Fig And Cheese: Perfect Pairing With Butter

Fig jam is a delicious condiment with a unique sweet and savory flavor. Its complex taste profile, with notes of caramel, honey, and nuttiness, makes it ideal for pairing with a creamy, tangy, or sharp cheese. The right cheese pairing will bring out the best qualities of both foods, creating an unforgettable flavor experience.

What is fig butter?

Fig butter is a delicious spread made from fresh figs, often cooked down with other ingredients such as apple juice, lemon juice, vanilla extract, and cinnamon. It has a sweet, jam-like consistency with a "raisin" or "molasses" flavour from the figs. The sweetness of fig butter is balanced by a slight acidity, making it perfect for pairing with cheese.

Fig butter can be enjoyed in a variety of ways, including on morning toast, graham crackers, or vanilla ice cream. It can also be used in savoury applications, such as a glaze for roast chicken, mixed with Sriracha for a wing sauce, or spread over flatbread with blue cheese.

When it comes to pairing cheese and fig butter, or fresh figs, there are a few factors to consider. Firstly, the ripeness of the figs matters. Riper figs are sweeter and pair well with milder cheeses, while less ripe figs have a more tart flavour and complement stronger cheeses. Secondly, the texture of the cheese is important. Soft and creamy cheeses like brie or camembert go well with the sweetness of figs, as do harder cheeses like parmesan. Lastly, the acidity of the figs should be considered. The slight acidity of fresh figs pairs beautifully with creamier cheeses.

Some specific cheese and fig pairings to try include:

• Brie: Brie is a soft, creamy cheese with a mild, buttery flavour. Its rich, earthy, nutty, and grassy notes complement the sweetness of fig butter.
• Camembert: Similar to brie, camembert is a mild and creamy cheese that pairs well with the sweetness of fig butter.
• Blue Cheese: A stronger, more pungent cheese, blue cheese stands up to the sweetness of figs. It tends to be salty and sharp with a pungent aroma.
• Goat Cheese: The tangy and creamy texture of goat cheese, along with its distinctive flavour, is a perfect match for the sweetness of figs.
• Parmesan: Parmesan is a classic hard cheese that goes well with figs. It has a nutty and salty flavour that complements the sweetness.

What is fig jam?

Fig jam is a sweet spread with a hint of acidity, perfect for crackers and cheese. It tastes like caramelized figs, with added sugar enhancing the natural caramel notes. The sweetness of the jam is balanced by the saltiness of cheeses such as Parmesan, feta, and blue cheese. The jam also pairs well with creamy cheeses like Brie and Camembert, as their mild flavour doesn't overpower the sweetness of the jam.

When it comes to making a cheese board with fig jam, there are several factors to consider. Firstly, the ripeness of the figs: ripe figs are sweeter and pair well with milder cheeses, while less ripe figs have a more tart flavour and go better with stronger cheeses. The texture of the cheese is another important factor: soft and creamy cheeses like Brie and Camembert are excellent choices, as are harder cheeses like Parmesan. Lastly, the acidity of the figs should be considered. Fresh figs have a slightly acidic taste that pairs well with creamier cheeses.

Overall, a cheese board with fig jam offers a delightful combination of sweet and savoury flavours, with the unique taste and texture of figs complementing a variety of cheeses.

What are the best cheeses to pair with fig jam?

Fig jam is a unique, complex condiment with notes of caramel, honey, and nuttiness. Its sweet and savory flavor is difficult to compare to any other fruit jam. The right cheese pairing depends on the texture of the cheese, its saltiness, the level of tanginess, and the sweetness of the jam itself. Here are some of the best cheeses to pair with fig jam:

Aged Cheeses

Hard cheeses are perfect for pairing with fig jam. Their nutty and salty flavors complement the sweetness of the figs.

• Aged Cheddar is a classic cheese that pairs well with fig jam. Its sharp, tangy flavor and crumbly texture make it a perfect match for the sweetness of the jam. The longer the cheddar is aged, the sharper and more complex its flavor becomes.
• Aged Gouda is a Dutch cheese with a crunchy texture and a nutty, caramel-like flavor. The sweetness of the fig jam brings out the nuttiness of the cheese, making it a perfect pairing.
• Parmigiano-Reggiano, also known as Parmesan, is an Italian cheese with a sharp, nutty flavor. When paired with fig jam, the saltiness of the cheese brings out the sweetness of the figs.
• Pecorino Romano is an Italian sheep's milk cheese with a sharp and salty flavor that pairs perfectly with fig jam. The saltiness of the cheese complements the sweetness of the jam, resulting in a well-balanced taste experience.

Semi-Hard Cheeses

Semi-hard cheeses have a firmer texture and a milder flavor than hard cheeses.

• Fontina is a semi-hard Italian cheese with a buttery flavor and a distinct nuttiness. Its mild flavor won't overpower the sweetness of the jam, making it a great choice for pairing with fig jam.
• Gouda is a semi-hard cheese from the Netherlands with a rich, nutty flavor. It's a versatile cheese that can be paired with many different flavors, including fig jam.
• Gruyere is a Swiss cheese with a nutty and earthy flavor. Its salty, sweet, and nutty taste perfectly complement the sweetness of fig jam, creating a delectable flavor combination. The cheese's buttery notes also provide an excellent contrast to the fig's natural sweetness.

Soft Cheeses

• Goat Cheese is a favorite for many because of its mild and creamy flavor. Its sweetness complements the saltiness of goat cheese, making it an excellent pairing.
• Cream Cheese is a soft, spreadable cheese with a mild flavor and a smooth texture. The sweetness of the fig jam complements the mild flavor of the cheese, making it a great choice for bagels or crackers.
• Brie is a soft, creamy cheese with a buttery texture that works well with the softness of fig jam. Its mild flavor is enhanced by the jam's sweet notes, making for a deliciously harmonious pairing.
• Camembert is a soft, creamy cheese with a subtle taste and a similar flavor and texture to Brie. The sweetness of the jam complements the mild flavor of the cheese, and its creamy texture helps to spread the jam easily.

How do I serve cheese and fig jam together?

There are many ways to serve cheese and fig jam together, and they make for a classic pairing that has been enjoyed for centuries. The sweetness of the fig jam pairs perfectly with the creaminess of the cheese, and the contrast of the smooth cheese with the crunchy texture of the figs is delicious. Here are some ideas on how to serve them together:

Charcuterie Board

Create a delicious and visually appealing appetizer by arranging a variety of cheeses, cured meats, crackers, and fig jam on a board. This allows your guests to experiment with different combinations and find their favourite pairings.

Crostini

Spread fig jam on toasted baguette slices and top with your favourite cheese, such as goat cheese or brie. The neutral flavour and crispy texture of the bread will complement the cheese and jam, creating a well-rounded taste experience.

Grilled Cheese

Add a dollop of fig jam to your grilled cheese sandwich for a sweet and savoury twist. The possibilities are endless with this creative take on a classic comfort food.

Pizza

Spread fig jam on your pizza crust and top with your favourite cheese and other toppings for a unique and tasty creation. The sweetness of the jam will complement the savoury flavours of the cheese and other toppings.

Crackers

Try spreading some fig jam on a warm goat cheese log or a wheel of brie and serving it with crackers for a delicious appetizer. The jam will help spread the cheese more easily onto the crackers, creating a harmonious pairing.

Bagels

Cream cheese and fig jam is a great combination for bagels. The mild flavour of the cream cheese is enhanced by the sweetness of the jam.

Salad

Aged cheddar and ripe figs make a great addition to a salad, providing a sharp and nutty contrast to the other ingredients. You could also try adding some crumbled feta cheese and a drizzle of fig jam to your salad for a sweet and salty combination.

Toast

Goat cheese and fig jam on toast is an excellent pairing, as the sweetness of the jam complements the saltiness of the goat cheese.

When choosing which cheese to pair with fig jam, consider the texture, saltiness, and level of tanginess and sweetness in both the cheese and the jam. Experiment with different combinations to find your favourite!

What are some recipes that use fig jam?

Fig jam is a versatile ingredient that can be used in a variety of recipes, from appetizers to mains and desserts. Here are some ideas for recipes that use fig jam:

Appetizers and Snacks

• A classic pairing is fig jam with cheese and crackers. Some cheese recommendations include brie, camembert, blue cheese, gorgonzola, parmesan, goat cheese, manchego, or feta.
• For a more elaborate snack, try baked brie with fig jam. Simply cut the top off a wheel of brie, cover with fig jam, and bake.
• Fig jam can also be used as a topping for flatbread or pizza, paired with ingredients like blue cheese, prosciutto, arugula, and shaved parmesan.
• For a sweet and savoury snack, try oatmeal fig jam squares. This dessert bar combines a buttery oatmeal base with a layer of sweet fig jam.

Mains

• Fig jam is an excellent glaze or sauce for meat dishes, especially when paired with balsamic vinegar. It goes well with chicken, pork loin, and pork chops.
• For a unique sandwich, combine fig jam with ingredients like prosciutto, manchego cheese, arugula, and grilled chicken breast on a ciabatta roll.
• Fig jam can also be used in burgers, such as the "Good Manchego is Hard to Find" burger, which features caramelized shallots, fig jam, and manchego cheese.

Desserts

• For a simple dessert, spread fig jam on toast or use it as a filling for rugelach or thumbprint cookies.
• Fig jam can also be used as a cake filling or topping, adding a sweet and colourful touch.
• To make a sophisticated dessert, try a tarte soleil with fig jam and goat cheese, or a jelly roll cake with fig jam and whipped cream.

Other Uses

• Fig jam can be added to salads as a dressing or topping, especially when paired with ingredients like blue cheese, pecans, and mixed greens.
• It can also be used as an ingredient in homemade salad dressings, combined with olive oil, an acid like lemon juice or vinegar, and seasonings.
• For a unique twist, add fig jam to banana bread or muffins, reducing the amount of sugar in the recipe to account for the sweetness of the jam.

These are just a few ideas, but the versatility of fig jam means it can be used in many other ways as well.

Frequently asked questions