Eat Seasonal: Fig Bread Is A Simple Yet Tasty Dish With In-Season Fruit.

A Recipe using seasonal ingredients from Gozo.

Biting into a juicy fresh fig is a summertime joy in Gozo! These plump fruits grow in abundance across the Maltese Islands and have become a signature player in light summer Mediterranean cuisine. The fig is non-fussy and can be adapted to sweet or savoury or enjoyed straight from the Ficus Tree in its simplistic and tender form. Did you know fig trees do not flower? Instead, their blossom transforms inside the pod into the delicious fruit we eat. There are two types of fig trees in Malta, the common green fig which is ready to eat May-June, and the Farkizzan (purple fig) which is harvested from July to August.

three reasons we Loves Figs

1. Aid Digestion: being super high in fibre, figs are a mild, natural laxative to help maintain bowel regularity. Fibre is also a prebiotic that provides a substate for our beneficial gut flora to flourish and diversify which supports immunity.
2. Natural Sweetness: figs are a wonderful natural sweetener. When fruit is eaten fresh (more so than dried) in its whole form the fibre content balances the sugar and in turn your own blood sugar levels. Why reach for processed sugar when nature provides a plethora of sweetness.
3. Nutrient Dense: figs are nutrient dense with significant levels of calcium, magnesium, potassium, copper, iron, vitamin B6 and vitamin K.

Samantha Says

You can’t really go wrong with this one! In all simplicity, this recipe calls for just two bowls. One with wet ingredients and another with the dry - then just stir!
This recipe boasts one of the moistest cakes I have ever tried out. And just so you know, the orange blossom water does miracles to scent this batter – you’ll be urged to lick the spoon – I warned you!
I prefer using fresh figs, however, you can opt for frozen ones, defrost well prior to use. Resist opening the oven door too early whilst baking or else you’ll end up with a sunken centre.

Samantha Saliba

Fig Bread Recipe

• Preparation Time: 15 minutes
• Cooking time: 50 minutes
• Cooling time: 10 minutes
• Total time: 1 hour 15 minutes

What You Will Need (Serves 12 decent slices)

• ½ cup maple syrup
• 3 eggs, beaten
• ¼ cup sunflower oil
• 1tbsp lemon juice
• 1 tbsp orange blossom water
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 3 ripe bananas, mashed
• 1 cup fresh figs, chopped into large pieces
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• ½ tsp ground cloves
• ½ tsp nutmeg
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• 1/2 cup walnuts, roughly chopped
• 1 or 2 sliced figs for dressing

How To Make fig bread

1. Preheat the oven to 180c and prepare a loaf tin with parchment paper.
2. In a large mixing bowl, stir in all wet ingredients including the maple syrup, eggs, oil, lemon juice, orange blossom water and vanilla extract.
3. Mix in the mashed banana and when combined stir in the fig pieces.
4. In a small bowl, mix the rest of the dry ingredients, except for the sliced figs and walnuts, and slowly empty and stir into the wet batter until combined.
5. Fold in the walnuts avoiding over-mixing.
6. Pour the mixture into the prepared loaf tin and place the sliced figs on top in a horizontal line.
7. Pop into the middle rack of your preheated oven and cook for about 45-55 minutes. You may check readiness by inserting a skewer until it comes out clean.
8. Leave to cool on a cooling rack for 10 minutes. Slice and serve with a warm cup of tea!

Are you passionate about cooking and have a recipe you would like to share, then get in touch at hello@gozointhehouse.com?

Recipe Author & Images: Samantha Saliba

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Author: GITH