Fig cake takes center stage at North Carolina's sweet festival
Although fig cake was enjoyed centuries ago in Greece and North Africa, today, its biggest fans are in the USA, especially in the southern states. This delicacy is likely to appeal to us as well, as it makes an excellent addition to coffee or tea.
The fig tree is considered one of the oldest trees on our planet. Archaeological studies indicate that its fruits were consumed as far back as 9,000 years ago—a claim supported by traces found in a Neolithic village in the Jordan Valley. The oldest bas-reliefs depicting fig harvests come from Egypt, around 2500 BCE.
In ancient civilizations of the Middle East, fig tree fruits were an important food source and eventually spread to Mediterranean countries. The tree was so valued that in Babylon, cutting it down was punishable by death.
To this day, fig trees are widely cultivated in many countries in Africa and Asia, as well as in the Americas, where they were introduced several centuries ago. Fig cake is especially cherished in the United States, so much so that North Carolina holds its own festival celebrating the treat. How do you prepare it?
Figs – nutritional values
Ripe figs are harvested when their skin turns a distinctive dark purple in the fall. Fresh figs contain the most flavour and nutritional value and are increasingly available in our stores. They are the best choice for preparing a delicious cake.
Figs have been valued for centuries due to their nutritional properties. Even the creators of Ayurveda—one of the oldest healing systems, which emerged over 5,000 years ago on the southeastern coast of the Indian Peninsula—recommended these fruits for treating respiratory, digestive, reproductive, or hormonal ailments, as well as numerous infectious diseases like gonorrhea and scabies.
Fresh figs consist of 80 percent water. The remaining 20 percent includes phenolic compounds (especially flavonoids), stilbenes, and anthocyanins—powerful antioxidants that inhibit harmful free radicals, which cause cell damage, faster aging, and the development of cardiovascular diseases, cancers, diabetes, and osteoporosis.
Figs are a rich source of dietary fibre, which effectively lowers blood sugar and "bad" LDL cholesterol levels, helps remove harmful toxins and heavy metals, and prevents constipation and gallstone formation.
Fresh figs are also rich in vitamin C and B vitamins, as well as valuable minerals like potassium, which is essential for maintaining proper blood pressure and muscle function. They also contain significant amounts of calcium, magnesium, and phosphorus.
Fig cake – recipe
Cut fresh figs (8 pcs.) in half, place them in a bowl, sprinkle with powdered sugar (2 tablespoons), pour sweet wine over them, preferably Marsala (4 tablespoons), mix, and let them sit for 15 minutes.
Place soft butter (7 oz) in a large bowl, add fine brown sugar (7 oz), and beat with a mixer until smooth. Next, add eggs (4), mixing continuously. Add flour (about 4 oz), preferably self-rising, a ready mix of wheat flour, baking powder, sometimes baking soda, and a pinch of salt. Want to prepare it at home? Sift wheat flour, such as type 450 (1 cup), and mix it with baking powder (half a teaspoon) and a pinch of salt.
Add vanilla paste (1 teaspoon), ground almonds (about 3 oz), and sea salt (half a teaspoon) to the bowl. Stir to obtain a smooth batter.
Grease an 8-inch diameter springform pan with butter and sprinkle the bottom with powdered sugar. Place the figs cut-side down (do not discard any resulting syrup), and pour the batter over them. Bake for an hour at 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
Cool the cake in the pan for 10 minutes, then remove it from the springform, drizzle with the remaining syrup from the soaked figs, and let it cool completely.
