for sharing!

    Pat

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  42. This jam looks delicious! I'm sure it smells divine while cooking too. I've never made anything with fresh figs...perhaps I should try this. I do enjoy great jams, jellies and preserves. Thanks for sharing!

    Pat

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  43. I think this might taste great over chicken too. I love the ingredients... so intriguing! I just saw figs in my grocers but pass them up because, like you, I did not eat them and sorta don't know quite what to do with them.
    This recipe looks like it is worth a try. It just screams fall to me!
    Thanks for bringing your gourmet jam to ON THE MENU MONDAY! YUMMY!
    Yvonne

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  44. Nothing better than a great homemade jam!

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  45. I think fresh figs are an expensive find wherever you live, but turning them into jam is the perfect way to make them last and to really appreciate them for days on end! This looks so delicious...perfectly spiced!

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  46. What a wonderful combination for jam. This is a great recipe and looks delicious. Hope you are having a great week and thank you so much for sharing with Full Plate Thursday.
    Come Back Soon!
    Miz Helen

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  47. This jam looks awesome! I adore figs, but they are usually so expensive. I'm jealous of your great deal!

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  48. I love fresh figs..they are so expensive, tho, I seldom have them. If ever I find a deal like yours, I'll grab them.
    Your jam looks sooo good.

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  49. I'm envisioning this on a cheese tray. We always had fresh figs when we lived in the south. Now we rely on Whole Foods and, sometimes, Costco. I have a neighbor who has a fig tree that she hauls into her family room every winter. That is fig dedication!!

    Best,
    Bonnie

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  50. Looks very enticing.
    Thanks for sharing the recipe.

    Cassy from Learn How To Read Tablature

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  51. Wow, what a wonderful combination of flavors for a jam. This is making me seriously crave fall! I bet the aroma is just as nice as the taste, too. Thanks for sharing!

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  52. Oh Susan...I love fresh fig, which we used to eat very often back in Brazil...and just recently I was introduced to fig jam, and loved it! I like the idea of orange with figs, if only I could find fresh figs...
    Hope you are having a fantastic week :-)

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  53. I love figs....my parents have about 10 fig trees...so for a week it seems like there is an endless supply...then they are gone...the ones you find in supermarkets are huge...this recipe sounds great.

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  54. Oh, this looks so wonderful. How lucky you are to have figs. I am incredibly jealous.

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  55. I just finished making a triple batch and I can say without a doubt that this is delicious! I am making a pork tenderloin for this weeks lunches and or dinners that I think will pair beautifully with these flavors on a sandwich or maybe as a relish with a slice of the pork and some sort of mashed or roasted potatoes.
    Thank you ever so much for a wonderful recipe!

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    Replies
    1. Yay! So glad you liked it! Julie! What a wonderful idea to use it with pork! Thanks so much for letting me know!

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  56. I just found this again and am going to give it a try. My daughter has found me several sources for figs so I am deep in fruit! I will try this recipe tomorrow, as this evening I'm doing a plain and very traditional water-bath recipe. I'll use it for cooking.

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    Replies
    1. It will be a wonderful weekend project, H! I wish I could find some lovely, fresh figs to make another batch myself :) I hope you love it as much as I do.

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