Roasted Sweet Potatoes and Fresh Figs Recipe (2024)

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Cooking Notes

Meri

We ate this at room temperature, as suggested, and didn't particularly care for it. The figs were not at peak ripeness and that was probably part of the reason.
Today I heated the leftovers in the microwave and it was delicious. Heating also helped the figs soften and deepen in flavor. Heating changed this recipe from a "don't save" to "I'll make it again."

NB

To save time, the recipe in Jerusalem recommends using a store bought balsamic glaze. Trader Joes has a good one, as does Bertolli.

Rebecca S

Outstanding flavor and a beautiful presentation, to boot! I substituted organic un-sulfured dried figs (due to availability issues) and cut them into smaller piece. I also included soft goat cheese. We ate the dish warm. (The potatoes held up as leftovers the next day, also warmed.) A+!

DMF

Unlike revenge, this is a dish best served warm. I substituted pomegranate molasses for the balsamic reduction. Much simpler and it has the same sweet/sour flavor profile. I also added 4 or 5 mild red chiles to the hot chile and used extra green onions. Finally, I added a handful of baby arugula for color and flavor. With those modifications, this was very popular.

26 August 2016

Vegetarian, so no goat cheese, but added a bed of arugula. Delicious! I'll double the balsamic reduction though. :)

Jean

This took me 1 hour. I used dried, soaked figs in lieu of fresh, and they were very good, too.

Kristen

Delicious! I didn’t add sugar to the balsamic reduction, and it was plenty sweet enough. I served this dish on a bed of arugula and my whole family gobbled it up. I’ll make it again when I need to use up my seasonal figs. I like this recipe much better than making a jar of fig jam.

Rami

Made it first time as indicated but roasted the figs. Very nice. Second time didn’t have figs so roasted firm sliced plums. Very good result .

Thasin

We made this today. Delicious! Both the red chili and the goat cheese are essential for this dish's flavor. I will try it without the scallions next time - perhaps some asparagus?

Diane B

This was divine. We served it warm as a vegetarian entree with herbed wild rice w/chickpeas and almonds. I asked a neighbor for a few more figs from her tree just to have this again.

Emily Penfield

I am lucky enough to have made this in Puglia Italy. I found excellent organically grown sweet potatoes and beautiful, delicious figs ( local specialty). Rather than goat cheese I used another local specialty, cacioricotta...something found only here in the south and simply devine. It was so satisfying, so deeply delicious. Well worth it.

Tania

This is fabulous! Threw the figs into the scallion-chile mix for the last minute or so to warm them up. Served the whole dish warm and it was to die for.

Rachel

Used pomegranate molasses as suggested

Midwest Maven

I skipped the cheese and sprinkled very coarse salt on the sweet potatoes just before roasting, but otherwise followed the recipe. I confess to loving sweet potatoes in general, but these are over the moon.

Linda

Not sure where the adaptation is here as it’s identical to Ottolenghi’s recipe except for the units of measurement. I used the original recipe which calls for 40ml balsamic and 20g sugar. I only used 16g of sugar as the figs were very ripe and sweet. The level of sweetness was exactly right and the glaze was so very much better than commercial versions which are usually far too syrupy.

Schrodinger's Catppuccino

I was quite skeptical about the oil, scallions (green onion), and chili; it turned out to be marvelous! The savory completed the whole plate! Love it!

suzanne

I love this recipe! Any recommendations for substitutions for figs once they go out of season?

suzanne

My husband wants to peels the sweet potatoes but I am a direction follower. Who is correct?

Rebekah

Loved this! We subbed dried figs because we had them. Poach dried figs in the balsamic vinegar. Delicious.

MRR

Roasted some of the figs with the sweet potatoes, and then added more raw figs before serving.I have a very productive fig tree, and look forward to making this each fall.

Amy Outlaw

I've made this 2x now. I doubled the balsamic vinegar reduction and didn't add sugar as the sweet potatoes and fresh figs were sweet enough. I LOVE it!

jillthis was

During these Covid times, when people can no longer gather in the kitchen, and we entertain al fresco alongside patio heaters and under blankets, I’m always looking for a dish to make ahead so I can spend more time with our dinner guests. Atop a bed of homegrown lettuces, this was it!

Kathleen

This was OMG delicious! Used a red Fresno chili, which had just enough warmth for me. I also roasted the figs with a little honey at 500 degrees just until softened. When figs are not in season, I think pear (roasted?) might work as a substitute for the figs when those aren't in season.

stephen

Fresh figs are a rare find here in Maine, but I found some at Whole Foods in Portland. So I made this tonight. It was a hit! The only substitution was a sauteed onion since I didn't have any green onions. The goat cheese really makes the dish.I served it warm, as others have suggested.

Sandy

Delicious. I added small wedges of brie to give it a protein/fat punch as a meatless main. I served it warm, after letting the brie wedges halfway melt into the sweet potato spears. Fresh figs. And yes, I'll make this as often as possible until fig season ends.

Michele

We have fig trees, though we have to fight the squirrels for the fruit; so are fortunate in being able to eat ripe figs. Love this recipe, and because we have the fruit double the figs and halve the other ingredients (excepting the glaze) and eat it all for lunch for two.

Naf

Too much effort for an okay salad. The roasted sweet potatoes taste good. So do the sautéed green onions. But as a combined dish along with figs, it does have a cohesive great taste. I’ll pass.

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Roasted Sweet Potatoes and Fresh Figs Recipe (2024)

FAQs

How many figs should you eat in a day? ›

However, moderation is the key as dried figs are high on calories. It is recommended to limit portion size to about 2-3 figs per day. Moreover, dried figs serve as a healthy snack for gaining weight.

Will sweet potatoes spike blood sugar? ›

Sweet potatoes are a source of carbohydrates, which raise blood sugars,” says White. “People with diabetes can eat carbs but need to watch portions of foods with carbs.” What this means: Limit portions to half a sweet potato per meal or snack.

Why do you soak sweet potatoes before baking? ›

The cold water bath helps rinse the starch off the sweet potatoes so they're a bit more crispy. That said, if you do not have the time, you can still get crispy baked sweet potato fries by using high heat and a little drizzle of olive oil.

Do you peel figs before baking? ›

Fresh figs are great on cheeseboards, or in yogurt with homemade granola, but using them in baking is fantastic too! Fresh figs are delicate and rot quickly so I do store mine in the refrigerator to keep them longer. There's no need to peel fresh figs or cook them first, they'll bake beautifully in the oven.

What is the best time to eat figs? ›

Figs are high in fiber, and eating them first thing in the morning keeps you fuller for longer, which is why they take longer to digest, stopping you from absorbing more calories.

How many fresh figs should I eat a day to lose weight? ›

When it comes to raw fruit, you can easily have 2-3 figs in a day. If you are having dried figs, stick to 3 figs and do not have them without soaking overnight. Our body can absorb the nutrients and digest some dried fruits and nuts in a better way when they are soaked well.

When should you not eat sweet potatoes? ›

How to tell if sweet potatoes have gone bad. If your sweet potato is soft in spots, smells rotten, or oozes a mysterious liquid, that potato should be discarded. Another sign that sweet potatoes have taken a turn for the worse is if they start growing stalky purplish sprouts.

Why can't diabetics eat sweet potatoes? ›

Their glycemic index—how quickly they make blood sugar rise—can change depending on how you prepare them. While people with diabetes don't need to steer clear of sweet potatoes altogether, it's important to keep in mind the amount, type, preparation, seasoning, and accompanying side dishes when eating sweet potatoes.

Can I eat sweet potato everyday? ›

If you enjoy sweet potatoes, you can absolutely enjoy them daily. However, eating multiple sweet potatoes every day could cause a harmless condition called carotenodermia, where your skin turns yellow-orange. You may also want to be cautious about your sweet potato intake if you have a history of kidney stones.

What is the healthiest way to eat sweet potatoes? ›

Boiling sweet potatoes retains more beta-carotene and makes the nutrient more absorbable than other cooking methods such as baking or frying. Up to 92% of the nutrient can be retained by limiting the cook time, such as boiling in a pot with a tightly covered lid for 20 minutes.

Why are baked sweet potatoes sweeter than boiled? ›

When sweet potatoes are boiled, the temperature doesn't get above 100°C, so this flavour development doesn't happen. The breakdown of starch into simple sugars during baking also helps by creating more substrates for these reactions, leading to a more fragrant and flavoursome result.

Should I boil or bake my sweet potatoes? ›

Baking can also cause an 80% drop in vitamin A levels, twice as much as boiling. Therefore, from a nutritional standpoint, boiling rather than baking should be recommended for cooking sweet potato.

Why put baking soda on figs? ›

Alkalinity breaks down the structure of plant cell walls. I assume the purpose of this baking soda bath is to soften the structure of the fig. That's why yours softened so much. If you want to maintain the structure of the fig, try using an acidic bath, as acidity helps to maintain plant cell structure.

Should you wash fresh figs? ›

Like strawberries, which can get moldy if exposed to too much moisture, it's generally not recommended that you wash figs as soon as you bring them home from the market. Too much moisture can cause the figs to spoil more quickly. Wash them right before eating.

Can I eat 4 figs a day? ›

By eating just 4 figs a day, you partake in fig benefits. Find ideas for mini meals that are easy or don't require recipes, incorporating 4 figs in them. Adding just 4 figs to your daily eating plan checks a lot of boxes: Power your day with nutrient-rich meals.

Is it safe to eat figs everyday? ›

You can enjoy figs in a variety of ways, but due to their high sugar content, you should only eat dried figs in moderation or use them as an occasional home treatment for constipation. To reap the benefits of figs, you can buy fresh figs, dried figs, fig leaves, or fig leaf tea to add to your diet.

Should you eat figs at night? ›

Figs are rich in magnesium, potassium, calcium and iron, making them a powerful sleep aid. These minerals all help with blood flow and muscle contraction which are crucial for falling asleep. They also contain high amounts of fibre, keeping you full through the night and preventing midnight cravings.

Why figs should be soaked before eating? ›

Figs are an excellent source of dietary fibre, and when soaked, their soluble fibre content increases. This aids in promoting a healthy digestive system by preventing constipation and supporting regular bowel movements, ensuring a smooth start to your day.

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