This is an easy recipe for homemade fig jam using fresh figs. It’s low in sugar and doesn’t contain added pectin. Enjoy with cheese, savory appetizers or spread over brioche or challah.
In this post, you will find useful tips, FAQ’s and a recipe card with detailed instructions on how to make fig jam with fresh figs.
What to do with figs?
If you have a ton of figs on hand but no idea what to do with this delicious fruit apart from eating it from fresh, I have a few ideas for you:
The easiest way to use up figs is to make a fig jam which if you can following the canning guidelines should last for ages in your pantry. You could also give it to your friends as a Christmas gift.
Or make fig preserves! They are basically like a jam, but made with chunks of fruits.
Fig tart is another delicious fig recipe and you can pretty much experiment with crust and filling (or use your favorites) and top the tart with fresh figs and some chopped nuts. I love using puff pastry as it only takes about 12 minutes to bake it which makes a great and quick dessert.
Perhaps you are planning a party or family gathering, so why not turn them into delicious fig appetizers? Prosciuto fig crostini is my favorite!
What cheese goes with fig jam?
- Goat cheese
- Camembert
- Brie (try baked brie with fig jam)
- Manchego
If you are not sure, you could just prepare a simple antipasti platter or cheese board and serve fig jam in a small bowl alongside the rest of the ingredients. That way your guests can try it and add as much/little as they like.
Do you peel figs before cooking?
There is no need to do it especially for this fig jam recipe. Doing so you would lose a lot of the good stuff that is in their skins.
Also, the skins will thicken the jam and your yield will be greater.
Useful tips
- Don’t panic if your jam needs more time on the stove. Just cook until you like the consistency. Just note that it will thicken once cooled down.
- An easy way to see whether your jam is runny or not is by pouring some onto a chilled saucer and letting it set for a while. A thick jam will not spread much.
- Don’t forget to sterilize your jars and lids! I water-bath them for 10-15 minutes in boiling water.
- This recipe can be easily doubled.
More homemade jam recipes you might like:
A few notes:
Fig jam is popular in the Mediterranean. Any time I think of this deliciousness, I think of our trip to Greece and all the foods we tried and edible souvenirs we brought home with us. Like this jam.
But, you don’t have to travel to enjoy a good food. You can make it yourself, so why not try!
Enjoy!
Fig Jam
Ingredients
- 2 pounds Fresh Figs (900 grams), see note 1
- ½ pound brown Sugar (225 grams), see note 2
- 1 medium Lemon , juice only, see note 3
- ¼ cup Water
Instructions
- Put a saucer in the freezer so you can check the consistency of the jam later on.
- Wash the figs well under running water. Cut the stems off and cut each fig in half. Transfer to a food processor and puree.
- Pour the mixture into a large-bottomed pot. Add sugar, lemon and water. Stir. Cook on high for about 10 minutes, stirring constantly.
- Reduce the heat to low and simmer for at least 30 minutes, stirring from time to time (at the beginning you might need to stir more frequently than towards the end – you want to avoid the jam “spitting”).
- If you are not sure that the thickness of the jam is to your liking, take the saucer out from the freezer and spoon some jam on. Cool a bit or place back in the freezer for 1-2 minutes. Check with your finger or spoon to see if thick enough. If not runny and you like it, turn off the heat otherwise continue cooking.
For fridge: Pour jam into sterilized jars and seal with a lid. Cool completely before storing it in the fridge.
For pantry: Pour jam into sterilized jars and seal with a lid. Can in water bath for 15 minutes, take out and let cool completely before storing in the pantry.
Notes
- Any variety – the riper the better.
- Either brown or white sugar will work. ½ pound is about 1 heaped cup.
- You should get about 6-7 tablespoons of lemon juice out of your lemon.
- Please take the cooking time as a guide only. You can cook it longer for a thicker jam or shorter for a thinner jam, if you like. Remember, it will thicken more once cooled completely.
- Always sterilize your jars and lids before using them. When pouring hot jam into glasses, use warm glasses to avoid possible breaking due to temperature difference.
Dannii says
What a delicious way to use figs. I am definitely going to have to give this a try.
Lauren Vavala says
I can’t believe that I’ve never worked with fresh figs before. I love fig jam and always buy it around the holidays for cheese boards, but I think I’m definitely going to make it fresh this year – thanks for a great recipe!
Julia | Happy Foods Tube says
You are welcome!
Beth says
Yummy! This looks so delicious and tasty! I can’t wait to make this!
Julia | Happy Foods Tube says
Thanks, Beth.
Pam says
This is awesome because my neighbor has a fig tree and she has been giving them away.
Julia | Happy Foods Tube says
Wish I had a neighbor with a fig tree! :)
Lizet says
This fig jam looks so delicious. I’ll use white sugar, as that is what I have on hand today. I hope it turns out as amazing as yours!
Julia | Happy Foods Tube says
It will be equally delicious, Lizet! Happy jam making! :)
Gary says
This came out great. I have black figs, called chicago hardy, so I can grow them in zone 6. This is its second year, and the first time I only got about ten fig, that we ate fresh. I have alot of figs on the tree , but I only get a couple a day. I hope they ripen before the frost.
Julia | Happy Foods Tube says
That is so good to hear, Gary! Thanks for your feedback. I hope to have a fig tree in my garden one day :). They are so tasty!
Daphne says
Very successful. Yummy flavor
Julia | Happy Foods Tube says
That’s great to hear!
Cheryl says
First time making this….easy peasey and delicious
Roger says
I’ve been making jam like this for 50 years simple often use white sugar I like sugar figs and in a separate jam tamarillo and pineapple mix