Want to try growing your own fig tree? Discover the best way to grow figs, at GardenersWorld.com.
How to eat figs
Raw figs
- Eat with honey, toasted nuts and clotted cream
- Include in salads with parma ham or goat’s cheese and rocket
Cooking options
- Halve and grill for 2-3 minutes
- Roast whole for 8-12 minutes
- Poach whole for 5-8 minutes
Other uses
- Incorporate dried figs into baking
- Enjoy dried figs as a snack
Top 15 ways to serve figs
1. Jams
Ripe and juicy figs are ideal for turning into homemade jams. Our sweet fig jam is delicious spread on toast or swirled into yogurt, and also makes a great gift.
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Enjoyed this? Try more of our delicious jam recipes.
2. Chutneys
You can also make chutney to accompany your cheeseboard – our sticky fig and port preserve is perfect for the festive season.
Try these fig chutney recipes…
Fresh fig chutney
Sticky fig & port chutney
Pineapple, fig & ginger chutney
Discover more preserves with our chutney recipes.
3. Tarts
Figs are a natural fit for sweet tarts, and they can be paired with a variety of other ingredients, such as chocolate, honey, nuts, and soft cheese. Figs can also be used to make savoury tarts, which are perfect for appetisers or light lunches. Some popular savoury fig tart fillings include goat’s cheese, blue cheese, prosciutto and bacon.
Try these fig tarts…
Frangipane, fig & orange tart
Fig & blue cheese tart
Fig tartlets
Honey roasted fig & almond tart
4. Pies
Fig pie is a delicious dessert packed with health benefits. Figs are a good source of fibre, vitamins, and minerals, including potassium, calcium, and magnesium. They also contain antioxidants, which can help protect your cells from damage.
Try these fig pies…
Fig, raspberry & cardamom pie
Toffee fig pies
Then check out our helpful guide on the health benefits of figs. For more guides about the health benefits of different ingredients, check out our health hub.
5. Salads
Incorporate figs into a symphony of tastes and textures with sticky honey-glazed halloumi, peppery rocket, salty prosciutto and toasted almonds. The sweet flavour of figs pairs well with creamy mozzarella and bitter salad leaves like chicory, so why not get inventive with your own combination?
Try these fig salads…
Spiced honey-glazed halloumi & fig salad
Mediterranean fig & mozzarella salad
Marinated fig & mozzarella salad
Griddled chicory with figs & bitter leaves
6. Cakes
Is there anything more enticing than a fruit-filled bake? Pack in natural sweetness and give comforting classics like crumble, the humble Swiss roll and classic coffee cake a figgy twist. Dried figs also work brilliantly in Christmas fruit cakes along with currants, nuts spices and spices – they soak up any booze beautifully!
Try these fig cake recipes…
Fig & raspberry crumble cake
Spiced fig, coffee & hazelnut cake
Fudgy fig roll
Fig & honey Christmas cake
Check our more dried fig recipes
7. Served with meat
Naturally sweet figs add a new dimension to gamey meats like quail, dark meat such as duck and salty, cured meats such as prosciutto and rich lamb cutlets.
Try these fig and meat dishes…
Quails with figs & walnut sauce
Sticky fig lamb cutlets with warm bean & couscous salad
Lacquered duck with grilled figs
Figs with prosciutto
Ricotta, fig & prosciutto crostini
Fig, burrata & prosciutto tartine
8. Puddings
Try fresh figs in a sponge pudding or topped with sweet, crunchy crumble. Their rich fruity flavour and jammy texture adds an extra layer of comfort to desserts, which is only enhanced with a giant dollop of ice cream.
Try these fig puddings…
Fig & ginger caramel trifle
Fig sponge pudding
Caramelised figgy bread & butter pudding
Orchard crumble
Vegan Christmas pudding
Fig leaf crème caramel with roasted figs
9. Served with cheese
We can’t get enough of that salty-sweet combination. Plump, fresh figs pair well with a wide variety of cheeses, from crumbly, sharp stilton to creamy brie.
Try these fig and cheese dishes…
Figs with goat’s cheese, pistachios & honey
Baked blue cheese with figs & walnuts
Fig & walnut slice
Stilton & fig salad with honey-thyme drizzle
Spanish fig & almond balls
10. Pizzas and breads
Take the cheese and meat pairing up a notch and pop them all on a pizza. Try a vegetarian version with blue cheese and hazelnuts, or for a meat version, pair with cured meats.
Try these fig pizzas and picnic breads…
Fig, burrata & proscuitto tartine
Rye pizza with figs, fennel, gorgonzola & hazelnuts
Fig & Serrano ham picnic bread
Fig & prosciutto pizzettas
11. Stuffings
Step away from your standard sage and onion stuffing – these fruity flavours will give the classic Sunday roast side a much-needed lift. Fig and apples make a delicious autumnal combination in our pork loin roast, while pancetta provides a salty contrast to this sweet fruit in Emma Freud’s American-style stuffing.
Try these fig stuffing recipes…
Pork loin roast with fig and apple stuffing
Fruity Christmas stuffing
Fig & pancetta American stuffing
12. Sweet snacks
Figs provide a fruity flavour hit in sweet and savoury snacks. Throw a handful of chewy toffees into the filling to make fig rolls with truly sticky, sweet centres that are so much better than anything you’ll find in a packet.
Try it yourself…
Sticky toffee fig rolls
Honeyed almond figs
13. Savoury snacks
Figs also make delicious savoury snacks as their sweetness pairs perfectly with strong cheeses and salty meats. Whip up some festive party nibbles from sticky shallot, fig & almond parcels to figs stuffed with creamy blue cheese.
Try these savoury fig snacks…
Sticky shallot, fig & almond filo parcels
Dolcelatte-stuffed figs
Fig & walnut slice
Then check out more of our Christmas canapé recipes.
14. Toasted sandwiches
Did we mention figs and cheese are a dream combo? A case in point is our toasted cinnamon bagel, loaded with creamy ricotta, sweet figs and honey, tangy blackcurrant jam plus a sprinkling of crumbled sesame snap. Or, use up your Christmas leftovers in a gourmet grilled brie, ham & fig, jam toastie – it’s simply oozing with cheesy goodness!
Ricotta, fig & sesame bagel
Brie, ham & fig jam toastie
15. Simply spiced
Let the natural beauty of the fruit take centre stage for an easy yet effective end to a dinner party, baked and served simple with mascarpone or grilled and drizzled with honey and butter until sticky.
Try these spiced fig desserts…
Sticky cinnamon figs
Spiced baked figs with ginger mascarpone
Get more autumnal recipe inspiration…
Top 10 autumn recipes
Autumn cake recipes
Our best ever apple cake recipes
Plum recipes
Autumn baking projects for kids
Top 15 blackberry recipe ideas
What are your favourite ways to serve figs? Let us know in the comments below…