Here's a recipe for fig cake. It's really easy. It's not really a cake as there is no flour, egg or baking involved. It's more a layering of dried figs, almonds and spices made into a cake shape and then you just serve a small slice of it with cheese and some honey. It's often served with the cheese board in french or spanish restaurants and is totally yummy.
Fig cake
14oz dried figs ? use a mixture of varieties, try to source soft ones!
50ml honey
2 tbsp sesame seeds
½ tsp ground star anise
100g whole unblanched almonds
2 tsp finely chopped rosemary
Line a small loaf tin or round mould with cling film, leaving an overhang to cover the top. Set aside.
Lightly toast the sesame seeds in a small pan until just golden, then combine with the anise powder and set aside. Slice the figs vertically in half.
Press a solid layer of the figs on to the bottom of the mould, cut-side down. Sprinkle the figs with a heaped tablespoon of the seed mixture and drizzle about 2 tsp honey over the top.
Sprinkle half the rosemary over the top. Cover with another layer of fig slices, followed by 1 tbsp of seeds, then 2 more tsp of honey. Press half of the almonds over the figs, then drizzle another 2 tsp of honey over the nuts.
Add another layer of figs, followed by more seeds, then honey, the remaining rosemary and almonds.
Finally, top with a last layer of figs, cut-side down
Cover with the cling film, then cut a piece of cardboard to fit neatly inside the top of the mould.
Press down with weights for at least 2 hours ? ideally overnight.
Serve with cheese.