SAEDNEWS: Moraba-ye Anjir (Persian Homemade Fig Jam), an iconic preserve from Iran, invites visitors to experience a classic taste of Persian home cooking — delicate figs simmered in saffron-scented syrup and finished with rosewater and cardamom, making it a fragrant souvenir and an essential introduction to regional sweet preserves
One of the best fruits for strengthening the immune system is the fig. Whether dried, fresh, or prepared as jam, it is nourishing and beneficial for the body.
Fig jam is one of the most delicious preserves. It can be made with both yellow and red figs; however, for color and visual appeal after cooking, yellow figs tend to look better. It is best to use figs that are neither crushed nor too unripe.
Item | Details |
---|---|
Preparation Time | 10 minutes |
Cooking Time | 1 hour |
Per 100 g | 60 kcal |
Ingredient | Amount |
---|---|
Figs | 1 kg |
Cardamom | 2 pods |
Sugar | 800 g |
Water | 2 cups |
Rosewater | 1 tablespoon |
Saffron | As needed |
Lemon juice | 1 tablespoon |
Cinnamon stick (optional) | Small piece |
How to cook fig jam (Moraba-ye Anjir):
First, wash the figs and remove any crushed or overly soft fruits. Poke each fig once with a toothpick so the syrup can penetrate the fruit.
Put the water together with the sugar and cardamom on high heat until the sugar dissolves and the mixture gains a slight thickness.
Add the figs along with the lemon juice, the cinnamon stick, and the saffron, and let them simmer. Skim any foam from the surface so the jam becomes clearer.
After about twenty to thirty minutes, when the figs are cooked, take one spoonful of the fig syrup and pour it onto a plate to cool — test the consistency because the jam firms as it cools. If the syrup has reached the desired consistency, add the rosewater and wait a few minutes, then turn off the heat. If it needs more reduction, leave it to cook longer.
After the jam has cooled, transfer it to a sealed container and store it in the refrigerator.
Before consumption:
Fig jam is traditionally considered to have a warm temperament.
Benefits of fig jam:
Figs are used to treat many ailments. In religious texts and by traditional physicians, figs — along with olives — are mentioned as among the best fruits.
Research has shown that the calcium in figs can be comparable to the calcium in milk.
Every 40 grams of fresh fig can supply daily potassium and calcium needs.
Figs are very useful in treating anemia. They are particularly beneficial for growing children and adolescents and for pregnant women. Figs also have excellent benefits for skin and hair.
Figs can help with insomnia and help relieve anemia.
They are also excellent for constipation and assist in the treatment of hemorrhoids.
Other benefits include support for hair health, memory, oral and dental health, and lung health, among others.