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The Spruce / Julia Hartbeck
Nutritional Guidelines (per serving) | |
---|---|
350 | Calories |
0g | Fat |
91g | Carbs |
1g | Protein |
Nutrition Facts | |
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Servings: 36 | |
Amount per serving | |
Calories | 350 |
% Daily Value* | |
Total Fat 0g | 0% |
Saturated Fat 0g | 0% |
Cholesterol 0mg | 0% |
Sodium 2mg | 0% |
Total Carbohydrate 91g | 33% |
Dietary Fiber 2g | 8% |
Protein 1g | |
Calcium 28mg | 2% |
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice. |
Figs have two short harvest seasons every year, once in early summer and once in the fall, so it's tempting to stock up, meaning you may end up with more figs than you know what to do with. One great way to use up figs—and enjoy them while they're not in season—is to turn them into preserves.
This old-fashioned recipe for fig preserves includes just 3 ingredients: figs, sugar, and lemon. Figs have a natural, honey-like sweetness, so lemon adds a nice bit of acidity and brightness. The ripe fruit is cooked down slowly with a generous amount of sugar and some lemon slices, resulting in a delicious spread perfect on a biscuit or as part of a cheese platter.
Ingredients
- 6 pounds fresh figs (peeled or unpeeled, approximately 18 cups)
- 6 pounds granulated sugar (approximately 13 cups)
- 3 lemons (very thinly sliced, seeds removed)
Steps to Make It
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Gather the ingredients.
The Spruce / Julia Hartbeck
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Wash, dry, and stem the figs.
The Spruce / Julia Hartbeck
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Put the figs in large stainless steel or enamel-lined stockpot or Dutch oven. Pour the sugar over the figs and let sit overnight.Â
The Spruce / Julia Hartbeck
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Place the pot over medium heat and cook the fig and sugar mixture until the sugar is completely dissolved, stirring constantly.
The Spruce / Julia Hartbeck
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Reduce the heat to low and add the lemon slices. Cover and cook, occasionally stirring to prevent sticking, for 2 to 3 hours, until the figs are transparent and the syrup is thick. If possible, use a candy or deep-fry thermometer—look for a jelling point of 220 F to 225 F.​
The Spruce / Julia Hartbeck
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Meanwhile, prepare the jars and boiling water bath for canning. Sterilize the jars and lids.
The Spruce / Julia Hartbeck
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Fill a large canning kettle with water and bring to a boil.
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Pour the hot preserves into the hot sterilized jars, leaving 1/4-inch headspace. Wipe the rims and place the lids and rings on the jars.Â
The Spruce / Julia Hartbeck
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Place the jars on the rack in the boiling water canner. If needed, add more hot water to bring it to a depth of 1 inch above the tops of the jars. Bring the water back to a gentle boil and continue boiling for 10 minutes (or 15 minutes if your altitude is above 6000 feet).
The Spruce / Julia Hartbeck
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Using jar lifters or heat-proof rubber-tipped tongs, remove the processed jars to a rack and let them cool. Check to make sure they are sealed.
The Spruce / Julia Hartbeck
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Store in a cool, dark place until ready to enjoy.
Tips
- If your fig variety is very sweet, you can use less sugar.
- Plan ahead since the sugar-coated figs sit overnight before cooking.
- If you don't want to can your preserves, skip sterilizing the jars and place the jars of preserves in the fridge instead of processing, using within 3 weeks.
- If you want to freeze some preserves, leave at least an inch of space at the top of the jar.
- If any jar does not seal, refrigerate and use right away or freeze the jam in a freezer container.
- This recipe makes a large quantity, so you can cut in half or even by one-third.