Indulge in a Mediterranean treat with homemade fig jam.

I love fresh figs. Good ones. Nice ripe, juicy, figs. Soft to the bite, but rich in flavor. Similar to a date, but less heavy.

Figs are native to the Mediterranean region, and even grow in several places here in the U.S. But not in the Mid-Columbia. Our winters are too cold for a poor fig tree to survive. So I have to limit my fresh fig tastings to rare trips to the Portland, Oregon farmer’s market where I indulge with abandonment.

Except sometimes fresh figs show up in the local grocery store. They are usually wrapped in plastic and over-ripe by the time they get here, but I buy them nonetheless.

Recently I snagged a few containers of both black Mission figs and green Calimyrna figs. A few were perfect for eating out of hand, but most were past their prime. No problem. I reached for one of my favorite canning books, The Joy of Jams, Jellies, and Other Sweet Preserves by Linda Zeidrich, adapted her recipe, and turned my too-soft figs into a fantastic chunky jam with just a hint of anise.

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Fig Jam with Anise Recipe

Turn fresh figs into a chunky jam with a hint of anise.

Author: Renee Pottle

Recipe type: Jam

Serves: 10¼ pint jars

Prep time:  20 mins

Cook time:  20 mins

Total time:  40 mins

Ingredients

• 2 lbs chopped fresh figs
• ½ cup water
• 3 cups sugar
• ½ tsp anise seed
• 2 Tbsp lemon juice

Instructions

1. Combine all ingredients in a large pot. Don't forget to rub the inner lip of the pot with butter to prevent boiling over.
2. Stir over medium heat until the sugar dissolves.
3. Bring to a boil.
4. Boil gently, stirring often, for 10-15 minutes or until thickened.
5. Ladle into clean canning jars. Add lids and rings.
6. Process in a water bath canner for 10 minutes.

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You may be wondering, “what do I do with fig jam?” If you can refrain from eating it all out of the jar with a spoon (yes, it’s that good) here are some other ideas:

• Make homemade fig-filled cookies
• Use as a cake filling
• Serve over cheeses
• Or serve over ice cream
• Use it as a ripple in homemade ice cream
• Mix it with plain yogurt for a snack
• Add some to your morning smoothie
• Give as a well appreciated gift

What do you do with your homemade fig jam?