Believe it or believe it not, the once humble fig has now become de rigueur as a food ingredient for summer 2018. This new trend is sweeping across the globe, first gaining traction in Australia with the appearance of fig cronuts and fig wedding cakes, and is scheduled to hit the UK and Ireland in late summer when figs truly come into season.
It is amazing to think that the fig was once prescribed to treat coughs, hoarse throats and many other minor ailments, but now in 2018 figs are being used to bring our food photos to life on Instagram. Of course it is undeniable that there are certain health benefits associated with the consumption of figs, not least of which is as a source of dietary fibre, but their versatility for cooking is now really coming to the fore.
Figs work so well in both savoury and sweet dishes, reduced down into jams and chutneys as well as being used to sweeten baked goods. We also couldn’t forget Fig toast, a fabulous addition to any breakfast or brunch, often made with cream cheeses such as ricotta and mascarpone and garnished with honey.
Based on this insight, if you are a retailer or a foodservice operator, you may want to consider adding figs to a deli item or one of your menu items this summer. You might just be surprised at how well they are received by your customers!
At ARYZTA we are now looking at ways to incorporate this super fruit into some of our breads and pastries so watch this space.
