Rinse and dry leftover fresh figs that are not perfect to eat, or figs that have fallen from the tree. Alternatively, you can use dried California figs. Cut off the stem, slice in half vertically…
The recipe evolved from my mother’s rengosalata (smoked herring spread), the meze she always served on Kathari Deftera, when everybody else served taramosalata. Kathari Deftera (clean Monday) is the first of the forty-days Lent that preceed Greek Easter.
Pumpkin, Fennel and Mint pies are made in Chios and in other islands with and without cheese. The second version is the one for Lenten days, when all foods deriving from animals are banned from the table.