Foraged Figs for Lunch
Now is the time to pick wild figs in Provence. White and violet figs alike are ripe on the wild ‘figuier’ trees that grow anywhere close to water sources here in Provence. I’m always amazed how these resistant (almost invasive) trees can root themselves between rocks and grow 30 feet tall. Last year, I’m assuming due to the abnormal amount of rain we experienced, the fruit on the wild varieties didn’t ripen. This year, there’s an abundance. You may need a ladder to get to the fruits of wild specimens as they can grow quite tall.
Eat figs fresh off the tree (often best just picked and warmed by the sun) or bake them with 2 teaspoons of sugar and 2 teaspoons of honey in a medium-high oven for 12 minutes. Or, bake them drizzled with honey and balsamic oil. Delicious in salads combined with greens and other roast veggies.
I actually came home to this for lunch one day. Isn’t my man amazing??!
We ate the figs pictured with baguette and fresh local goat’s cheese. Yum. A treat savoured particularly because it is so very seasonal.
Heaven for Foragers
You can also forage wild asparagus, arugula, all kinds of wild plums, thyme, rosemary, savoury, fennel, wild onions and of course mushrooms here in Provence. We’re spoiled!
My wife and I just drove past an abandoned (for sale) house with an enormous black fig tree (Caromb Figue Noir) in our home village of Bedoin (in the Vaucluse). The ripe figs were just falling to the ground, unused. The neighbor told us we were welcome to pick as many as we wanted. Ten minutes later we left with a bounty of beautiful, sweet (and free) figs!
That is wonderful! You’re lucky to live in such a beautiful village. What did you do with them? Jam? Tart? There’s nothing more satisfying than free and delicious food!
I love figs, and enjoyed picking them directly from the trees when I lived in Provence – no such luck in Denmark! At least I can still buy them here. One of my favourite uses for them is on pizza, it works surprisingly well 🙂
On Pizza! I can imagine them with goat cheese and rocket. What do you put with them?
Yes, goat cheese would be good too! My favourite is with serrano ham, blue cheese, mascarpone, honey, and garlic.. Best pizza ever 🙂
Wow! I’m going to have to try that!
Superb Website.
Thank you! Please sign up to the newsletter to receive updates!
I have a fig tree but it gets swormed with Beatles. Does anyone have any advise on what I can do to ward them off?
I have a friend who owns a plant nursery here in Provence. I’ll ask him!
Chuck some Rolling Stones at them 🙂
ha!