Drunken Fig Jam

Submitted by Mom2Rose

"Source: Bon Appétit (October 2008) Yield: Makes about six 1/2-pint jars"

 

• Ready In: 1hr 5mins
• Ingredients: 5
• Yields: 6 1/2 pint jars
• Serves: 6

ingredients

• 2 lemons
• 4 lbs ripe fresh figs, stemmed, cut into 1/2-inch pieces (preferably black)
• 4 cups sugar
• 3⁄4 cup brandy or 3/4 cup cognac
• 1⁄2 teaspoon coarse kosher salt

directions

1. Using vegetable peeler, remove peel from lemons (yellow part only) in long strips.
2. Cut peel into matchstick-size strips (about 3 tablespoons).
3. Combine lemon peel, figs, sugar, brandy, and 1/2 teaspoon coarse salt in heavy large deep saucepan; let stand at room temperature 1 hour, stirring occasionally.
4. Bring fig mixture to boil over medium-high heat, stirring until sugar dissolves.
5. Reduce heat to medium; continue to boil until jam thickens and is reduced to 6 cups, stirring frequently and occasionally mashing mixture with potato masher to crush large fig pieces, 30 to 35 minutes.
6. Remove from heat.
7. Ladle mixture into 6 hot clean 1/2-pint glass canning jars, leaving 1/4-inch space at top of jars.
8. Remove any air bubbles.
9. Wipe jar threads and rims with clean damp cloth.
10. Cover with hot lids; apply screw bands.
11. Process jars in pot of boiling water 10 minutes.
12. Cool jars completely.
13. Store in cool dark place up to 1 year.

Reviews

[Abby Girl]

DEVINE!!! I never thought I would find fresh figs in my area, (and I wasn't prepared to go to Vancouver just for figs!!) but didn't Costco just have them!! What a find!! I got a flat of 24 and it was just under 2 lb. So, I cut the recipe in half and used dried figs to make up the difference. This produced 8 - 125 mL jars. I used my stick blender to mash down the large chunks of figs. The only thing I would recommend is that when you get fresh figs, use them up fast. I got mine yesterday and they were already going soft (and they were refrigerated) I found that using my canner, especially for little jars, that they got "lost" on the canning rack, so I washed small white pebbles (the ones you get at a garden store), placed them in an old stock pot, filled the pot half way up the jars and processed for 10 minutes. The jars stayed in place and worked like a charm. My good friend from Montreal was visiting and had introduced me to this jam last month. He made a "stupid simple" appitizer of toasted baguette, some pate, goat cheese and the jam on top. It was so simple, but had an incredible taste!!! I have never heard so many collective groans together. This almost became our supper...it was that good! I an not normally a "toast and jam" person....but I would definately make this just to use as an appitizer! This recipe is so worth trying!!!

 

[cuccina mia]

Although I was familiar with canning from watching my mother make grape jelly when I was a child, this was my first canning experience! I used cognac in my fig jam recipe and I took a little shortcut by processing the figs, sugar, lemon peel, and cognac in the food processor before letting it sit for an hour. Everyone who tried my result was quite impressed. Thanks for posting!

 

[janie.stephens2222]

This jam turned out perfectly. I only had 2kg of green figs so halved everything and the brandy was a nice addition. Have tried many different fig jam recipes but this one worked seamlessly. Very happy with result!

 

[Lise T.]

BEST Fig Jam yet!!! I used the rind of 2 large lemons, and, because I didn't have brandy (used it all for Fig Brandy), used the same amount of Port. SOOOO very good! Thank you

 

[Schloppyjo]

I’ve made this jam several times now, but this last time all I had was an Orange cognac! Omg!!! Amazeballs. Soooo ridiculously delicious. My new go to recipe!