Portugal is unbelievably blessed with an incredible selection of everything from seafood to fruits, nuts, wines, dairy, desserts, oil, salt, cured meats, breads, preserves, spices…you name it.

We still have food artisans that make fresh cheeses, cured meats & olives, hand made breads and pastries daily which are then sold at local markets for that days meal — so great quality food is very much part of our every day culture.

Figs

There’s so much to cover in the area of food, I’m excited to get started, but secretly fearing how much time I might have to invest at the gym.

Figo’s (Figs)! No I’m not talking about the soccer player, but rather another national treasure, the fig fruit. The fig has gotten a lot of attention from yes the soccer player, and previously the fig leaf, often associated with fashionable clothing in the days we didn’t have any. But the fresh fig fruit is one of my favorites and its back in season this very minute.

Algarve fig trees produce fruit twice a year, in spring the popular “Figo Lampo” and in fall a second coming with a number of mixed varieties. All of which I’m happy to report, are amazing when eaten fresh, with honey, cheese, in salads, baked, grilled, you name it.

Algarvios love figs so much, we make sure we have them all year round, so figs are often dried whole and enjoyed months later stuffed with almonds, cinnamon and spices.

We also have what looks like an enormous fig cheese, it’s a huge round that can be sliced much like a slice of cheese and its made from dried macerated figs, and there are lot of options in between, but regardless of the shape dried figs are generally consumed as an after dinner treat, with a fine brandy or aguardente. I’ll get more into the bevy of dried fig products, and their accompaniments in later posts.

I asked a family member with a fig tree to help me out with some figs for this post, if you know anything about “familia” in Portugal you’ll likely see what’s coming next.

I didn’t get a few figs…I ended up with dozens of figs and a few branches, the tree stayed in the ground for next year, but there was some arguing on how many figs I could reasonably consume in a few days. What resulted was a lot of amazing figs and some quick and easy ideas to share. Obrigada Tia and Berto!

Fresh Figs & Fresh Goats Cheese (Queijo Fresco de Cabra)

Fresh Fighs & Fresh Goats Cheese

Fresh Figs & Fresh Goats Cheese (Queijo Fresco de Cabra)
Prep time: 5min. (Do your best to get your hands on some good and authentic Queijo Fresco de Cabra; it makes a world of difference)

Ingredients: (Serves 2)
1 Queijo Fresco de Cabra – sliced
2 Fresh figs – Delicately rinsed and sliced
2 Tbsp Orange blossom Honey – to drizzle

Slice the Queijo Fresco and arrange on plate.
Slice figs and drizzle arrange on plate.
Drizzle with honey serve immediately. This is a very versatile concoction that makes for a wonderful breakfast, light appetizer or dessert at the end of a meal.

Note: Authentic Queijo Fresco is very fresh unmatured cheese, with a very mild flavor, similar to cottage cheese but firmer. It needs to be kept in refrigerator until served. It will also, “leak” if left on a plate or platter for too long, so I highly recommend plating it just before serving.

Figs Algarve

Grilled Fresh Figs
Prep time: 15min ~ Cook time: 20min ~ Preheat oven on grill to 400F/200C.

Ingredients: (Serves 6)
6 Fresh Figs – Rinsed and halved
1 tbsp – Light brown sugar
4 tbsp – Finely ground almonds
1 tsp – unsalted butter, softened
Pinch – cinnamon
Pinch – ground anis seed

In small bowl mix sugar, finely round almonds, spices and gently work in softened butter to make a crumbly mixture.
Slice figs in half then pat crumble mixture on open half of fig, should be about 1cm thick.
Place figs in shallow oven ware where they can fit snuggly against each other and not topple over. You can sprinkle with additional cinnamon if you like.
Grill for 15-20 minutes or until crumble turns golden brown.

Note: almonds in crumble can roast quickly depending on oven. Serve warm with vanilla yogurt as a side and sprinkle cinnamon or loose roasted crumble on yogurt as per taste.

Crusty Figs & Presunto
Prep time: 5min

Ingredients: (Serves 1 as a half sandwich)
Fresh crusty type bread
Presunto – Thin sliced porco preto (Black Pork Presunto)
Fresh figs – sliced
Butter – slightly softened

Cut slice of crusty type bread, butter bread as per taste.
Lay slices of Presunto on top of bread
Slice and spread fresh figs on presunto.

This can be served as a sandwich or cut in smaller portions and served as an appetizer.

Tips About The Algarve

The Algarve – A Vacation Like No Other

Take A Trip, A Sip and A Dip at Vilamoura!