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Photo by Holly A. Heyser
I don’t eat too much jam, but this is a jam I do eat with some regularity. You see, I have a black Mission fig tree in my yard that I planted in 2004, and it is getting large enough now that I am getting tons of figs. Too many to eat fresh, in fact. So I need to do something with them besides drying them. I know, I know. I can hear you all weeping through my computer screen.
The other reason I like this jam so much is that it is a little different from most recipes. Technically, this is probably more of a spread than a jam, as it’s pretty loose — and it is most definitely an adult indulgence. I add a salt and bay leaves to make it a little more complex. Then I spike it with ouzo.
It’s still sweet enough for a breakfast spread, but the herbal note from the bay lets this jam come into the dinner menu, too. It is a good side for roast pork or wild boar, and makes an excellent tart filling or a filling for a hand pie.
The citric acid adds a little zing to the jam, and it helps preserve it, too. You don’t have to use it, but you can find pure citric acid online or through beer brewing shops, and there is a product called Fruit Fresh that is mostly citric acid; it works, too.
Fig Jam with Ouzo
The hardest part of this recipe is chopping the figs. I suppose you could buzz them in a food processor, but you need to beware of pureeing everything, which would be bad: you want this to be chunky, but not so chunky you can’t spread it on bread. Thus the chopping.
If you want this to set up like a traditional jam, add pectin. Or you could just cook it down even more than I do. Once you can this jam, it will last a year in the pantry.
Makes 4 to 5 pints.
Prep Time: 30 minutes, plus 1 hour macerating time
Cook Time: 1 hour
- 4 pounds figs
- Juice of two lemons, about 1/2 cup
- Zest of two lemons, about 2 tablespoons
- 1 tsp. citric acid (optional)
- 4 cups sugar
- 2 bay leaves
- 1 cup ouzo, divided
- 1 teaspoon salt
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- Zest and juice the lemons and set aside. Chop the figs roughly into small pieces. The skins of the figs tend to stay the same size no matter how long you cook them, so be mindful when you are chopping — you don’t want big hunks of fig skin in the jam when you’re trying to spread it on toast, do you?
- Add the bay leaves, salt, sugar, lemon juice and zest and half the ouzo to the figs and mix well. Let stand at room temperature, covered, for at least an hour but no more than five hours.
- Get a big kettle of water ready to can the jam. Sterilize your jars and lids.
- Bring the fig mixture to a simmer over medium heat and let this cook for 45 minutes to an hour, depending on how loose the mix was at the start. This recipe makes a loose jam anyway, but you do want it to be spreadable. Stir the mixture often, otherwise the figs and sugar will fuse to the bottom of the pan and burn. Not good. When the jam is done, turn off the heat, wait for it to stop simmering and then stir in the rest of the ouzo and the citric acid, if you’re using it.
- Pour the fig jam into sterilized pint jars and seal. Process in boiling water for 10 to 15 minutes. Remove, let dry and check the seals when the jam is cool. The jam should last at least a year.
Photo by Holly A. Heyser
I wonder if this would work with our southern Brown Turkey figs…don’t see why not.
That sounds abso-flippin-lutely lovely! And this poor Minnesotan is very envious of your “fig problem”
Do you think I could sub Absinthe for the Ouzo? I have a bottle that I extract 5 drops at a time for a cocktail recipe and would be happy to pour off a cup. This looks divine!
Looks ouzom!
I have this on the stove right now.can’t stand the bay flavor so I left it out… but I can’t help wondering, what if I add a teaspoon of fennel seeds.
Dan: You might not like the texture of the fennel seeds in the jam, but the flavor will be good. Maybe grind them?
This looks great and I love the color. Dan might try putting the fennel seeds in a wire mesh tea ball to cook with the jam. I often infuse jams this way.
You might also try star anise in the jam instead of ouzo. Looks prettier than fennel seeds! This recipe looks fantastic. Just might have to indulge in enough figs to make it!
I added fennel seeds; they softened quite a bit. You still feel them, but it’s not unpleasant, it’s a burst of ouzo-ness
when you get one.
I just made an ancient dessert with fennel and rose and apples and absolutely loved it. Who knew? Can’t wait to make this jam… fabulous idea!~~ I can see it with great cheeses in a snap!
Hank,
Sorry to hear about your fig problem.
Betcha rhubarb fig wine would be good.
How about fig yogurt too?
i find typical fig jam way too sweet but this recipe looks amazing..i’m looking forward to fig season so i can give it a try..jane
Sounds very interesting! Not sure I can find any fresh figs locally still but there is a very neglected bottle of Ouzo here! If I can’t come up with figs, can you suggest a different fruit to pair it with? Before your post I never even thought of making a jam to use it up…you are brilliant! Thank you for sharing the recipe.
Lovely recipe—but hurricane Isaac just killed my fig tree, which was laden with unripe fruit.
If you do not like anise flavor or Ouzo, I used 3/4 cup Jagermeister and 1/4 cup balsamic vinegar mixed as a substitute for the Ouzo as my wife does not like anise flavor and the spread turned out complex and tasty.