Fierce Fresh Figs

Fiber is your friend. Especially, when they taste like these babies!

Juicy and sweet, fresh figs can be an amazing part of your diet. Figs come in a variety of shapes, sizes and colours and they all taste quite different.  So, you may need to try a few varieties.


You honestly don't need to do much with them, except wash. Feel free to eat every part of the fruit except the stem. When they are ripe, the interior has the texture and taste of fresh jam.

Incredible food idea: Fig Pizza

- Bake a thin crust pizza dough with some olive oil brushed on top

- Once ready, top with fresh sliced figs, shaved parmigiano reggiano, and arugula or rocket

- Drizzle some honey on top

- Prepare to eat the entire thing

Another type of "fig" is the cactus pear, also known as "fichi d'india" or Indian Figs. 

They are also known by other names including prickly pears and, in an East Indian dialect, hathla.  The word hathla is derived from hath, meaning hand. As you can see, they grow on the ends of cacti resembling hands.

I would describe the flavor of this fruit as an intense watermelon. The fruit contains many small hard seeds, which should be eaten, but not chewed.  You will be able to tell if the fichi d'india is mature and ready to eat by pressing slightly on the exterior. It should give a little. Be very careful when handling this fruit, as it truly is "prickly".


Preparing:
As shown in the photo below, you can save yourself a lot of grief by peeling the fruit by slicing off both ends, scoring the skin and peeling back the thick exterior to reveal the red or yellow meat. 

Slice and serve by itself or with a medley of fruits.