Figs make a great starter, so try one of our easy vegetarian entertaining ideas including lots of canapé recipes. The sweet flavour of figs also makes them the perfect pairing for tangy goat’s cheese, so we have some fab recipes including baked fresh figs in filo parcels with peppered goat’s cheese, figs on toast with goat’s curd labneh and fig tart. Want expert advice for growing your own crop? Learn how to grow your own figs from our friends at Gardeners’ World.
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For more seasonal ideas, check out our pear recipes, blackberry recipes, plum recipes and other autumn recipes.
When are figs in season?
Figs will be available for most of the year from the supermarket, due to being grown in hot climates, but the UK fig season runs from July-October. Pick them when their skin is dark and they are plump.
How to eat figs
There are a multitude of things to do with fresh figs, but the easiest and quickest way to enjoy them is raw. To prepare, simply remove the stem and slice to the desired size. You can consume them with skin and seeds still intact, or remove these if you wish. Raw figs are delicious served in salads with salty cheeses such as halloumi and feta or wrapped in parma ham as a starter. They also work well on a cheese board instead of grapes.
Otherwise, you can cook figs by baking, roasting or grilling them as detailed below. Try our simple baked figs in amaretto or showcase them in a beautiful tart or sponge cake. They also make for an elegant canapé snack served with cheese or ham on a small toast.
Grilling figs
Cooking figs intensifies their jamminess and high sugar content. Heat the grill to high and make a cross incision in the top of the figs. Put onto a tin foil lined baking sheet and sprinkle generously with demerara sugar. Grill for 5-10 minutes until the sugar has caramelised and serve with crème fraîche.
Roasting figs
Roasting is also another good way to intensify the flavour of figs. Heat the oven to 200C/fan 180C/gas 6. Cut the figs in figs in half and toss with 2 tbsp of honey and 1 tbsp of cider vinegar. Roast for 25-30 minutes, basting regularly with the syrup, until the figs are rich and jammy. Serve the hot fruit with vanilla ice cream and the syrup from the tray.
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Fig salad recipes
Fig salad
Sweet figs are matched with salty grana padano in this autumnal salad, served with a punchy peppercorn dressing for a quick veggie starter. See more autumn salad recipes.
Fig and goat’s cheese salad
Our recipe for fig, goat’s cheese and pistachio salad is really quick, healthy and easy to make, but packs in lots of great flavours. This is ideal for a dinner party or, as it’s under 300 calories, you could have it as a lighter lunch.
Fig, mozzarella and serrano ham salad
Make this stunning fig salad for a light and easy summer starter. Figs are marinated in a honey mustard dressing, then tossed with creamy mozzarella, salty serrano ham and peppery rocket.
Baked feta salad with figs
Sweet fresh figs are mixed with nutty almonds and salty feta in Rosie Birkett’s summery salad dish, ready on the table in 20 minutes.
Sweet fig recipes
Fig tart with brandy cream
Sweet, ripe and juicy figs work brilliantly in this fancy filo tart. Serve with brandy cream for an impressive autumnal dessert.
Baked figs
Check out these simple amaretto baked figs, served with creamy mascarpone, for an elegant autumnal dessert rich with nutty sweetness.
Fanned-out fig slices complete these pretty oat cookies, plus they only take 25 minutes to whip up.
Fig cake
Combine soft, squidgy figs with sugar and marsala, then bake into a vanilla and almond sponge – this autumnal cake is best served with an afternoon cuppa.
Fig and curd cheese tart
Looking for a fig tart recipe? Our recipe for honeyed fig and curd cheese tart is easy and ready in under an hour. Use cow or goat’s curd for this – the goat’s will give you more of a tang aside the crisp puff pastry.
Fig bellini
If a peach bellini is your idea of summer in a champagne flute, this will be the taste of autumn – it’s made with blended figs and hazelnut liqueur.
Roasted figs with hazelnuts
Try this dessert of figs drizzed in a honey and prosecco syrup, topped with crunchy hazelnuts and served with cooling vanilla ice cream. Click here for more prosecco-inspired recipes.
Sweet ricotta pancakes with figs
Ricotta pancakes are wonderful – fluffy and light with meltingly soft insides. Here they are served with honey and figs for a dessert, but they are also great for breakfast with fresh berries or butter and maple syrup.
Milk fondants with figs
Our milk fondant recipe is super easy and would work well with any seasonal fruit, but we love it the best with figs.
Baked alaska with honeyed figs
Served with a rich and creamy mascarpone ice cream, this decadent dessert from London restaurant, Duck & Waffle makes a show stopping finish to a meal with friends. There is no question it will excite and impress.
Fig and grapefruit twinkle cocktail
Crème de figue liqueur adds a delicately spiced flavour to this celebratory cocktail, which is also laced with grapefruit gin and champagne.
Baked maple figs with walnuts and mascarpone
These baked maple syrup and walnut figs make a great seasonal treat. They are served with a quick vanilla mascarpone that you can use as an alternative to cream in lots of desserts. Check out more of our fruit dessert recipes.
Savoury fig recipes
Fig and goat’s cheese filo parcels
Check out our vegetarian recipe for crunchy filo-baked fresh figs stuffed with peppered goat’s cheese. This recipe makes an awesome little canapé or starter that’s really easy to make.
Fig jam
These delicious fruits are perfect in jam and taste great on buttered toast. Try swirling through porridge and serving as part of a cheeseboard, too.
Gruyère, fig and prosciutto croissants
Straight from the oven, these hot and toasty butter croissants with sweet figs and melty cheese make a really quick and easy on-the-go breakfast idea. Figs, prosciutto and gruyère make a mouthwatering and sophisticated combination.
Figs on toast with goat’s yogurt labneh
This easy recipe of figs on toast with labneh is super simple and quick to make. The result is creamy yet low in calories and veggie-friendly. Ready in just 15 minutes, these toasts make for a mouth-watering breakfast, brunch or snack. Check out our top recipes for toast toppers here.
Fig and gorgonzola tartines
Fig and gorgonzola tartines make an indulgent afternoon snack or stylish starter using a handful of fresh ingredients. These sourdough toasts are super easy to make and ready in just 15 minutes.
Whipped goat’s cheese with baked figs
Save time and still impress with this super-simple fig starter. Ready in 20 minutes, it’s perfect for when you have guests. Speaking of which, we have more starter recipes for dinner parties here.
Fig with gorgonzola and walnut
An absolute classic flavour combination, these fig and gorgonzola bites are just the ticket for a drinks party because they’re so easy. One of our favourite vegetarian canapés, and great with a good glass of red.
Cheese, bacon and fig toasties
Add figs to your toasties to make them extra posh. Try this super-easy toasted cheese sandwich with added bacon, caramelised onion marmalade and figs. This makes a great supper for two with the winter leaves salad.
Fig chutney with orange and cinnamon
Make a jammy fig chutney with warming cinnamon, orange zest and ground ginger, perfect to enjoy alongside a cheeseboard or oozing autumnal toastie.
Fig and goat’s cheese puffs
The easiest party finger food, ready in half an hour. Readymade puff pastry is topped with goat’s cheese and pretty figs to make the perfect canapé.
