Trash to Treasure

Guess what? I like figs, but then so do birds...

It seems like my spring crop of figs gets ruined by a late frost, and I never get my fill of the fleeting summer crop. Never fear, there is another part of the fig that is edible and often overlooked. The fig leaf! Perhaps your first thought is a draped fig leaf covering someone in a biblical scene. We need to change that association and our attitude about the fig leaf.

Fig leaves are perfectly edible and have a figgy, coconut flavor. They can be used in savory dishes as a wrapper or herbal component. Try adding some shredded leaves to give a fruitiness to your rice, or use it to wrap fish to keep it moist during cooking. On the sweet side, use it to add a tropical flavor to a dessert such as ice cream or custard.

There are plenty of fig leaves available…certainly more leaves than the actual fruit.