Sunday 9 October 2011

Honey Baked Figs with Cinnamon and Almonds

I didn't realise how big a sweet tooth i have until quite recently, i guess until i started blogging and started talking to you so much. Truth is i do have a huge sweet tooth. While I love my chocolate desserts very much, i am not picky at all. I don't think i would ever refuse any kind of sweet you want to offer me. Unless i am on a self imposed sweets ban that is, like i was for two months in 2008 when i found out i had gained too many kilos in too few preceding months. (so many in fact that unsuspecting colleagues with whom i only made polite conversation were telling me i look fat!) And as far as i recall, it was a while ago, that restriction was only that i should not buy any more sweets for myself. Which means i gladly ate a piece of cake at work, one that was brought to celebrate my boss' 50th birthday - it would have been rude not to, right? After all the man rarely spoke in office and had just confessed that he had spent more than half his life in that same company. One had to raise a toast (i mean eat cake) to this man's commitment i say, whether you were on a self-imposed sweets ban or not.
So you see, i will always find an excuse to eat sweets. And on days like now when there is no restriction, i don't find it easy to show restraint. My best bet is to find desserts that are light, that are okay to have second and third helpings of and you can't easily convince me that fresh fruit is dessert. My junk food loving brain simply won't accept it. You have to do something to that fruit to make me willingly ask for it, cook it, bake it, juice it, jam it, something, anything. There's always fresh fruit at home because that's the dessert the husband prefers. So when i found some fresh figs in the Hypercity supermarket in Hyderabad, i picked up a pack. Fresh, washed, cold figs were served to the husband after dinner, warm figs baked in honey with cinnamon and almonds were served to me, by ummmmm me. Here's what i did to those figs.
Inspired from here
Ingredients
  • 5-6 fresh figs
  • 2 tablespoons honey
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 2 tablespoons slivered almonds

Method
Preheat the oven to 350 F. Wash the figs and pat dry. Cut off the stems and make perpendicular cuts in each fig without cutting all the way through. See third and fourth pictures above. Arrange the figs in a single layer in a baking dish. Now on each fig pour about a teaspoon of honey, sprinkle a pinch of cinnamon powder and some slivered/sliced almonds. Bake in a preheated oven for 15-20 minutes. I took them out in 18 minutes. The figs will go soft and open up like a flower and the cinnamon will bring a delicious aroma. I have read that these taste good with mascarpone cheese.
But since i am linking this to Priya's event called 'fast food not fat food' being hosted by Archana, i have to tell you that this dessert tastes delicious without any fatty add-ons and has no sugar either.  
Also linking this to Smitha's event 'Healthy Cooking Challenge: Healthy Bakes' being hosted by Priya.  
Linking this to Sobha's Just 4 fun event at Good Food.


31 comments:

  1. Yummlicious recipe and a deliciously yumm click as well.Luv it.Have U tried it with Peaches?.

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  2. not yet, but thank you for the idea..

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  3. Wow this is sure yummy. Will try it with pears (as I brought them in today) Thanks for linking it to my event.


    I am hosting Fast Food not Fat Foot event. Do check out my event and send me your entries.

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  4. I haven't had fresh figs this year, I think this has to be remedied as your dessert looks temptingly good.

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  5. Am happy to have been able to send you an entry Archana.
    Thank you Shaheen, for the kind words.

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  6. Wow..that was real lovely one..baking makes it perfect!

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  7. Woww absolutely incredible,send them my guest hosting event dear..

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  8. Thanks for reminding me Priya, linked it to your event as well.

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  9. This is a good one to send to the FFNFF event :) recently found my love of figs too :) cheers, priya

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  10. First time to ur blog..Baked figs sounds healthy and delicious...

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  11. looks lovely! and really healthy
    -
    Kavi | Edible Entertainment

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  12. Priya @ Now Serving - Really happy to have been able to participate.
    Tina, Kavi - Thank you so much for stopping by.

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  13. hey thanks for your lovely comment on my page. love figs and this is a healthy way to satisfy my huge sweet cravings.

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  14. My love for fresh figs strated recently and i am eating these non stop. This looks lovely too.

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  15. I just can't wait to get figs now...super tempting cliks..:)
    Tasty Appetite

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  16. Thank you so much Sayantani, Kankana and Jay

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  17. Figs look terrific .. lovely presentation.

    For the mango pickle, you don't have to keep it in airtight container the first 10 days. I just loosely cover it with a lid. After that I store in glass bottles.

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  18. Thanks for the clarification Vardhini

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  19. Gorgeous! The figs look like butterflies--and delicious! Can't wait to try this recipe. Thank you!

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  20. Julie, Chanchal - Thank you for stopping by

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  21. These figs look superb and what a lovely dessert you made out of them.

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  22. I love figs especially when they are fresh like this. A drizzle of honey, sprinkle of cinnamon and almonds... can't stop imagining how simple yet delectable a treat this is. Beautiful pictures, La... if you don't mind my asking, what's your name? :)

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  23. Thank you both for your lovely words.. Nashira, now you know ;-)

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  24. Sounds like a great dessert and not too heavy too.

    That first part was some good piece of writing, La.

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  25. Thank you Anita. Very happy that you like my writing :)

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  26. That top photo is so good!

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  27. this looks yum...a unique recipe...you sure have a great collection of lovely and interesting recipes..Thanx again for linking this :)

    Join the Just "4" Fun event :)

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    1. Sobha, The pleasure is all mine. and thank you for the compliment.

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