Fig cake (Greek: sikopita) is a cake prepared with fig as a primary ingredient.[1][2][3] Some preparation variations exist. It is a part of the cuisine of the Southern United States, Greek cuisine, and the Appalachian Mountains region of North America. It is also a part of the cuisine of Ocracoke, North Carolina, which has an annual fig festival.[4][5][6][7]
 Skillet fig cake topped with whipped cream | |
| Type | Cake |
|---|---|
| Course | Dessert |
| Serving temperature | Cold or warmed |
| Main ingredients | Fig fruit and cake batter |
| Similar dishes | Fruitcake |
Overview
editFig cake is prepared with fig as a main ingredient. Additional ingredients include typical cake ingredients, along with unique ingredients such as pecans, walnuts, pistachios, almonds, cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice and cloves.[1][8][9][10] Fig cake may be a moist cake, and may be topped with a fig-based sauce, honey, whipped cream or a glaze.[9][11][12] A buttermilk glaze is used atop some fig cakes.[12][13] Figs may be used to garnish the cake.[9] Fig cake may be prepared as a pudding cake,[14] a bundt cake, a layer cake and as a torte cake. It can be prepared as a gluten-free dish.[15] Fig cake may be baked in a skillet. Fig tarts may be prepared using fig as a primary ingredient.[16]
In cuisines
editFig cake is a part of the cuisine of the Southern United States[citation needed] and a part of Greek cuisine, in which it is referred to as sikopita.[2][3][17][18] Fig preserves is sometimes used in the preparation of fig cakes and sikopita.[8][3]
By region
editAppalachians
editFig cake and similar cakes have traditionally been served in the Appalachian Mountains of the eastern United States as a part of Old Christmas celebrations.[19] In this region, Old Christmas is celebrated through January 6 each year.[19] January 6th is the date of the arrival of the biblical Wise Men in Bethlehem.[19] Fig cake, along with similar cakes such as jam cake, prune cake and applesauce cake, are common in this region during the Christmas and holiday season.[19]
Ocracoke
editIn Ocracoke, North Carolina, figs and fig cake are a prominent part of the town's cuisine, and the town has an annual fig festival that includes a fig cake contest.[8] In Ocracoke, the cake was first prepared by Margaret Garrish sometime in the 1950s or 1960s, and the recipe was picked up by others in the town.[8] Fig cake is served at several restaurants in Ocracoke.[8]
See also
edit
References
edit- ^ a b Chiffolo, A.F.; Hesse, R.W. (2006). Cooking with the Bible: Biblical Food, Feasts, and Lore. Greenwood Press. p. 92. ISBN 978-0-313-33410-8.
- ^ a b "Sykomaida". TasteAtlas. Archived from the original on 28 November 2024.
- ^ a b c "Sykomaida (sykopita or sikopita)" (in Greek). Archived from the original on 28 November 2024.
- ^ "The Ocracoke Fig Festival". Ocracoke Preservation Society. Archived from the original on 28 November 2024. Retrieved 28 November 2024.
- ^ "Ocracoke Fig Festival". Archived from the original on 28 November 2024. Retrieved 28 November 2024.
- ^ "Ocracoke to host its annual "Fig Festival" in August". WNCT-TV. 22 July 2021. Archived from the original on 28 November 2024.
- ^ Fox, Gene (15 July 2021). "The Ocracoke Fig Festival". Washington Daily News. Archived from the original on 28 November 2024.
- ^ a b c d e Weigl, Andrea (1 September 2015). "Learning to make a better fig cake". The News & Observer. Retrieved 28 November 2024.
- ^ a b c Yen, Donna (25 June 2015). "Cake of the Day: Honey Fig Cake With Pistachios". Yahoo!. Retrieved 2 January 2016.
- ^ Tanis, David (August 16, 2013). "Fig and Almond Cake". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 28 November 2024. Retrieved 28 November 2024.
- ^ Greenspan, D. (2013). Baking: From My Home to Yours. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. pp. 198–199. ISBN 978-0-547-34806-3.
- ^ a b Slowe, Betty (30 September 2015). "Betty Slowe: Orient Express Fig Cake". The Tuscaloosa News. Archived from the original on 20 December 2016. Retrieved 2 January 2016.
- ^ Yeager, Andrea (22 July 2015). "Cook's Exchange – It's a fine year for figs". Bradenton Herald. Retrieved 28 November 2024.
- ^ Benton, G.A. (24 December 2015). "Peppered with style: Wonderful Salt & Pine could be even better". Columbus Alive. Archived from the original on 26 December 2015. Retrieved 2 January 2016.
- ^ Hart, Susan (3 September 2014). "Susan Hart: Gluten-free chocolate fig cake". The Nevada Appeal. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 2 January 2016.
- ^ Janovich, Adriana (15 December 2015). "Fig frangipane tart makes a holiday statement". The Spokesman-Review. Retrieved 28 November 2024.
- ^ Halidia, Maria. "Sykomaida recipe" (in Greek). Archived from the original on 28 November 2024.
- ^ Petridou, Marina (18 September 2024). "Explainer: Everything you need to know about Greek figs" (in Greek). Archived from the original on 28 November 2024.
- ^ a b c d Lundy, Ronni (22 December 2015). "Celebrate Old Christmas with a taste of mountain nostalgia". Asheville Citizen-Times. Retrieved 28 November 2024.
Further reading
edit
- Weigl, Andrea (20 September 2014). "Your Signature Dish: Fabulous fig cake". The News & Observer. Retrieved 2 January 2016.