SLIDE SHOW: Figs: Preserving Summer's Bounty

Aglaia Kremezi prepares sweet, summery figs to last through the fall and winter.

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Photo by Aglaia Kremezi


Honey-sweet, juicy figs grow on trees all over Greece.



Aglaia Kremezi prepares sweet, summery figs to last through the fall and winter.

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Photo by Aglaia Kremezi


Figs must be picked at the right moment, when the stem bends from the bough of the bole.



Aglaia Kremezi prepares sweet, summery figs to last through the fall and winter.

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Photo by Aglaia Kremezi


If you mistime the picking, the blazing August sun starts to dry out the fruit's interior.



Aglaia Kremezi prepares sweet, summery figs to last through the fall and winter.

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Photo by Aglaia Kremezi


Harvesting figs before the stem-curve moment results in unripe produce.



Aglaia Kremezi prepares sweet, summery figs to last through the fall and winter.

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Photo by Aglaia Kremezi


It takes a trip to southern Europe or the Eastern Mediterranean to truly appreciate the flavor of ripe figs.



Aglaia Kremezi prepares sweet, summery figs to last through the fall and winter.

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Photo by Aglaia Kremezi


Preserve the taste of figs by freezing the pulp to use in sweet and savory dishes through the winter.



Aglaia Kremezi prepares sweet, summery figs to last through the fall and winter.

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Photo by Aglaia Kremezi


Not all figs have time to reach full sweetness, but they can still be used in desserts like this fig and almond cake. View recipe here .



Aglaia Kremezi prepares sweet, summery figs to last through the fall and winter.

figs_7.jpg

Photo by Aglaia Kremezi


The fig and almond cake and cupcake recipe also calls for a fig jam. Learn more here .



Aglaia Kremezi prepares sweet, summery figs to last through the fall and winter.

Aglaia Kremezi writes about food in Greek, European, and American magazines, publishes books about Mediterranean cooking in the U.S. and Greece, and teaches cooking classes.