Fresh Fig Jam with Chia Seeds

What do you get when you combine the 'food of the gods' with the 'superfood of the Aztecs'?

Well, you get my Fresh Fig Jam with Chia Seeds.

A whole slew of ancient gods gobbled up figs and as you know from reading my Chia Seeds 101 post, the Aztecs blew thru their intense "to do lists" because they consumed pounds of Chia Seeds.

Decadently delicious & healthy you will love this jam.

Before I get to the very simple recipe, a bit or shall I say a bite, about figs.

Figs have been around since pre-historic times.  They are featured in ancient rituals & in the Bible (what is that your wearing Adam?).  Figs were brought to California in 1769 by a missionary & planted in San Diego.

California is the only state to grow figs commercially.

Figs are technically inverted flowers not fruits ( oh, that is good trivia ).  Each fig has over 1,000 blossom seeds inside.

They possess a richness & depth of flavor that pairs well with sweet or savory.

Ripe figs are very soft, supple to the touch to the point of almost shriveling.  Unlike a banana, a fig will not continue to ripen on the counter.  

Ripe figs are so fragile they don't travel well.  So despite their rather long growing season ~ late summer to November ~ you may not see them where you live.

I almost didn't & I live in California.  But two days ago, my dear friend & fabulous real estate agent, Lynette was standing on my porch with a platter spilling over with just picked figs from her very own tree!!

Am I the luckiest girl or what?

If you are reading this Lynette, it bears repeating ~ THANK YOU !

Like the gods would have, I indulged in a few fresh figs with a glass of rose' and some cheese ~ heavenly!

A few more for dessert...

But there were so many & figs are very perishable so to literally preserve the flavor I made jam with the rest.

Below is my recipe.  

If you are lucky enough to know Lynette ask her for some figs.  If not look for them at your markets & indulge.  

Fresh Fig Jam with Chia Seeds ~ the recipe

Ingredients:

• 2 pounds of fresh figs
• 1 and 1/4 cups of sugar
• 1/4 cup fresh squeezed lemon
• 1 tsp lemon zest
• 1/2 cup water
• 2 tablespoons Chia Seeds

Steps:

• stem (cut off a tiny bit of each end of) the figs
• chop figs into 1/2 inch pieces
• put figs in a non-reactive sauce pan
• sprinkle sugar over figs & mix
• let fig/sugar sit for 15 minutes
• add water, lemon & zest - stir
• bring mixture to a boil
• turn down heat 
• add in Chia seeds
• simmer for 30 to 40 minutes ~ stirring occasionally
• once jam is thickened remove from heat & let cool
• scoop into clean jars with caps
• refrigerate & enjoy!

This recipe makes approximately 2.5 pints.  Two pounds of fresh figs = about 18 medium or 24 small.

No pectin is used or needed the Chia seeds plump up in liquid.  The texture is all fruit & fabulous.

I will be spreading my Fresh Fig Jam with Chia Seeds  on a baguette with goat cheese, mixing it into my greek yogurt and topping slices of pound cake with it with a dollop of fresh whipped cream.

So many uses ~ so few figs left ... need to text Lynette !

Enjoy,

** Kelly **