Fig and Lemon Popsicles

17/11/2023

Fig and Lemon Popsicles are a refreshing and sweetly aromatic choice for hot summer days. Here I present a simple recipe to prepare them.

Ingredients

Fresh or dried figs, 250 g (if using dried figs, soak them in water for a few hours)
Lemon juice, 2 tablespoons
Grated zest of 1 organic lemon (to avoid wax and pesticides on the peel)
Sugar or honey, 3 tablespoons or to taste (adjust the sweetness according to your tastes and the sweetness of the figs)
Water, 200 ml (if necessary, to adjust consistency)

Preparation

Clean the figs by removing the stem and, if necessary, the skin. If you’re using previously soaked dried figs, drain the excess water.
Blend the figs in a mixer with the lemon juice, grated zest, and sugar (or honey) until you achieve a smooth mixture. Adjust the sweetness by tasting and adding sugar or honey as you like.
If the mixture is too thick, gradually add water until you reach a consistency that can be easily poured into popsicle molds.
Pour the mixture into the molds, leaving a little space at the top to allow for expansion during freezing.
Insert the popsicle sticks and freeze for at least 4-6 hours or until fully solidified.
To remove the popsicles from the molds, hold them under warm running water for a few seconds, then gently pull the stick.

Curiosity

In Italy, especially in Sicily, figs are highly appreciated and used in both sweet and savory cooking. For an all-Italian variation, you might add chopped almonds to the mixture or replace some of the sugar with limoncello for a typically Italian alcoholic touch. Remember, however, that the addition of alcohol can affect the final consistency of the popsicle, making it less solid.