Brevas en Almíbar: Colombian Candied Figs
Brevas en Almíbar is a traditional Colombian sweet featuring figs slowly candied in a rich sugar syrup. It is a highly appreciated dessert, often prepared for special occasions, family gatherings, or shared during religious holidays.
The secret to this 3-hour and 20-minute recipe is scoring the base of the figs to allow the sweet syrup to penetrate deeply, and slow-cooking (calar) them over very low heat until they become perfectly tender, glossy, and glazed.
Brevas en Almíbar (Candied Figs)
A classic Colombian sweet! Whole figs scored and slow-cooked in a rich sugar syrup until perfectly tender and glazed.
Ingredients
- 1 kg Figs Brevas
- 7 cups Water
- 1.5 kg Sugar White or brown or Panela
- Lemon A few drops
Instructions
- Prep the figs: The very first step is to wash the figs thoroughly under cold water. Using a knife, carefully cut off the small top stems. Then, make a deep cross-shaped cut at the thickest part of each fruit's base.
- Initial boil: Place the scored figs into a pressure cooker along with 4 cups of water. Let them cook under pressure for exactly 10 minutes to soften their skins.
- Candy the fruit: After the initial cooking time, carefully open the pot and add the sugar (or panela) along with the remaining 3 cups of water. Lower the heat to a gentle simmer and let the figs slow-cook (calar) undisturbed for 3 hours.
- Finish and serve: Once the syrup is thick and the fruit is deeply candied, add a few drops of fresh lemon juice to balance the sweetness. Let the dessert cool down completely before serving!
Notes
- Preparation Tip: Many traditional cooks recommend soaking the raw figs in cold water for 3 hours prior to cooking. This helps the fruit release a natural, bitter milky sap found in their skins.
- Botanical Fact: The breva comes from the fig tree but is technically a flower that did not fully bloom. They are typically harvested earlier in the year (between June and July), whereas standard mature figs (higos) are harvested around August.
- Holiday Traditions: In several regions of Colombia, this specific dessert is a staple preparation shared among neighbors and family during Holy Week (Semana Santa).
- Popular Variations: Another widely consumed variation of this dessert in Colombia involves slicing the cooled, candied figs open and stuffing them generously with arequipe (dulce de leche) before serving.
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