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Homemade Fig Preserves with Honey and Vanilla Bean

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A simple, small-batch recipe for glossy fig preserves simmered gently with honey and vanilla bean, capturing the natural sweetness and texture of ripe figs in a luscious syrup.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 pound fresh ripe figs, washed and quartered
  • ⅓ cup local raw honey (113g)
  • 1 whole vanilla bean, split lengthwise
  • 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice (15ml)
  • ¼ cup water (60ml)
  • Optional: 1 cinnamon stick
  • Optional: 1 tablespoon chia seeds

Instructions

  1. Rinse about 1 pound (450g) of fresh ripe figs gently under cool water. Trim the stems and quarter each fig into four pieces. Set aside.
  2. Using a sharp paring knife, carefully slice the vanilla bean pod lengthwise and scrape out the tiny black seeds with the knife tip. Set seeds and pod aside.
  3. In your heavy-bottomed saucepan, add the quartered figs, ⅓ cup (113g) honey, ¼ cup (60ml) water, lemon juice, vanilla seeds, and the scraped pod. Stir gently to combine.
  4. Place the pan over medium-low heat. Bring the mixture to a gentle simmer, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking. Let it cook uncovered for about 25-30 minutes until figs soften and syrup thickens.
  5. To test for doneness, place a small spoonful of preserves on a chilled plate and let it cool for a minute. If it wrinkles when pushed with your finger, it’s ready. If not, simmer a few minutes longer and retest.
  6. Once done, fish out the vanilla bean pod and discard.
  7. Carefully ladle the hot preserves into clean glass jars, leaving about ¼ inch (0.5 cm) headspace. Seal with lids while still warm.
  8. Let jars cool completely at room temperature before refrigerating. The preserves will thicken further as they cool.

Notes

Stir gently and consistently during simmering to prevent scorching. Use fresh, ripe figs for best texture and sweetness. Test the set with the chilled plate method. Sterilize jars before filling to prevent spoilage. For vegan version, substitute honey with maple syrup or agave nectar. Optional cinnamon stick or chia seeds can be added for flavor and texture variations.

Nutrition

Keywords: fig preserves, homemade jam, honey fig jam, vanilla bean preserves, small batch preserves, easy fig recipe, gluten-free, vegetarian, vegan option

Find it online: https://bakebelle.com/homemade-fig-preserves-with-honey-and-vanilla-bean-easy-small-batch-recipe/