Is it fall yet?? With a mouth full of these Poached Figs with Honey, Orange and Spices, it sure feels like it.
Yesterday was the official launch of Sweet Noshings Cookbook here in Austin! It was so wonderful. My friend/photographer extraordinaire Tim Kyle was on hand to videotape the whole thing, so I’ll make sure to share the video when it’s up.
100 friends and strangers came to celebrate with me, and we had samples from the book (Baklava Rugelach! Peanut Butter, Chocolate and Sea Salt Babka!), a photobooth, glitter, unicorns and magic. I’m not a crier at all, but I teared up a bit looking at all the people who came out to support me (the tears may have also been due to a cramping hand from signing 100 books, or from my slight hangover, but let’s go with pride.)
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, but one of my favorite things about this blog has been meeting so many wonderful new friends, including other bloggers and authors. I had the pleasure of meeting the famous Ronnie Fein in person last year when I was in NYC, and she is sweet and warm and just a pleasure. (Read her story here. It’s a good one that I can relate to!)
So when Ronnie sent me her latest cookbook, The Modern Kosher Kitchen, I just had to share a recipe with y’all. The book goes beyond traditional kosher and brings in flavors from around the world. Smoked Salmon Tartar Rounds with Horseradish Cream Cheese or Lamburgers in Pita with Lemon-Tahini Sauce appeals to the Jewish-food lover in me. While Thanksgiving Stuffing Soup (!) and Lemon-Oregano Stuffed Breast of Veal appeals to the food lover in me. The recipes are fresh, and if you didn’t know it was a kosher cookbook, you wouldn’t even realize. It’s just full of food that’s modern and yummy.
With Rosh Hashanah coming up (it will be October before you know it!) these poached figs were calling my name. Figs are a “new fruit” traditionally eaten for the Jewish New Year, and I love how these are light enough for breakfast over yogurt, but decadent enough for dessert over ice cream. They are naturally parve, just the perfect amount of sweet, with a nice spice. I suggest you make them today before fig season is over!!!
Poached Figs with Honey, Orange and Spices
Ingredients
- 1 cup 235 ml sweet white wine (I used some leftover Pinot Grigio I had and it worked great!)
- 1 cup 235 ml water
- 1/2 cup 160 g honey
- 4 green cardamom pods slightly crushed
- 6 allspice berries or clover I used clover
- 6 whole black peppercorns
- 2 strings orange pell 2 inches (5 cm) long
- 8 large fresh figs
- 1 to 2 tablespoons 10 to 20 g crushed toasted almonds
Instructions
- Combine the wine, water, honey, cardamom pods, clover, peppercorns and orange peel in a saucepan over medium-high heat.
- Bring the liquid to a boil, reduce to a simmer, and cook for 15 minutes.
- Add the figs and simmer for about 10 minutes or until the fruit is tender but not soft or mushy.
- Remove the pan from the heat, remove the figs to a dish and let cool.
- Strain the liquid (discard the cardamom, clover, peppercorns, and orange peel) and pour the strained liquid back into the pan.
- Boil the liquid over high heat until it is syrupy. Let the syrup cool.
- Cut the figs into quarters and place 8 pieces on each of the 4 dessert dishes.
- Drizzle with syrup and sprinkle with nuts. (If the syrup has firmed, heat it for a minute or so over medium heat to liquify.)
Reprinted with permission from The Modern Kosher Kitchen.
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