Chorizo With Sweet & Sour Figs

One of the dishes I made for my old world/new world fiesta was chorizo with sweet & sour figs. Old World/New World Fiesta This was something totally different, and very good. They were also another big hit, though in all honesty, everything was. 🙂

I love all kinds of fruits and vegetables. I am from California, after all, the land of fruits and nuts. 🙂 But I don’t buy that many fruits any more, especially fresh fruits, because I can’t eat them all at once before they go bad, and Larry is not a big fruit person. But I do love them.

It is believed that figs were first discovered in Asia Minor, then spread along the spice trade routes through the Mediterranean, and to the rest of the world from there. Figs have been around seemingly forever, and have been around since before recorded history. They are the oldest fruit, in the world. Figs have been cultivated for thousands of years, and they have been an important part of many ancient cultures, including those of the Mediterranean and Middle East. The fig was mentioned in the Bible, and it is believed to have been a staple food for the ancient Greeks and Romans.

From a spiritual symbol to a luxurious treat, the fig tree is steeped in ancient meaning and for millennia, has symbolized wisdom and success in an abundance. Fig trees were so highly valued by the ancient Greeks that it was considered an honor to bestow upon the winner of various competitions.

In Roman times figs were considered to be restorative. They were believed to increase the strength of young people, to maintain the elderly in better health and to make them look younger with fewer wrinkles.

Chorizo is a type of pork sausage that has been a staple in Spanish and Mexican cuisine for centuries. Originating in Spain and brought to the New World by Spanish settlers, chorizo is made from ground pork and a variety of spices. The sausage is typically seasoned with smoked paprika and garlic, and can be found in a variety of styles, ranging from mild to spicy.

Mixing the sweet figs together with the spicy sausage and a sweet & sour sauce was just a perfect combination of all these wonderful taste sensations.

Chorizo with Sweet & Sour Figs

In both Spain and Mexico, there are lot of different varieties of chorizo. But here, not so much. When I was out purchasing all my ingredients, I wasn’t finding what I was looking for. There was a very nice Mexican lady explaining something to someone else nearby, and I asked her to help me as well. I explained what I was trying to make and asked her advice for the best type of sausage to use. She recommended I use Andouille sausage. She was very helpful and the dish came out perfect. Muchas Gracias Senora.

2 lbs smoked chorizo links or Andouille sausage links, sliced in large chunks on the diagonal

1 TBSP garlic

2 cups dried figs

1 1/4 cups boiled cider or sherry vinegar

2/3 cup black mission fig balsamic vinegar

1 cup dark brown sugar

1 1/2 cups water

1 1/2 tsp cinnamon

1 tsp ground cloves

fresh chopped parsley

olive oil

Get a large skillet very hot and then add the olive oil and the chorizo pieces. Cook for about 2-3 minutes per side, or until the chorizo is browned.

Place the figs, along with the water, vinegar, brown sugar, and spices, into a large heavy saucepan. Bring to a boil, then reduce to a simmer and continue to cook for about 10 minutes or so, or until the sauce thickens a bit.

Then combine the figs and sauce with the cooked chorizo. Sprinkle the chopped parsley on top and serve it up. This is a definite treat for your taste buds, with sweet, sour and spicy all in one bite. !Esta mui rico!

Walk on the wild side a bit, and venture out to try new things. You just might surprise yourself. Have a great day and make everyday great. Stay safe and stay well. ‘Til next time.