Top 12 ways to serve figs

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Top 12 ways to serve figs

1. Jams and chutneys

Homemade fig jam in a jar and spread on toast

Ripe and juicy figs are ideal for turning into homemade jams and tangy chutneys. Our sweet fig jam is delicious spread on toast or swirled into yogurt, and also makes a great gift. You can also make chutney to accompany your cheeseboard – our sticky fig and port preserve is perfect for the festive season.

Try these fruity fig preserves...
Fig jam
Fresh fig chutney
Sticky fig and port chutney
Pineapple, fig and ginger chutney

2. Pies and tarts

Fig frangipane tart with slice taken out

Figs + pastry = endless possibilities. Choose from sweet or savoury flavours, a pastry lid or crisp base, or fully enclose your fillings in buttery, flaky goodness.

Try these fig tarts and pies...
Frangipane, fig and orange tart
Fig, raspberry and cardamom pie
Fig and blue cheese tart
Fig tartlets
Honey roasted fig and almond tart
Toffee fig pies

3. Salads

Figs, halloumi, prosciutto and rocket salad on a plate

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 assemblage?

More like this

Try these fig salads...
Spiced honey-glazed halloumi and fig salad
Mediterranean fig and mozzarella salad
Marinated fig and mozarella salad
Griddled chicory with figs and bitter leaves

4. Cakes

Fig and raspberry cake with slice taken out

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 marvels in Christmas fruit cakes along with currants, nuts spices and spices – they soak up any booze beautifully!

Try these fig cake recipes...
Fig and raspberry crumble cake
Spiced fig, coffee and hazelnut cake
Fudgy fig roll
Little fig and almond cakes
Fig and honey Christmas cake

Check our more dried fig recipes

5. Served with meat

Two quails on a plate with figs and walnuts

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 and walnut sauce
Sticky fig lamb cutlets with warm bean and couscous salad
Lacquered duck with grilled figs
Figs with prosciutto
Ricotta, fig and prosciutto crostini

6. Puddings

Fresh figs feel right at home nestled into a sponge pudding or topped with sweet, crunchy crumble. Their rich fruity flavour and jammy texture adds an extra layer of comfort to wintry desserts, which is only enhanced with a giant dollop of ice cream.

Try these fig puddings...
Fig sponge pudding
Caramelised figgy bread and butter pudding
Orchard crumble

7. Served with cheese

Baked whole blue cheese and figs on a tray

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...
Baked blue cheese with figs and walnuts
Fig & walnut slice
Stilton and fig salad with honey-thyme drizzle
Spanish fig and almond balls

8. Pizzas and breads

Rye pizza with figs, fennel, gorgonzola & hazelnuts

Take the cheese and meat pairing up a notch and pop them all on a pizza. A bready base offers the perfect vehicle to get all that goodness from plate-to-mouth, with an added hit of carby pleasure.

Try these fig pizzas and picnic breads...
Rye pizza with figs, fennel, gorgonzola and hazelnuts
Fig and Serrano ham picnic bread
Fig and prosciutto pizzettas

9. Stuffings

Pork loin and veg on a plate with fig stuffing balls

Step away from tired old 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, whilst 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
Fig and pancetta American stuffing
Fruity Christmas stuffing

10. Sweet and savoury 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 centers that are so much better than anything you’ll find in a packet. Or serve our heavenly sticky shallot, fig and almond filo parcels as a tasty vegan canapé at Christmas.

Try it yourself...
Sticky toffee fig rolls
Sticky shallot, fig and almond filo parcels

11. Toasted sandwiches

Two bagel halves towered on top of each other

Did we mention figs and cheese are a dream combo? A case in point is this 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 and fig, jam toastie – it's simply oozing with cheesy goodness!

Ricotta, fig and sesame bagel
Brie, ham and fig jam toastie