We may often ask ourselves, what does it mean to eat healthily? Healthy eating consists of eating a variety of foods that provide us with the nutrients we need to stay healthy, feel good and have energy. These nutrients include protein, carbohydrates, fats, water, vitamins and minerals.
Nutrition is important for everybody. Combined with physical activity and a healthy weight, good nutrition is an excellent way to help our bodies stay strong and healthy.
To keep a balanced and healthy diet, we should eat a variety of nutrient-rich foods. It is best to choose the foods that have the most nutrients from each food group each day, that is, those that are packed with vitamins, minerals, fiber and other nutrients.
Following the line of healthy eating, today we want to share a delicious recipe from Eva Arguiñano: dried fig sticks. They are very easy to make by ourselves.
For a dozen bars we will need:
100g of dried figs El Pajarero,
100g of prunes,
125g of walnuts (peeled),
50g of oat flakes,
50g of dark chocolate
Chop the El Pajarero dried figs and prunes and place them in a food processor. Add the oat flakes and walnuts and grind them for about 3 minutes. Transfer to a bowl, grate the chocolate on top and mix well. Transfer the mixture to the worktop and knead until the ingredients are perfectly integrated. Place the dough between 2 baking papers and stretch it with a rolling pin until you get a rectangle of about 3 centimeters thick. Leave the dough in the fridge for 30 minutes and then cut it into bars. Your bars are now ready to serve.
Here is another version of the dried fig sticks recipe we published earlier.
Enjoy!
With the arrival of autumn, more succulent dishes become more appealing, so today we bring you a recipe with dried figs that is as appetizing as it is healthy, perfect for slow cooking, soft and nutritious.
The great advantage of using El Pajarero dried figs in gastronomy is that they can be used in both desserts and savory dishes, and combined with certain ingredients, they enhance the flavor of this delicious fruit that is as nutritious as it is healthy.
Below we describe the recipe for six people and the preparation of this delicious dish with dried figs, chickpeas, world spices and seasonal vegetables. It is ideal to combine with couscous or white rice.
Ingredients
- 150 g of dried figs El Pajarero
- 2 zucchini
- 400 g cooked chickpeas
- 200 g sweet potato
- 1 large tomato, peeled and cut into small pieces (or 200 g canned tomatoes)
- 3 baby carrots
- 150 g green beans
- 2 red onions
- 1 clove of garlic
- A pinch of cinnamon powder or cinnamon stick
- 1 teaspoon cumin
- 500 ml vegetable stock
- 1 tablespoon of honey
- 1 teaspoon of grated fresh ginger
- ½ chili pepper
- Salt, black pepper
- Extra virgin olive oil.
- Fresh mint
- 30g cashew nuts
- Spices such as sesame, coriander and turmeric to taste.
Instructions
- Place the pot on the hob with a splash of oil, when it is hot, add the onions cut into julienne strips, sprinkle some salt, sauté until transparent.
- Add the small chopped garlic clove.
- Set the onion aside for the sides, leave a hole in the center and add the spices, grated fresh ginger, teaspoon cumin, ½ teaspoon cinnamon, 1 teaspoon turmeric, sesame and coriander. Let them warm up a little to release all their aromas.
- Add the tomato and the broth.
- Add the cut zucchini and the sweet potato .
- Add the green beans, trimmed and cut into 3 or 4 pieces each.
- Add the carrots cut into large pieces.
- Season with salt and pepper and cook for about 30 minutes with the lid on.
- Drain the chickpeas in a colander under the tap and set aside.
- Add the drained chickpeas and mix gently with a wooden or silicone spoon so as not to break the vegetables.
- Once the vegetables are tender, add the halved dried figs to the pot.
- Pour a thin drizzle of extra virgin olive oil over the preparation along with some mint leaves.
- Serve with couscous or white rice.
Enjoy!
Autumn is coming and we don't go out as much as in summer. We feel like cooking and baking for our family and loved ones. Therefore, today we bring you a delicious recipe with dried figs and rum, to surprise your favorite guests in a special way. Below we tell you what you will need for the cake and the filling.
For the dough Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cups flour
- 1/3 cup butter
- 1 egg
- 1 tablespoon sugar
- 1/3 of a glass of cold white wine
Preparation
In a bowl mix the flour and butter. When they are well combined, add the egg, sugar and wine. If necessary you can help yourself with a spatula or wooden spoon. Then knead lightly to obtain a smooth batter and set aside.
For the filling Ingredients
- 20 dried figs El Pajarero
- 2/3 cup sugar
- 1/4 cup water
- 1/3 cup rum
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
Preparation
Place a small saucepan with the water and sugar over medium heat. Meanwhile, cut the figs in half. Then add them to the preparation of water and sugar with the preparation half done. Once they soften, remove them from the heat.
To assemble the cake Preparation
Roll out the dough and place it in a pie dish. Trim the leftovers from the edge and press the bottom with a fork. Place the fig mixture and bake in the oven for 35 to 40 minutes at a high temperature (approximately 270 degrees). Serve warm. It's finger licking delicious! :-)
Imagine surprising your partner with homemade chocolate-covered dried fig bonbons! Eating tasty and healthy, is very feasible. Besides, cooking for them counts for something, doesn't it? The preparation is very easy and you don't need many ingredients so take note! El Pajarero dried figs are perfect for this recipe because they are small and sweet. Therefore, they are the most recommended.
If you prefer that the chocolates are not too sweet, choose an extra pure chocolate. Remember that chocolate is of higher quality the higher its purity, that is, the higher its composition in cocoa paste. Therefore, a 90% cocoa component chocolate will be of higher quality, higher purity and healthier than a 70% cocoa component one.
Ingredients
30 El Pajarero dried figs.
30 whole, roasted and peeled almonds.
30 whole hazelnuts, roasted and peeled.
80 grams of dark chocolate with no added sugars
A small amount of butter to melt together with the chocolate.
Ice cream or cream to taste to accompany them.
Preparation
Select the figs, if they can be moderately all the same size, or similar, the better. Also keep in mind that they look better with the stem kept. Not only because they look better, but also because it will be easier to dip them in chocolate.
Place hazelnuts and almonds in a bowl. Calculate 1 hazelnut and 1 almond per fig. Both must be whole and well peeled.
Here, according to your preference, you can grind them a little before or place them whole inside the fig. To do this, you have to make a small cut at the base of the fig. If you decide to stuff the figs with the ground nuts, help yourself with a small spoon. Placing them whole will allow you to save time.
As you fill the El Pajarero dried figs, set them aside on a tray until it is time to dip them in chocolate.
To prepare the coating, chop the chocolate and heat it over very low heat with a little butter. Once the chocolate is runny, you can dip the figs in it. To make the most of the chocolate, we suggest you use a narrow and elongated container, for example, a yogurt container will come in handy.
Once all the figs are covered with chocolate, let them rest on parchment paper or a silicone sheet. Once the coating is solid, plate them as you like. Depending on the presentation you want to give them, they will look great when placed individually in chocolate molds.
To present them, it is a good option to accompany them with cream or strawberry, orange or vanilla ice cream. And with a good coffee, they are delicious!!
Either way, with these dried figs and chocolate, you will surprise your partner!
Happy Valentine's Day and enjoy!
Valentine's day is inching closer and you might want to prepare a special lunch or dinner for your other half with some aphrodisiac ingredients :-) Today we bring you this delicious feta cheese salad, dry figs and pomegranate.
The soft mix of these three flavors, along with the other ingredients will surprise you!
But before getting into it, we'd like to tell you about why figs are considered aphrodisiacs. This is due to, among other factors its high content in betacarotene, a substance wich influences the production of sexual hormones, evening levels of estrogen and incrementing desire. It's also been proven that its high sugar content provides an easy and quick energy source for our organism, which contributes to making our serotonin levels higher.
This meal also has some other great properties for your health, especially because dry figs contain high doses in fiber, calcium, magnesium and potassium. This dry fig salad, is not only sweet but juicy and very
aromatic and it can also be more than just a Valentine's day celebration, it could be used for an anniversary or an important date with your partner. Considering what we commented previously, an appetizer like this
will come in handy for a long night in sight…
Ingredients (for two)
- 4 cups of spinach (or any other green vegetable like lettuce, lamb's lettuce etc)
- 2 cups of arugula
- 1 cup of figs El Pajarero
- 1 cup of feta cheese
- 1 cup of dry apricot
- 1/3 a cup of natural or salted pistachios
- Extra virgin olive oil
- Modena vinegar
- Modena syrup
- Black pepper
Step by step
1 Cut the dry figs El Pajarero in half and put them aside.
2 Place the chopped spinach or any other green leaf into a salad bowl.
Then we put the arugula and season it with olive oil and modena vinegar.
Mix everything well to combine all flavors, then put it aside.
3 Distribute over the green leaves, the diced feta cheese, the halves of dry figs and the apricots.
4 To top it all add a bit of fresh black pepper, pomegranate and a bit of modena syrup
5 Before serving, you can add a bit of honey on top
6 Enjoy :-)
Here’s a link to another Valentine's Day recipe, this one is for chocolate lovers :-)
Do you know how to prepare a real Italian buccellato? Today we bring you the authentic recipe
On these cold afternoons, when we feel like a nice cup of hot coffee or tea, there is nothing better than accompanying it with delicious home-made pastries.
Today we bring you the recipe of an authentic Italian delicacy: Il Buccellato. This delicious ring-shaped cake (also known as bagel) is filled with a variety of nutritious nuts that you can easily get your hands on.
Ingredients for the dough
- 1 kg wheat flour
- 300 gr of sugar
- 250 gr lard
- 3 eggs
- 150 ml milk
- 1 sachet of yeast
- grated orange peel
- vanilla
- orange juice
Ingredients for the filling
- 400 gr dried figs El Pajarero
- 100 gr of raisins
- 150 gr of walnuts or pistachios
- 150 gr almonds
- 200 gr chocolate pieces
- cinnamon
- wine (if you like)
Preparation
1. Place the butter and sugar in a bowl. Add the eggs one by one, then add the flour, the baking powder, and the grated orange peel. Add everything and form a smooth and homogeneous dough. Once you have it, wrap it with non-stick paper and put it in the refrigerator for an hour.
2. Now it is the turn of the filling. In a saucepan, place the dried figs, 1 beaten egg, the raisins, and the rest of the dried fruits, and add some wine if you like. Mix everything together and heat over medium heat for 10 minutes. Turn off the heat and let it cool.
3. Take the dough out of the fridge and roll it out with a rolling pin until it is 1.5 cm thick, form a rectangle and put the filling across the width as if forming a log. Then roll the dough and shape it into a round until you get the shape of a crown or doughnut. Slightly cut the dough crosswise until the filling is just visible.
4. When it has the correct shape, if you have filling left, place it on top. This will ensure that when it comes out of the oven, it will have an excellent color. If you do not have any filling mixture left, you can brush it with beaten egg. Place in the oven at 180º C, cook for 25 minutes, remove from the oven and brush again with the egg or the mixture. Put back in the oven for 5 to 10 more minutes.
5. To decorate, nuts ,cherries in syrup or polished fruit can be placed on top. It is important to serve it cold, because if you serve it hot, the buccellato may crumble.
Enjoy! :-)
Cod confit with dried figs is a perfect main dish for your next Christmas or New Year's Eve dinner. It tastes delicious and is sophisticated, it's perfect if you want to surprise your guests as well as eating healthily.
We will add a bit of sweetness thanks to the key ingredient: El Pajarero dried figs, which not only provide nutrients, but will enhance the flavor of the cod, taking it to the next level!
5 important reasons for preparing this delicious dish
This cod confit recipe is not only delicious, but also very easy to cook. The white fish will provide everything you need, and with hardly any fat.
It can be prepared in a short time, so it's perfect if you're in a hurry but want something delicious!
A light dish that your digestive system will be grateful for, since these are dates when people eat more than usual.
All the benefits of dried figs in your dish, as they provide fiber, iron, calcium, potassium, magnesium and that sweet touch that will enhance the flavor of the cod.
Although this dish can be enjoyed at any time of the year, when it really excels is during the winter, as it is perfect if you want to warm up with something rich and tasty.
Ingredients for 4 people
- 1 kg of cod loin
- 12 dried figs El Pajarero
- 2 cloves of garlic
- 2 onions
- 8 roasted almonds
- Olive oil
- Spices to taste
- Suggested garnish: slices of sweet potatoes and potatoes or grilled vegetables.
6 steps to prepare cod confit with dried figs
1. The first thing is to buy a good cod. If you are lucky enough to have it desalted, even better! We will need a large loin or four small ones depending on your needs. In case you get salted cod, we suggest you soak it a day before. This will remove any excess salt. Wash it, check it for any bones and remove any excess water.
2. A couple of hours before cooking the fish, hydrate the dried figs in warm water, this will allow them to be more tender, juicy, and retain all their properties. Then remove the excess water, cut them into pieces and set them aside.
3. Pour plenty of olive oil in a saucepan. Once it starts to sizzle over medium heat, add the whole garlic, the finely chopped onion and after a few minutes, add the El Pajarero dried figs. Let them cook for about three minutes. The sweetness and color of the dried figs will add a special touch to this recipe. Then reduce the heat and add the cod. Now is the time to season it with the herbs or spices of your choice.
4. From the pan, extract 6 figs and put them in the blender. Blend them with a little of the cooking oil and about 8 roasted almonds to obtain a delicate sauce and set aside.
5. The secret of a good confit is to watch the heat. Keep in mind that the cod will cook quickly. Do not allow the oil to boil. The cod has to cook inside, if you notice that it is browning too much, turn off the heat, cover it and let it cook with the residual heat. Pierce the cod and notice if its center is soft, if it is, it is because our cod is cooked to perfection!
6. Now it is time to plate. Choose a nice plate. Place the cod, decorate with a few pieces of figs, and on one side pour the fine fig sauce. As garnish you can choose sweet potatoes, potatoes or baked eggplants or why not, some good old grilled vegetables. The combination of the rich flavors of the ingredients of this delicacy will delight the senses of all your guests. Enjoy this incredible restaurant quality dish!
Happy Holidays!
Most people think that dried figs, in gastronomy, are only used for baking. When you prepare this delicious salad, you will see why they are so delicious in all kinds of recipes. To make this easy and nutritious dish, you will need few ingredients and little preparation time. Don't miss it because it's delicious.
You will only need dried figs, cured Iberian ham, corn, lettuce varieties and Parmesan cheese (or another cheese of your choice).
You can already find El Pajarero dried figs in several supermarkets, take advantage of them in this delicious fresh salad combining them with seasonal products. Dried figs, because of their sweetness, are perfect to combine with the other ingredients. The contrasting flavor is perfect. And the sum of them allows to create a delicate texture. Here is the recipe. Take note, you will love the outcome.
Ingredients
15 dried figs El Pajarero
50 gr of Parmesan cheese
Variety of lettuce or lamb's lettuce
Corn to taste
Olive oil to taste
50 gr of Iberian ham
Black pepper
Salt
Preparation
Remove the sticks from the dried figs and cut them in half. Set aside. Wash the lettuce (or lamb's lettuce), drain well and once dry, distribute them in a large bowl or plate. It will be the base of the salad.
Next, cut the Iberian ham into slices of medium thickness and then chop it with a knife or your fingers. Remember that a freshly sliced ham will always have more flavor than a packaged one. Place it on top of the lettuce or lamb's lettuce.
Continue with the rest of the ingredients. On top of the lettuce and ham, scatter the corn, the amount you prefer. Then cut the Parmesan cheese into small, thin pieces and place it on top of the lettuce, ham and corn, so that it blends with the rest of the ingredients.
Finally, we will crown the salad with the El Pajarero dried figs already cut in halves.
Season with salt, a pinch of black pepper and a drizzle of olive oil to your liking. However, we recommend that you do not season too much, because all the ingredients, by themselves, have an intense flavor.
In a few minutes, you will have a luxury salad ready to eat, you just need to taste it! Give yourself a little treat.
If you're a sandwich person, you're going to love this one, especially because it's quick, easy and delicious.
For one of those days when you don't feel like cooking, this dried fig and roast chicken sandwich (you can use leftover chicken) will come in handy.
To prepare it we will need a small amount of shredded chicken meat, a few slices of dried figs, fresh herbs, nuts, creamy cream cheese spread, a barely roasted eggplant, nuts and a good loaf of bread.
Ingredients
The quantities listed below are adequate for a medium/large sandwich. We give you this information so that you can get the ingredients for the quantity of sandwiches you need.
100 g roasted chicken
3 tablespoons spreadable cream cheese
3 tablespoons red onion
2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
4 fresh mint leaves
4 dried figs variety El Pajarero
1 eggplant, sliced and lightly roasted
A spoonful of ground peanuts or walnuts, not too small
If you like it spicy, add fresh or dried chili to taste
Salt
Preparation
First, shred the chicken with the help of a fork. Season to taste with salt, pepper and if you want to give it a spicy touch, sprinkle in some chili flakes.
Afterwards, wash and cut the eggplant in medium slices, put it on a griddle and after a few minutes turn it over. While the eggplant is grilling, finely chop the onion, then mix it with the fresh cheese spread with the chopped red onion, olive oil and two mint leaves, also chopped.
Toast the bread, then spread the fresh cream cheese and spread on top the shredded chicken, the sliced dried figs, the roasted eggplants with a few drops of olive oil, the chopped nuts, the other two chopped mint leaves and close with the top of the bread.
You will get a delicious vegetable sandwich with dried figs, chicken and vegetables. You'll surely want to make it again!
Dried fig and orange cookies
Autumn is here and the heat is gone. Preparing delicious dishes, cakes, cookies and baked desserts and being more at home is a lot more appealing. We bring you an extraordinary recipe for you to prepare for your family and friends, totally natural and healthy cookies you can impress your guests with.
The star ingredient is dried figs, with which you will also provide calcium, magnesium, fiber, etc.
The recipe is easy. Below we tell you the ingredients you will need so that you can anticipate and get everything before you start, at the bottom you will find the step-by-step guide. Let's go!
Ingredients
For the dough:
100 g flour
100 g whole wheat flour
Half a teaspoon of ground cardamom
A quarter teaspoon of baking soda
A pinch of salt
140 g butter
60 g brown sugar
3 egg yolks
1 teaspoon vanilla essence
3 tablespoons of honey
Orange zest to taste
For the filling:
Dried figs 400 g
Orange juice 4 tablespoons
Orange zest
Lemon zest
Sugar 2 tablespoons
Cinnamon 1 teaspoon
Peeled almonds 40 grams
Triple sec liqueur (or triple sec)
Preparation
In a bowl, hydrate the dried figs with hot water.
Meanwhile, prepare the dough. First beat the butter with brown sugar. Then add the egg yolks, honey, vanilla essence and orange zest. Finally, add the mixed and sifted dry ingredients and mix in the dough without kneading it yet. Then wrap the dough in plastic wrap and put it in the refrigerator.
Return with the figs, strain them and mix with the orange juice, zest, sugar and chopped almonds. You can add a little triple sec liqueur to obtain that delicious orange flavor.
On a floured kitchen paper, stretch the dough into a rectangle, leaving approximately 4 mm thick. Place a cylinder of filling on the dough and wrap them. Join and close the dough with the dough, pressing it with your fingers.
Repeat the operation forming several cylinders.
Bake one or more cylinders in a medium oven for about 12 minutes, remove from the oven and cut immediately into rounds of 1 to 2 cm.
Finally, sprinkle them with powdered sugar, now they are ready to enjoy!