The Pajarero figs variety are a kind of pear shaped fruit, with a red pulp full of edible seeds that have an unmistakable sweet flavor and a particular texture that make it a truly remarkable food. The singularity of these dried figs make it a very anticipated food, since its production is very seasonal, we can only enjoy figs for three months of the year. All fig varieties are high in fiber, mineral, carbohydrates and vitamins which makes them an excellent supplement for a healthy, balanced diet.
The particular flavor of dried figs El Pajarero make them the perfect fruit. But besides eating them as they are, figs are the ideal ingredient for a plethora of culinary concoctions due to their versatility. Ancient civilizations appreciated figs for their unmistakable flavor and used them as a key ingredient to elaborate a number of dishes. One of the most particular ones was using figs as a substitute for coffee, toasting and grinding them until they became dust that would be brewed like coffee.
In general, it is believed that the most common use for figs is in desserts. However the truth is that more and more chefs are using them with meat, such as pork, cow and many kinds of birds combining the earthy flavor of meat with the sweet, natural flavor of dried figs.
Recently we visited Toni's kitchen, located in Sant Vicenç dels Horts, a restaurant that serves homemade food elaborated with fresh, local produce. Toni surprised us with his amazing culinary creations. We have been able to delight ourselves with two meals and two desserts which were finger licking delicious. The first one was a fresh salad with goat's cheese and dried figs in syrup. Afterwards, chicken Oporto with dried figs in syrup, sweetened with stevia.
But as we well know, figs are also used to create delicious desserts and Toni had prepared not one, but two. One of them was cottage cheese with honey and dried figs in syrup and the other was natural yogurt with figs and wildberry marmalade. The taste of the figs allows for culinary masterpieces for the palate. It was truly a pleasant experience for all senses. If you want to try delighting yourself with exclusive meals, you will most likely love Toni's kitchen!
Dried figs are one of those foods that hide more secrets behind their simple appearance and their sweet flavor. They are full of nutrients and some properties capable of improving the health of anyone.
This fruit is an essential element if you want to enjoy a healthy diet in every sense of the word.
Here is where the real secret of figs can be found. The sweet and tasty substances that can be found in these fruits, are excellent to balance your diet and make it a lot healthier. For starters, the high concentration of fiber in this food is very high, it’s hard to find any other fruit that offers so much fiber in such a direct way. Selenium is one of the most present minerals in a fig.
Flavonoids are elements capable of protecting the organism from many illnesses, they can be found very concentrated in this little fruit capable of making them anyone’s favorite. Nonetheless, very few know that figs are one of the fruit that contain the most calcium, another reason that just by itself makes its consumption recommendable.
Fiber, calcium, selenium and many other elements are necessary to have a healthy diet, and the protagonists of these elements are figs. Now, the presence of these substances offers countless healthy qualities that must be taken into account. In these we can mention:
1) It’s excellent to have a great energy level due to its high carb count and how easy it is to assimilate.
2) They are practically fat-free, which makes them a perfect food to keep body weight in check.
3) Its consumption favors elimination of toxins generated by other food and it also prevents some kinds of cancer thanks to its high antioxidant concentration found in its pulp.
4) Lastly, its calcium content is excellent to strengthen bones in the body, scaring away degenerative illnesses like artrosis.
In conclusion, consuming dried figs is a gift, not only for your health but for your palate, and so they should be a part of everyone’s diet.