Friday, January 29, 2010

Fig Frangipane Pie


Despite the heat on the Australia Day holiday (around 33 degrees Celsius), I couldn't help myself and I baked. On the weekend, I had found fresh figs that were reasonably priced, and I knew exactly what to do with them.

Ages ago, I had seen a newspaper article on Jamie Oliver's Fig Frangipane Pie. Alas, this recipe is in a book that I do not have, so after trawling the Net for a while, I found that Hungry Oyster had posted the recipe, which you can find here. Hooray! (I was keen to have exactly this recipe, because the last fresh fig tart I made did not light my fire - primarily because I like my fresh figs to be cooked.)

Here are the figs pre-transformation - aren't they lovely?


This is my pie pre-baking - note the open, flower-like fig arrangement:



Unfortunately, during baking, some of my lovely fig "flowers" closed up, pushed together by the frangipane - oh well.

Here's a peek inside at the finished product:


And the verdict? Delightful! Delicious! The pie shell dough was difficult to work with, and I ended up having to roll it between two sheets of baking paper to stop it sticking and tearing, but the icing sugar in the recipe gives the pie shell a lovely flavour. The frangipane is smooth, creamy and delicious, and the fresh figs drizzled with sugar syrup and sprinkled with lemon zest, chopped almonds and thyme, then gently baked, are out of this world! I loved this pie.

Unfortunately, my work colleagues may not have loved this pie as much, as by mid-afternoon, there was still one piece left. (Perhaps they were scared off by the whole fig sitting plumply in the middle of this slice?) However, I rejoiced, wrapping it up and having that piece for morning tea the next day.


This is a great special occasion dessert (or, if you are like me, any occasion). The flavours in the pie are magnificent - exotic, smooth and creamy. The pie also presents very elegantly. Love it!

15 comments:

Lorraine @ Not Quite Nigella said...

Oh my...I am positively drooling. I think this has got to be my favourite recipe of yours! :D Figs are just luscious nowadays aren't they!

Anonymous said...

Your fig flowers look lovely! It's so wonderful to bake something and love it so much.

I have some friends who are huge Jamie Oliver fans. I made his risotto and it was delicious! I'll have to try more of his recipes.

Anonymous said...

I love how you place all the figs. The pie looks absolutely stunning!

The Caked Crusader said...

This is gorgeous - I love the fig flowers! Beautiful

Finla said...

Wowo so so beautiful those figs. An ofcourse a tart is beautifull too.

Anita said...

Mmmmm... I've had the first two figs off my very small fig tree. They were lovely. Hopefully when I get more I can make a dish like this.

Gloria Baker said...

I love figs this look fantastic, hugss! gloria

aforkfulofspaghetti said...

That is spectacular! Wow! I'd love to have a go at making it (am very fond of figs and frangipane), but figs are so very expensive here. :(
It will have to wait for a special occasion.

Y said...

Looks like such a wonderful tart! I love the way the figs are presented. Must remember to buy some figs..

Ivy said...

Cake I am definitely bookmarking this to make late August. I love anything with figs.

Jennifer said...

This pie is gorgeous!

TLC said...

omg that sounds AWESOME! I may have to try it!

Gloria Baker said...

This look georgeous, aahh I love figs!! gloria

Anonymous said...

If there is anything I love in a pie, it's frangipane! And the lovely plump figs! All I ever get in Singapore are dried ones, and even those are hard to find. Envious!

Conor @ HoldtheBeef said...

Oh wow, this is AMAZING! I have a friend whose fig tree is going nuts right now... I think I may have to request some to emulate this awesomeness.

I am 100% that last-piece-shyness was the reason why that lucky last piece was left by your colleagues. It is not an issue in my household but seems to happen in polite company.