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RECIPE

Freekeh figs in citrus sauce

Seasonal figs are filled with a hearty grain-based stuffing for a Succot special dish

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Instagram: @chefamirbatito

  • For the stuffing: Fry the onion and the red chilli in the olive oil until golden.
  • Strain the freekeh, add it to the pan with the spices, 1 tsp salt, ½ tsp black pepper and the pomegranate molasses. Stir. Add 150ml water and cook for 10 minutes. 
  • Add the chopped herbs and stir again. Taste and season if necessary.
  • Carefully slice off the top of each fig at the stalk end using a serrated knife. Keep the tops. With a teaspoon, very carefully hollow out some of the centre – putting the scooped-out fig flesh to one side. Be careful not to take out too much, or the figs will collapse.
  • Fill the hollowed figs with the freekeh mix and cover with the reserved tops.
  • For the sauce: Heat your oven to 200°C. Place the olive oil, scooped-out fig flesh, garlic, lemon, orange, red chilli and thyme in a large shallow, ovenproof, sauté pan with 120ml water, and cook for 5 minutes.
  • Place the figs carefully in the pan, drizzle with pomegranate molasses and date molasses and sprinkle with 1 tsp sea salt and ½ tsp black pepper. 
  • Bake in the preheated oven for 10-15 minutes, just to roast the figs (the stuffing is already cooked) and serve garnished with a handful of pomegranate seeds if you wish.
Ingredients

15-20 fresh figs, ripe but not too soft

For the stuffing:

250g freekeh, soaked in water for 2 hours

3 tbsp olive oil

1 finely chopped white onion 

1 finely chopped red chilli

1 tsp cumin

½ tsp cinnamon 

1 tbsp pomegranate molasses 

25 finely chopped mint leaves

8 finely chopped sage leaves

For the sauce:

4 tbsp olive oil

3 garlic cloves, sliced

1 lemon, sliced

1 orange, sliced

1 red chilli, sliced

6 fresh thyme stalks

1 tbsp pomegranate molasses 

2 tbsp date molasses (silan)

Garnish (optional):

Pomegranate seeds

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