24 Reasons To Seek Out Fresh Figs

Take advantage while they're still in season.

Dried figs are great and all, but if you've ever tasted a fresh fig you know that there's no contest between the two. Sweet and honeyed, fresh figs are a rare treat meant to be savored. They were, after all, the foods of the gods.

When you see figs in the supermarket or farmer's market grab a bunch, because they can be hard to find despite their long season, which runs late summer to fall. They might not always look perfect, and that's okay because figs rarely do. The sign of a perfectly ripe fig is when you see a bit of bend in the stem and the feel of the skin is supple. Crackly skin is fine, just stay away from figs that are overly soft or oozy.

Figs are delicious eaten right out of hand, but using them in recipes is an even better way to enjoy the delicate and scarce late summer fruit. We found just the recipes to help you do that.

1
Fresh Fig And Mint Salad
James Ransom/Food52
Get the Fresh Fig and Mint Salad recipe from Genius Recipes via Food52
2
Balsamic Fig Glazed Pork With Blistered Cherry Tomatoes And Creamy Gorgonzola Polenta
Half Baked Harvest
3
Cardamom Panna Cotta With Honeyed Figs
Bell'Alimento
4
Fig And Manchego Salad With Herbed Croutons
Elizabeth Stark/Food52
Get the Fig and Manchego Salad with Herbed Croutons recipe from Elizabeth Stark via Food52
5
Fig, Gorgonzola And Honey Tartines
Tartelette
6
Fig Preserves
Bell'Alimento
Get the Fig Preserves recipe from Bell'Alimento
7
Fig And Cherry Bites
The Clever Carrot
Get the Fig and Cherry Bites recipe from The Clever Carrot
8
Quinoa, Sweet Peppers And Fig Salad
Quentin Bacon
9
Fig Brown Butter Frangipane Tart
Cafe Johnsonia
Get the Fig Brown Butter Frangipane Tart recipe from Cafe Johnsonia
10
Cardamom And Brandy Poached Figs
The View From The Great Island
Get the Cardamom and Brandy Poached Figs recipe from The View From The Great Island
11
Gateau De Riz Aux Figues
Tartelette
Get the Gateau De Riz Aux Figues recipe from Tartelette
12
Cardamom Fig Jam
The View From The Great Island
Get the Cardamom Fig Jam recipe from The View From The Great Island
13
Roasted Fig Gelato
The View From The Great Island
Get the Roasted Fig Gelato recipe from The View From The Great Island
14
Orange And Cardamom Spiced, Honeyed Fig, Olive Oil Tea Cake
Will Cook for Friends
15
Fig Relish And Ham Sandwich
Sara Remington
16
Chévre, Arugula And Fig Pizza
Whole Family Fare
Get the Chévre, Arugula and Fig Pizza recipe from Whole Family Fare
17
Fig, Gorgonzola And Prosciutto Salad
The Culinary Chase
Get the Fig, Gorgonzola and Prosciutto Salad recipe from The Culinary Chase
18
Honey-Balsamic Roasted Fig Salad
Cafe Johnsonia
Get the Honey-Balsamic Roasted Fig Salad recipe from Cafe Johnsonia
19
Crostata Di Fichi
Karma Cucina
Get the Crostata di Fichi recipe from Karma Cucina

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