Artibel Baked Calabrian Figs from

The southern Italian region of Calabria is famous for their Dottato of Cosenza fig. Prized for their honey-sweet aroma, juicy flesh and tiny seeds, the fruit even has its own government-issued Denominazione di Origine Protetta (DOP) recognition.

Artibel grows their own Dottato figs in the Cosenza province overlooking the Tyrrhenian Sea. Hand-harvested at the end of summer, they are immediately laid on mats to sun-dry, their sweet flavors concentrating under the heat. Finally, they are slowly baked until their natural sugars caramelize and begin to glaze the outside of the fruit.

An essential component to Calabrian holiday celebrations, these special figs are to be savored like candy. On cheese and charcuterie boards, they act as a sweet foil to funky blues, tangy goat cheeses and salty prosciutto. Try adding baked figs to the roasting pan towards the end of cooking pork loin or duck, or use as a stuffing for quail.