Fig cake

Skillet fig cake topped with whipped cream
A fig cupcake
A fig cupcake

Fig cake (Greek: sikopita) is a cake prepared with fig as a primary ingredient.[1] Some preparation variations exist. It is a part of the cuisine of the Southern United States, Greek cuisine, and the Appalachian Mountains region of North America. It is also a part of the cuisine of Ocracoke, North Carolina, which has an annual fig festival.

Overview

Fig cake is prepared with fig as a main ingredient. Additional ingredients include typical cake ingredients, along with unique ingredients such as pecans, walnuts, pistachios, almonds, cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice and cloves.[1][2][3][4] The stalk of the fig plant may be used as an ingredient in fig cake, which may be broken-down using a food processor.[5] Fig cake may be a moist cake, and may be topped with a fig-based sauce, honey, whipped cream or a glaze.[3][6][7] A buttermilk glaze is used atop some fig cakes.[7][8] Figs may be used to garnish the cake.[3] Fig cake may be prepared as a pudding cake,[9] a bundt cake, a layer cake and as a torte cake. It can be prepared as a gluten-free dish.[10] Fig cake may be baked in a skillet. Fig tarts may be prepared using fig as a primary ingredient.[11]

In cuisines

Fig cake is a part of the cuisine of the Southern United States and a part of Greek cuisine, in which it is referred to as sikopita. Fig preserves is sometimes used in the preparation of fig cakes and sikopita.[2]

By region

Appalachian Mountains

Fig cake and similar cakes have traditionally been served in the Appalachian Mountains of eastern North America as a part of Old Christmas celebrations.[12] In this region, Old Christmas is celebrated through January 6 each year.[12] January 6th is the date of the arrival of the biblical Wise Men to Bethlehem.[12] Fig cake, along with similar cakes such as jam cake, prune cake and applesauce cake, are common in this region during the Christmas and holiday season.[12]

Ocracoke

In Ocracoke, North Carolina, figs and fig cake are a prominent part of the town's cuisine, and the town has an annual fig festival that includes a fig cake contest.[2] In Ocracoke, the cake was first prepared by Margaret Garrish sometime in the 1950s or 1960s, and the recipe was picked up by others in the town.[2] Fig cake is served at several restaurants in Ocracoke.[2]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 Chiffolo, A.F.; Hesse, R.W. (2006). Cooking with the Bible: Biblical Food, Feasts, and Lore. Greenwood Press. p. 92. ISBN 978-0-313-33410-8.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 Weigl, Andrea (September 1, 2015). "Learning to make a better fig cake". The News & Observer. Retrieved January 2, 2016.
  3. 1 2 3 Yen, Donna (June 25, 2015). "Cake of the Day: Honey Fig Cake With Pistachios". Yahoo!. Retrieved January 2, 2016.
  4. ↑ Tanis, David (August 16, 2013). "Fig and Almond Cake". The New York Times. Retrieved January 2, 2016.
  5. ↑ Bell, Annie (November 3, 2013). "Recipe: No-cook Spanish fig cake for cheese". Daily Mail. Retrieved January 2, 2016.
  6. ↑ Greenspan, D. (2013). Baking: From My Home to Yours. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. pp. 198–199. ISBN 978-0-547-34806-3.
  7. 1 2 Slowe, Betty (September 30, 2015). "Betty Slowe: Orient Express Fig Cake". The Tuscaloosa News. Retrieved January 2, 2016.
  8. ↑ Yeager, Andrea (July 22, 2015). "Cook's Exchange – It's a fine year for figs". Bradenton Herald. Retrieved January 2, 2016.
  9. ↑ Benton, G.A. (December 24, 2015). "Peppered with style: Wonderful Salt & Pine could be even better". Columbus Alive. Retrieved January 2, 2016.
  10. ↑ Hart, Susan (September 3, 2014). "Susan Hart: Gluten-free chocolate fig cake". The Nevada Appeal. Retrieved January 2, 2016.
  11. ↑ Janovich, Adriana (December 15, 2015). "Fig frangipane tart makes a holiday statement". The Spokesman-Review. Retrieved January 2, 2016.
  12. 1 2 3 4 Lundy, Ronni (December 22, 2015). "Celebrate Old Christmas with a taste of mountain nostalgia". Asheville Citizen-Times. Retrieved January 2, 2016.

Further reading

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Fig cakes.
This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the 10/28/2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.