Good Neighbour

#EatNZKaitaki Archana Kurup shares the story of her generous neighbour's and their bountiful fig tree, plus a delicious recipe for semi-dried figs with honey to celebrate the harvest.

As somebody who doesn’t yet have the privilege of being able to grow food on my own land, how do I find local food? I peek into my neighbour’s gardens – not being nosey, just curious 😊. Facebook and local grapevines are a great way to peek over people’s hedges as well. What I have seen and learned from living in Pukekohe over the last 6 years is that almost everybody reaps more from their garden than they need or want.

Growing food is an act of love and nobody wants their fruits and vegetables to go to waste if they can help it. If you see a neighbour’s tree being weighed down by lemons go and ask them if you can have some. They probably had more than they knew what to do with and you just got free lemons while making them feel happy about being able to share their bounty. It’s a win-win.

Let me share my story of how I came across the most delicious figs I have ever had. Around 3 years ago, my partner returned from work with a box of figs that were gifted to him. I didn’t have very high hopes for them as I had encountered many beautiful figs but none of them tasted nearly as good as they looked. I then ate one of these figs and was delighted to have been wrong about them. I pushed my partner about asking whether there were more figs on their tree to share. Ever since then, we return to Helen’s home (with her permission😊) during fig season.

Like everything else, the fig tree also has a story. This one came as a cutting with her father when he was a young boy emigrating from Croatia. It was planted first in Helensville and then moved with the family when they settled in Te Kauwhata, North Waikato. They stand tall now showering us with the most delicious fruits. Helen gives us a call and lets us know when the figs are ready and then it’s a race to see who will get there quicker, the birds or us. In reality, of course, there is plenty for us to share.

This year with the glut of figs I brought back, apart from enjoying them as they were, I also turned them into delicious things – fermented fig & honey butter, preserved figs, fig leaf syrup & semi-dried figs in honey - which I’ve shared my recipe for below.

Semi-dried figs in honey (with rosemary and cinnamon)

INGREDIENTS

The best figs you can find – 20 (cut into half)

Local honey – enough to cover the figs in the jar

Fresh rosemary – 4 to 5

Cinnamon quills – 3

METHOD

-     Set the oven temperature to 100 degrees Celcius

-        Cut the figs in half and spread them out on a baking tray (cut side up).

-        Sprinkle rosemary leaves and cinnamon over and around the figs.

-        Leave it in the oven for 2 hours.

-        Add them into a glass jar and top with honey.

-        Wait for at least two weeks and then enjoy with savoury and sweet dishes.

There is so much food out there for us all. We just have to find a way to share and share alike.

Go be a good neighbour.

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Words and images by Archana Kurup - see more from her over on @eat.with.me.nz