Description

Dried figs are a very tasty and healthy exotic delicacy, the calorie content of which is quite low, which cannot be said about the beneficial properties. Even though the fruit is heat-treated, it retains most of its beneficial properties. Let's take a closer look at them!
The benefits of dried figs for the human body is that its regular use will help to improve the functioning of the stomach and get rid of problems with the digestive system, as well as help this delicacy to eradicate diseases of the heart and blood vessels. In addition, thanks to the beneficial trace elements and vitamins that are part of dried figs, this product is very useful for the prevention of hypertension, as well as for proper blood formation.
As for harm, figs can inflict it only if such a fruit is consumed in too large quantities, and it is also not recommended for people suffering from diabetes. Also, you can not eat fresh, dried or dried figs for those who are allergic to this product.

You can make your own dried figs and store them in a suitable dry place throughout the winter, but for this you need some of the ingredients listed on this page and our step-by-step photo recipe with which you can easily prepare such a yummy at home.

Ingredients

Dried figs - recipe

Of course, the first thing you need to do is prepare the main ingredient, that is, the figs. You can buy it in a store or market, or grow it yourself. However, you should know that such a miracle grows only under certain conditions, but that's another story.

Cut the figs in half, after washing the fruit itself with running water. In the event that the fruits are small enough, you can not cut them, but simply pierce them with a needle or a toothpick in some places so that the peel does not burst.

Place the figs in a bowl or any other suitable container, sprinkling sugar over the fruit. You need a little granulated sugar, just for the figs to start juicing. Infused fruits must be refrigerated for a whole day.

While the fruit is infusing, you can prepare the syrup. You can use any suitable container to prepare it. In our case, it was a Turkish coffee maker, since it is very convenient to prepare syrup in it. Put three hundred milliliters of water into a container and add the same amount of sugar. Put the container on fire and cook until it boils and the sugar is completely dissolved.

When the sugar has melted and the syrup is boiling, you can start dipping the figs into it one by one. You don't need to keep the fruit in the syrup for long. It will take a minute or even less for the figs to change color, after which you can transfer them to a plate and dip another fruit into a container with syrup.

Wait until the liquid drains from the figs, after which you can put them on the trays of an electric dryer, which will be needed in order to properly wilt the fruit. They should be laid out on a pallet with the peel down, so that if juice remains in the fruit, it does not flow out.

It is necessary to dry figs in an electric dryer until dried for two to three hours. You can check its readiness by pressing your finger on the fruit pulp: if it is firm enough, the surface is not sticky and the juice does not flow out when pressed, then the dried figs are ready. You can store the treat in jars or containers in a cool place throughout the winter.

Who doesn't like the taste of figs? And it doesn't matter at all whether it is fresh or dried, its unsurpassed taste can shade any exotic fruit. Speaking of fruits. Did you guess that figs are not even a fruit at all? And not even a berry! This is a fig flower, which is commonly called a wine berry.

Figs contain a lot of useful substances, without which our body cannot exist - iron, calcium, fiber ... This exotic fruit retains its sweet taste even in a dried state and does not let it go for many months. The main thing is to know how to dry figs properly.

There are several drying methods, each of which will help you stock up on vitamins and minerals for the winter.

For the drying process, you need to pick up ripe fruits. The main sign of fruit ripeness is that it must fall under the tree itself. So, we thoroughly wash the fruits, remove all damaged areas. Remember that already in dried form, we will not have the opportunity to peel the figs.

Now let's decide - you want to prepare sweet figs or with a natural taste. If you prefer the sweet taste of dried figs, then it is worth doing some preliminary manipulation.

Pour 3 cups of water into a saucepan and bring to a boil. Add a glass of sugar, stir and boil the prepared figs in the resulting sugar syrup for 7-10 minutes. Stir the fruits regularly with a wooden spatula during cooking. Discard the boiled berries in a colander and dry each of them thoroughly. The figs are now ready for drying.

Drying in the sun

Put the washed and dried fruits on a wire rack. During the drying process, the figs will attract insects with their sweet scent. Therefore, wrap the grate with a layer of gauze to protect the fruit from dust and insects. Set the wire rack so that air can flow to the fruit from all sides.

To speed up the drying process, the figs are cut in half with a sharp knife and placed on the wire rack with the cut top.

The duration of the drying process in the sun is 4-6 days. Then string the fruits on a strong thread and take them to a shady place to dry.

Drying in the oven

To properly dry the fruit of a fig tree in the oven, you need to follow some rules.

Put the dried fruits on the oven rack.

Important! Never place figs on a baking sheet. For the fruits to dry properly, they need to provide air access from all sides! If your oven grate has large holes, you can cover it with a layer of cheesecloth.

1. Turn the oven on to a minimum and leave the door ajar.
2. Turn the fruit every 2 hours.
3. The duration of the drying procedure in the oven is 2-3 days.

Drying in an electric dryer

The electric dryer can significantly shorten the drying process, while the dried figs retain their juiciness and acquire a beautiful golden color.

1. Cut the figs in half and place on a towel to help remove any excess liquid after blanching.
2. Spread the halves of the fig tree evenly on all the trays of the dryer.
3. If you have small fruits, then the drying time is no more than 10 hours.
4. Large fruits should be dried for a longer time.

Storing dried figs

You can store properly dried figs in bags made of thick cloth or paper. This will help them retain their juiciness and taste, and prevent the formation of mold.

If a white bloom forms on the dryers, then do not be afraid of it - it is just crystallized glucose, which gives the fig a sweet taste.

Do not store dried figs in a damp room.

We offer you to get acquainted with an interesting video about drying figs in an electric dryer.

How to dry figs at home? The question for residents of the southern regions is not relevant. But for those who, returning from a vacation at sea, took with them a bucket of ripe delicious figs, our article will come in handy. Because you won't have time to eat them anyway. Figs begin to deteriorate as early as 3 days at room temperature. In the refrigerator - for 5 days.

Frozen figs, when thawed, turn into a slippery unappetizing mass. Therefore, drying is the best way to store figs. By the way, dried figs in the freezer can lie quietly for up to 2 years. In room conditions, it can be stored for up to 10 months. And processed with sugar syrup and dried - only 30 days. But first things first.

How to prepare figs for drying

In principle, nothing complicated or abstruse is required. The fruits must be sorted out. Crumpled or beaten off to eat immediately. Scratched can also be eaten. Or prepare for drying.

The next step is the mandatory washing of the fruit. Someone will say that in the south, figs are not washed before drying. Well, they collect them from under the tree and immediately drag them to dry. And you drove several thousand kilometers. And in general, do not run out! Wash, to whom I speak! From childhood, they taught: everything that you put into your mouth, everything needs to be washed. And still not to admire dried figs, you will eat it.

Then the fruits are dried on a sieve or an old thick towel. Kitchen paper will work too. Just do not rub the figs while washing, and trying to remove the remaining water after. Too thin and delicate skin is easily damaged even by simple pressing. Let the water dry on its own.

Figs can be dried whole or cut into halves or quarters. The shape does not affect the final result, the taste does not change either. The principle of personal preference and aesthetic perception operates here. For example, a purely feminine "I wanted it that way, that's why I cut it." As convenient, they do it.

Council. When buying figs, know that yellow is better for drying, and purple is better for jam.

Where to dry figs

In the southern regions, this question does not arise. The climate itself is favorable for drying outside in hot sunlight. In the middle lane and to the north, such heat may not be seen. But, if the weather is clear and unusually warm, then you can try this method.

To begin with, prepare a grate. Any henchman. It is very important that the figs are blown with fresh air from below and from above. If you put them on a baking sheet, then the fruit may simply ferment or begin to rot. Figs are laid out on the wire rack and placed in a sunny, well-ventilated place.

It is advisable to cover the entire structure with a thin non-woven material or thick gauze. And from below too. Wasps, fruit flies and a whole bunch of insects also love to taste the sweet pulp. Such tricks are needed from them.

The drying process lasts about 5 days, with breaks overnight. By the way, in the evening the grate must be removed into the house. You never know, it will rain or the dew will settle. Excess moisture is a big hindrance in your business.

Some sources recommend boiling the figs in boiling sugar syrup for 10 seconds and then defining them for drying. Ostensibly for better color preservation. I consider this activity pointless, because all dried figs are the same light brown color.

Unless the procedure will help to prevent putrefactive processes or prevent fermentation. True, such candied fruit is stored for a very short time.

Council. Try to make half of the workpieces with boiling sugar syrup, and the other half without. At the same time, compare the tastes.

What to do to those whom the sun does not favor with hot rays even in summer? There is an exit. Even two. Choose any suitable one.

For the happy owners of a home dryer. Whole figs or cut into halves (quarters) are laid out on the grates. The temperature is set no higher than + 65 ° С. Because the sugar in the pulp caramelizes at higher temperatures and can change the final taste of the finished product.

By the way, the incomprehensible white bloom on dried figs is the sugar that has come out.

Drying time is approximately 6-8 hours. It all depends on the degree of load and the power of your device. Readiness is checked visually. Fruits decrease in size, acquire a light brown hue. When pressed, it is felt that the skin has become dense and elastic.

There are recommendations to flatten the figs to a flat shape. This is not necessary at all. Because this is done in the case of large-scale blanks. Flattening saves space, such figs are put on a string and hung up for storage.

If you have to dry a small amount, then you can store the figs in their usual form without further manipulation.

Just don't ask where to store a bucket of dried figs at home. Only a third of your bucket will remain (fruits greatly decrease in volume and weight), and you will definitely find where to attach it.

Council. Cut open the dried fruit. If there is no visible juice, then you have dried it correctly.

And if there is no sun and electric dryer? What to do with the remaining figs? Dry, of course! Only in the oven. Whole or cut does not matter. The main thing is on the bars again. A tray or baking sheet will allow the fruit to bake before drying begins. And we don't need it.

We set the lowest temperature regime. Ideally + 60 ° C. But sometimes the minimum temperature is higher, the models of ovens are different. In this case, you will have to turn the blanks more often so that they do not burn. And in any case, be sure to leave the door ajar so that the evaporating moisture has the opportunity to freely go outside. It is difficult to accurately name the drying time, it all depends on the degree of heating of the oven. On average, it turns out about 8 hours.

Readiness is also determined as described above. We check with handles for elasticity and rigidity, with eyes for color and with a knife for juiciness.

Council. Allow dried fruit to cool completely before storing. Otherwise, condensation will appear, and with it mold.

How to dry figs at home? Everything is very simple. It is important not to delay, otherwise the fruit will spoil. And so you can drag a wonderful delicacy from your own freezer for a long time.

Video: how to choose the right dried figs

As you know, the fruits of the fig tree are beneficial, since they have a large amount of nutrients and vitamins, among them: beta-carotene, vitamin C, A, E, B vitamins (B, B1, B2, B6, B12), carbohydrates, sugar, starch, fatty acids, fiber. Dry fruit holds the record among all oriental fruits in terms of the composition of minerals: potassium, magnesium, sodium, calcium, phosphorus, iron. Minerals carry out metabolic processes. Beta-carotene, which is rich in figs, has a positive effect on the human body, providing immunostimulating and wound-healing effects.

B vitamins take part in the work of the brain, bones, skin, circulatory system, and are essential for the functioning of the human body every day.

Figs are widely used in cosmetology. On the basis of the fruits, useful face masks are produced that improve the structure and appearance of the skin.

The benefits of dried figs

Fig-based nourishing masks are prepared mainly for loose and split ends. Fruit-based ointments for skin and nails are very effective and have undoubted benefits. In cooking, this berry is used to make sweet desserts. The fruit has a lot of sugar in its composition, so it is very high in calories, there are more than 200 calories per 100 grams. It is necessary to take the dried fruit with caution for people with diabetes mellitus, suffering from diseases of the pancreas, with gastritis and with weight loss.

The fig tree (another name for figs) is useful for the work of all organs and systems of the human body:

• improves bowel function, thanks to fatty acids;
• accelerates metabolic processes in the digestive organs;
• positively affects the composition of the blood and the process of hematopoiesis;
• improves liver function and lowers blood cholesterol levels;
• lowers body temperature with acute respiratory infections and flu;
• is a powerful antioxidant, the benefit is that it prevents oxidative processes in the human body.

Fig, the beneficial properties of which have been proven, serves as the basis for the production of medicines for the treatment of diseases of the liver, kidneys, cardiovascular diseases and diseases of the circulatory system.

Useful properties of figs

In addition, dried figs have laxative properties. You can cook it yourself at home. How to dry figs?

1. Figs dried in an electric dryer. Once in hand, fresh fruit can be dried in a very short time, while retaining its beneficial properties and excellent taste. An electric dryer will help with this. First you need to pick up the most elastic and slightly immature fruits that do not have mechanical damage. The fruits are washed, twigs removed, cut in a convenient way and laid out on an electric dryer. Dried for 5 to 8 hours at a temperature of 60 degrees. To prepare dried figs in syrup, clean fruits are covered with sugar, in a proportion of 1 kg. sugar 400-500 gr. When the fruits give off juices (after about 6-7 hours), they are laid out on an electric dryer. The syrup is rolled up in jars and used to make desserts and other dishes. Figs, under the influence of drying, become hard, therefore they are well suited for preparing powder for dishes, shavings, compotes and drinks, but they can also be eaten simply dried. Store dry figs in solid containers: jars, eggplants, boxes, under a tightly closed lid.
2. Figs, dried in the oven. To get dried fruit at home, you can use the oven. This is a more affordable method than an electric dryer. How to dry figs in the oven? The washed clean fruits are separated from the stem and peeled, cut into 2 parts and laid out on a dry baking sheet covered with parchment. The sheet is placed in an oven preheated at 40-50 degrees for 4-5 hours. When the figs are golden brown, they can be removed from the oven. Figs are ready to eat. Dried figs in the oven produce wonderful compotes with a smoked berry flavor. The drink turns out to be incredibly tasty and healthy, you do not need to put sugar there, it is better to add lemon. The taste of dried figs is very high, therefore, it is served in expensive restaurants as an addition to desserts, and as a separate dish. How to store dried figs in the oven? Fruits should be placed in well-ventilated vessels: in boxes, in jars, in boxes, wrapped in paper, put in bags, bags or bags, except for cellophane. It is better to use containers made from natural materials.
3. To get dried figs, you need to steam it, that is, make a dried fruit from the fruit. Clean fruits from legs and peel, cut in the middle, so that air and temperature fully affect the fruit. It is necessary to steam dry for at least 2-3 hours, then remove and string on special sticks to allow to dry. The properties of figs are such that in the process of drying, it increases in its volume several times. The dried fruit has a very sweet and slightly sugary taste, because during cooking at a low temperature, it retains its properties as much as possible, which is very useful for both adults and children. What can you do to get rid of the sugary taste? Professional culinary experts recommend eating fig tree fruit with hard cheese or tomatoes. You can add herbs such as thyme, mint or lemon balm, which bind and eliminate the cloying taste of the fruit. To store dried fruit for a long time, you need to string the finished fruit on a stick or bunch. This ensures the circulation of air around the fruits and prevents them from spoiling.
4. Plain dried figs. The washed and peeled fruits are strung on a stick or bunch, wrapped with gauze or a thin, clean cloth and dried in the sun, in a dry place away from moisture. This is a lengthy way to prepare dried fruit. Figs dried in this way are extremely useful for humans. As it is written in ancient Egyptian manuscripts, it was in this way, at home, that figs were dried in antiquity.
5. Dried figs on a string. In order to dry the fruit in a natural way and maintain a high amount of beneficial properties and substances, you first need to prepare the fig itself: you need to choose slightly unripe fruits, since they will ripen in a few days on their own. Wash the fruits thoroughly and let the water drain, lightly dry on a towel. Then, you need to pick up the threads on which the fruit will be strung. For this, it is best to use threads made from natural materials: cotton, wool or silk. Well suited and very easy to use for drying silk threads. The fruits need to be squeezed so that they become flat, and strung on a thread with a needle, piercing the fruit in the middle. The thread does not need to be loaded. For 1 meter of silk thread, no more than 20-45 fruits are placed, since the fruit is quite heavy in weight. Hang the finished fruit strung on a thread in the place of drying: on the balcony, outdoors, under a canopy, in well-ventilated places. Be sure to cover with a thin layer of cloth or gauze without creating a vacuum or disrupting the air circulation process. Dried figs retain their beneficial properties. Dried fig tree fruit retains useful properties and is equivalent to fresh fruit in terms of the composition of nutrients. Dried fruits are used to make stewed fruit, desserts, preserves and jams.

Dried figs in the oven

Dried fruits are widely used in the treatment of diseases of the gastrointestinal tract and liver, as well as in the treatment of diseases of the kidneys and adrenal glands, it is recommended to replace sugar with dried or dried figs.

A fig flower or fruit is a product that has a huge amount of beneficial compounds, vitamins and trace elements.

It contains potassium, magnesium, iron, calcium, and figs contain much more fiber than any other vegetable or fruit. And if you are lucky enough to buy or harvest a good harvest of fresh figs, you should know how to prepare them. You can make jam, but it is easier and more practical to dry the fruits, so that later, as needed, they can be eaten or added to compotes and desserts. Dried figs retain all their benefits, which is especially pleasant for people who are fasting.

How to dry figs properly

There are several options for drying fruits: naturally and in the oven. First, a few tips:

1. From 2 kg of fresh product you get 700-800 gr. dried;

2. Only the ripe fruits need to be harvested. Ripeness indicator - the fruit falls to the ground, it only needs to be washed and can be prepared for storage;

3. Before cutting for drying, the fruits are not peeled, only the streaks, burst spots are cut off, dried with a paper towel;

4. To get a sweeter taste of dried figs, you can boil the syrup with a portion of sugar and 3 parts of water, boil the figs in the syrup for 10 minutes, then remove the fruit and start drying. The syrup is used for cooking compotes and jelly.

But many people also like the usual taste of dried figs, it is not too sweet, it smells a little nutty and is very pleasant. Now, how to dry figs naturally:

1. Cut the washed and dried fruits into halves with a sharp knife;

2. Place the fruit on a metal wire rack or drying tray. If the cells are too large, then cover the dishes with gauze, fixing it on the sides so that it does not squeeze;

3. Lay out the figs, cut side up;

4. Cover the berries with gauze and secure the fabric so that it does not loosen and stick to juicy berries;

5. Leave in the open sun for the day, bring indoors at night.

How to make dried figs in the oven

1. Prepare the product as indicated in the previous version;

2. Turn on the oven at 60 C and wait until it has completely warmed up. If there is no such a low temperature limiter, you need to put on the heating that is considered minimal and slightly open the cabinet door without closing it during the entire drying process;

3. Put the prepared fruit halves on a wire rack or baking sheet with a honeycomb bottom - this is a must, since the berries must be ventilated from all sides, otherwise they will be baked;

4. Put the berries in the oven, dry, turning from time to time, for about 8-24 hours.

Readiness is determined by an incision in the skin - the juice does not flow, which means that the berries are dry. You can dry whole fruits, but then the process will take twice as long.

Calorie content of dried figs

If you are afraid to gain weight, you should know how many calories are in dried figs - there are only 248 kcal per 100 grams. product. This is a delicious, sweet and very enjoyable snack for those who keep fit. But how is dried figs eaten? It should be remembered that when choosing dried figs, you need to pay attention to:

1. Color - light brown with a matte sheen.

2. Shape - slightly flattened;

3. Size - the same, not very large.

The taste of dried figs is only fresh and sweetish, any aromas of mold, sourness are a sign of a poor-quality product. Better to throw away such figs so as not to get poisoned. If saccharins appeared on the dried fruits of the fig tree, it means that the figs were dried with the addition of syrup. Discard such a product, it may not taste very good. And, of course, there should not be any dark spots on the product, this is a signal that an already rotting crop is drying, which means that there will be no benefit from food.

We chose dried figs, how to eat correctly:

1. Use a separate product, cut into pieces or you can bite off the fruit;

2. Add to meat sauces, desserts or compotes;

3. Eat with honey, cream, cheese.

But it is still worth remembering how many calories are in dried figs, so that the delicacy does not become excessively "fat" and does not harm the waist. A well-dried fig fruit has up to 250 kcal / 100g, adding a spoonful of honey, you will not increase the calorie content too much, but you will get a perfectly healthy breakfast. And, by the way, do not damage the thorough washing of the fruit, preferably with a brush and in warm water, you also need to dose the dried fruit. The fig tree is very high in fiber, so you should be very careful when eating figs for the first time.

How to store dried figs

It is not enough to dry the fig tree; at the slightest violation of storage technology, all work will be wasted. There are no particular difficulties in storage, it is enough to place the fruits in a glass jar with a perfectly fitted lid and put the product in the refrigerator. Shelf life up to 8 months. But how to store dried figs if there is a lot of it? To freeze! Exposure to negative temperatures extends the shelf life up to a year, while the fig tree does not lose its properties and qualities after defrosting.

Dried fig compote

Dried fig recipes are varied. You can add the fruit to your morning muesli, porridge or desserts. It is very good to make a compote from dried figs, which also includes dried apricots, prunes. Figs are taken in any amount, like the rest of the ingredients, sugar is added to taste. Pour boiling water over pre-washed dried apricots and prunes, boil until cooked and add pieces of washed dried figs. Cook over low heat for about 10 minutes, add sugar and you can treat yourself to a vitamin and pleasant drink.