Fantastic Dried Fig “Salami” from Greece
Great to eat, no meat, and handmade on the island of Evia
Looking for a lovely confection that’s well suited to the summer heat? I’m happy to report we have a fantastic new arrival from Greece that will fill the bill beautifully! Made to do well in the very hot Aegean climate, dried fig salami is super tasty!
We get them from longtime friend and importer, Vivianna Karamanis at Hellenic Imports. Everything we get from Vivianna is very, very good and these dried fig salami are up there with my favorites. Here’s a bit of the backstory:
My husband Theo loves figs and whenever he was visiting me in the U.S. he would always buy fig cakes, but he really didn’t enjoy the quality or firmness of the product. He would go on and on about the quality of dried Greek figs, specifically from the island of Evia. Upon heading back to Greece, he started researching the local fig farms and their products from Evia. He met with a lady who was making fig salamis by hand with her partner. We worked closely with them, but with a twist. Instead of just a pack of dried figs, we made them into these great salamis.
The woman who works with the figs is based in a small facility in Athens. She controls everything from beginning to end, meaning she visits the farms/farmers on the island and checks the harvest, she works with very specific producers, and it has helped as they commit their harvest to her—many Greek farmers feel most comfortable working that way. She handles the production and oversees the packaging. Despite how popular the product has become for us she still insists on doing most of the product using traditional methods.
We only use figs from the island of Evia which I believe is the key ingredient to the “juiciness and sweetness” of this product. Only simple, raw ingredients are used to make the product making it a high-fiber, healthy snack. There are no added sugars or salts and they are certified by the Non-GMO Project. It makes for the ideal cheese companion.
Evia is the second largest island in Greece, as Vivianna says, “just a bridge away” from Athens. It lies off the country’s east coast, in the Aegean Sea. The figs come from various farms, but they are all grown in and around the town of Kymi on the central east coast of the island. Evia has a long history and has, at various points, been ruled by Athens, the Roman Empire, Venice, the Ottoman Empire, and more! Since early in the 15th century, there has been a sizable Albanian population.
We have four of these fantastic, dried fig salami on hand. All are great. The Aleppo pepper with orange is probably my favorite but they’re all fine! Each has a touch of sweetness and a bit of spice and all are excellent!
- Cinnamon + Pistachios
- Aleppo Pepper + Orange Zest
- Almonds + Black Pepper
- Aleppo Pepper + Smoked Paprika
I love them on their own, and they’re beyond terrific on cheese boards—I’ve yet to find a cheese they don’t pair well with. A nice little gift, a great addition to your provisioning for a camping trip, something special to keep on the counter for late-night nibbling, and a wonderful sweet to serve while trying to channel the wisdom of ancient Greek philosophers during consensus-seeking meetings.
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