Excuse me while I type while my mouth is full. [gulp]
I don’t usually eat the recipe I’m posting while I’m posting it, but I seriously can’t get enough of this salmon. Who knew figs and salmon would go so well together, right?
The truth is, I would eat figs over cardboard. They’re that good. And with Rosh Hashanah coming, I couldn’t think of a sweeter fruit to incorporate into my holiday meal. Fig season is short, and I want to make the most of it before it’s gone!
It’s hard to believe that summer is really coming to an end, and the High Holidays are almost upon us. I see it in the seasonal fruit that’s making it’s way into the stores (yay for honeycrisp apples!), I feel it while I shop around for school supplies, uniforms and Yom Tov clothes. And I even smell it in the air as the summer days turn to cool nights, and the scent of fall creeps in. It’s sad to see summer go, but the New Year brings with it a fresh start and new possibilities.
I feel about the The High Holidays, the same way I feel about the first day of school. It gives me butterflies. And even though I’m way past the school-era (thank G-d!!), I still get those butterflies when I take my kids to orientation on the first day. I never realized the benefits of marrying someone whose last name begins with an “A”, until my kids started school. Thankfully, I don’t have to sit there for hours until their name is called!
I may not be in school anymore, but the truth is, my name is still called, each year, on high. As we read in the prayer of “Unesanneh Tokef“, “All created beings pass before you, one-by-one, like a flock of sheep…You count, reckon, and are mindful of them, and you allocate the fixed portion for the needs of all your creatures”.
May we all be blessed, that as our names gets called by the ultimate principal, may we be inscribed for a SWEET (and figgy) New Year filled with healthy, happiness, peace and of course, good food!
I’d like to think that this holiday isn’t just about the food, but the truth is, it is so much a part of it. We celebrate Rosh Hashanah through an assortment of symbolic foods, including the head of a fish and sweet, sticky honey. This recipe uses a whole side of salmon, but you can feel free to cook the fish head along with it, for a beautiful presentation. I love how festive and elegant this is, not to mention sweet! It is sure to be a show stopper on your holiday table.
Honey Fig Roasted Salmon
1 whole side of salmon
8 oz. fresh Black Mission figs, stem removed and quartered
1/3 cup orange juice
1/4 cup soy sauce
1/4 cup honey
1/4 tsp orange zest
1 tsp fresh grated ginger
2 cloves garlic, minced
salt and pepper, to taste
2 scallions, thinly sliced, for garnish
fresh orange slices, for garnish
Method:
Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Place the salmon on a parchment-lined baking sheet and set aside.
Place the figs, orange juice, soy sauce, honey, ginger and garlic in a saucepan and bring the mixture to a boil. Reduce the heat and simmer until figs have softened and the mixture is thick, about 10 minutes. Season with salt and pepper.
Pour the sauce over the salmon and bake for 20 minutes, or until salmon is opaque and flakes easily with a fork.
Garnish with scallions and orange slices.
Related Recipes:
teriyaki salmon
honey mustard salmon
honey roasted figs
holiday salad with figs and honey
looks amazing. Would you be able to use dried figs instead of fresh and what. Type would you use.
Thanks Marsha. I haven’t tried it with dried, but I think it would work. The flavor and texture might be a bit different, but let me know how it goes. You can use any type of dried figs in this recipe.
Wow! This is such a great idea. I have salmon about once a week and am always looking for a way to make it fresh! Most recently I topped it with roasted red peppers, cilantro and chopped almonds, but I’m loving your sweet/savory idea. Just might have to give it a try this week!
Thanks Rachel!
Looks divine!
Thanks Dinie!
This looks amazing! Do you think the ‘topping’ could be prepared before a Yontev and then poured on top of the fish and baked later or would it not stay good in the fridge? Thanks!
Hi Lily, You can make the sauce in advance just make sure not to make it too thick (it will thicken more in the fridge).
Thanks Chanie. Honey is good and this natural sweetener. Use Honey in your diet will always keep your health good. Thanks
Hi, do u think its possible to make this recipe but without soy sauce or a substitute you can suggest? It looks delicious but I have a guest with a soy allergy:)…..thanks
Hi Mindy, soy sauce adds a lot to the sauce, so I don’t know how it will come out without it. Have you ever used coconut aminos before? They make a good replacement.
im making this now and the sauce smells delicious!do you think the sauce would pair well with meat or chicken?
One of my readers did make it with chicken and said it came out great!
I have gone to about 4 stores looking for these figs, no where to be found, actually no figs to be found period. :( what would you recommend I replace them with? Would dates work?
That’s shocking, it’s fig season now! (unless you live in a place where figs are not in season). You can try doing this with dried figs. I don’t like the idea of using dates in the recipe.
Hi, would i be able to freeze this?
I don’t like to freeze baked salmon. If you want, you can prepare the sauce and freeze it, and then prepare the salmon fresh.
Loved your class today (10/28/15) Sprializing at Peppermill.
Please email me…spoke to you today about party, want to make arrangements.
Thank you,
Pia
Really looking forward to making this year!! Thank you for sharing this recipe! Shana Tova U’Metukah!
Pleasure, shana tova!
I own a fig tree and am always looking for recipes! I love salmon and will try this for the holidays. The fig sauce also works on chicken.
I wish I was your neighbor, figs are my favorite!
Do I cook the fish with or without the skin?
Whichever way you prefer.
Hi,
This looks amazing but I was wondering if there is any type of substitute for oj? Don’t have it in the house
Apple juice would have probably worked!
How many pounds of slices fillets would you use for this?
I can’t get a whole side of a salmon where I live
I would say 6 slices of salmon filet.
I just harvested 5 large figs from my tree and I can’t wait to try this recipe.
That’s so exciting! You’re going to love it!
Approximately how many pounds is a side of salmon (or the one used in this recipe) and how many people will this serve?
It’s about 2 lbs, and can serve about 8.
Hello, this look amazing. Can it be made with Celeste Figs? I also have some fresh figs that’s been frozen would that work?
Fresh figs that have been frozen would work.