News Taffy

This past weekend, my sister brought a new salad to our Sunday dinner that was a huge hit. I had bought her some fresh figs from the ASU Farmer’s market because she loves them and they are hard to find locally. I’ve never given figs much thought but after eating that salad, you can be sure figs will become a regular part of our diet, or as much as I can include them given their scarcity. In addition to the Farmer’s Market, I have also seen them occasionally at one of the local grocery stores.

Fresh California figs (and I guess Arkansas figs) are available from June through October. They can be eaten fresh or dried and their unique texture and luscious taste combine well with many flavors and in many dishes from savory to sweet. Use them within a day or two of purchase or refrigerate them as they spoil quickly. One large fig has about 47 calories and 2 grams of fiber. Figs are a good source of the powerful antioxidants vitamins B6, C and K. They also contain potassium which helps regulate blood pressure, calcium which also helps your muscles contract and zinc which supports your immune system. Interestingly, dried figs are higher in nutritional value. You can find dried figs anytime of year and use them in salads, meat dishes, muffins or cake.

This salad is super simple to make but packs a lot of delightful flavors in each bite, as well as a good amount of nutrition. There are about 4 grams of sugar per serving but you could cut back on the honey just a tad.

Fig and Citrus Salad

2 navel oranges, peeled and sliced crosswise
8 large figs, sliced lengthwise in 1/4 inch slices
1 small red onion sliced thinly*
1 bag spinach (baby spinach will make a better presentation on the plate)
1/3 cup chopped walnuts, toasted

Divide spinach among salad plates. Place fruit and onion in a glass mixing bowl and pour dressing over it. Let sit for at least 10 minutes or up to 1 hour. Spoon fruit over spinach and sprinkle with walnuts. Makes 4 servings. *Note: you might only need 1/2 of the onion as you wouldn’t want to overpower the taste of the other ingredients.

Dressing
1/3 cup orange juice
2 Tbsp. balsamic vinegar
2 Tbsp. olive oil
1 Tbsp. honey
1/4 tsp. salt
1/8 to 1/4 tsp. red pepper flakes, depending on the level of heat you enjoy

To make dressing, combine orange juice, balsamic vinegar, oil, honey, salt and pepper flakes in a bottle with a top. Shake well until thoroughly mixed.

Look beyond the familiar Fig Newtons and try some fresh figs today. I hope you are lucky enough to find some!