290352 Thu Sep 19 13:14:48 -0700 2002 9 27 General Chowhounding Topics 0 1575452 A vendor at the Farmer's Market here in San Francisco has been selling beautiful, large fig leaves for the past couple of weeks. Each week, I look at them wistfully and then walk past because I am not sure what to do with them. I hear that you can wrap fish in them, but how do you do that, specifically, using everyday kitchen items (ie, not a bamboo steamer)? What's the best thing to do with them? I am determined to purchase some this week! Thanks - Link: http://www.chowhound.com/topics/show/290330#1575212 Thu Sep 19 13:14:48 -0700 2002 0 jen maiser 1 1575456 make a sexy holloween costume. Thu Sep 19 13:34:38 -0700 2002 1575452 0 jake pine 1 1575457 I used them to garnish platters and the table at a party last week. Don't know of specific cooking uses - but I loved Jake's costume idea - go as Eve... Thu Sep 19 13:39:35 -0700 2002 1575452 0 tigerwoman 1 1575501 Ask the vendor - he probably has some good ideas. I'd be interested in hearing because I remember being told they weren't edible. I have a tree and would use them if I could; they're so big and beautiful. How about lining a cheese platter? Thu Sep 19 19:52:40 -0700 2002 1575452 0 suzannapilaf 1 1575507 The sap in fig leaves imparts a wonderfully fragrant coconut-like aroma when grilled. I use the recipe from Chez Panisse cookbook for our local king salmon when in season (you still have time!) along with the beurre rouge (use red wine instead of white). Fabulous accompanied by a Russian River Valley Pinot Noir. While it's messy, I bring the wrapped up bundles to the table and let each guest open up their own packet. Would not want to deprive them of that first hit of perfumed steam. Never fails to earn oohs and aaaaaahs! Thu Sep 19 22:03:28 -0700 2002 1575452 0 Melanie Wong 2 1575510 Touché. Thu Sep 19 22:50:42 -0700 2002 1575507 0 StriperGuy 1 1575526 Doing a fig leaf search I found a site with over 450 fig recipes. Although only uses fig leaves, the link is at the end for anyone who might want a few extra fig recipes. The lavandar fig tart sounded good. If you really were inspired, you could have an entire meal around fig leaves (recipe links and picture below): Appetizer: Grilled Fig Leaves Stuffed with Chevre Entree: Salmon in Fig Leaves with nasturtium butter Vegetable: potato torta baked on fig leaves Dessert: Peaches Baked in Fig Leaves I hope you do ask the vendor how they are used. Sometimes even the vendor doesn't know. They just provide them at customer's request. Sometimes the answer is a surprise no one ever thought of. Fig leaves have some medicinal uses. Andante cheese does a seasonal cheese wrapped in wine soaked fig leaves. It is called .... Figaro. It just smells so wonderful. I may be inspired to do some fig leaf cooking myself this weekend especially after Melanies description the salmon and some of these other recipes on the web. potato torta baked on fig leaves (scroll a few paragraphs down. this seems excellent). http://www.mv-voice.com/morgue/2001/2001_07_06.cook6.html Two Alice Waters recipes for Salmon (with a picture) http://www.diablomag.com/0108/dining1a.htm http://www.kingestate.com/show/xmlsite/xml-standard.xml/xsl-recipe.xsl/start_id-ipfeaebmnhfgilljkplbccfmnkfjecgibcjddhbd/ Grilled Fig Leaves Stuffed with Chevre Apricots Baked in Fig Leaves (although apricot season is over, peaches would probably work) http://fooddownunder.com/cgi-bin/recipe.cgi?r=6810 Fois Gras roasted in fig leaves with fig-port sauce and green almonds (have to wait until next year for this one). http://www.sanfranciscocuisine.com/recipes/firstcourses/foiegrasroasted.htm Fish Wrapped in Fig Leaves with Red Wine Sauce http://www.ksee24.com/recipes/recipe99/062499.htm Grilled Salmon in Fig Leaves with Fig Skewers http://www.sunset.com/sunset/Premium/Food/2002/09-Sep/Figs0902/FigsSalmon0902.html Link: http://fooddownunder.com/cgi-bin/search.cgi?q=fig&start=10662&page=4 Image: http://www.diablomag.com/0108/imgs/DMAG0108_009_AGT.jpg Fri Sep 20 03:46:49 -0700 2002 1575452 0 Stanley Stephan 2 1575695 Wow! Thanks Stephan! Can't believe I've been missing out all this time. My tree isn't a very reliable producer of figs, but I can at least enjoy the leaves. A favorite fig recipe of late is gorgonzola softened with cream cheese and a touch of mint spread on crostini and topped with black mission half or quarter. mmmm Sat Sep 21 15:10:23 -0700 2002 1575526 0 suzannapilaf 1 1575622 My favorite filling is ground lamb, mint leaves and rice baked in a lemon sauce. There are numerous versions of stuffed grape leaves, a classic dish of the Greek and Roman empires. Hot, cold, pickled, with or without meat. I never met a dolmade I didn't like. Fri Sep 20 20:42:29 -0700 2002 1575452 0 flavrmeistr 2 1575703 I hate to tell you this, but is a VAST difference between fig leaves and grape leaves...nothing could be as unappetizing as dolmi made with fig leaves. Sat Sep 21 16:53:04 -0700 2002 1575622 0 Jim H.