Fig season is fleeting, so get 'em while you can. There will be plenty of time for this in the fall.
Chris Ritter / Buzzfeed
Figs are delicious. Their subtle sweetness and seedy texture make them great for sweet or savory dishes. That said, they can be elusive. Fig season lasts from June to September, but they're mostly unavailable outside of that window. When ripe, they are delicate and spoil quickly, but when underripe or picked out of season, they are tasteless and not really worth eating.
But, they're in peak season right now, so take advantage. Buy figs that are ripe — they should smell fresh and be nice and soft, but not totally mushy — with intact skin and no bruising.
1. Robiola Stuffed Figs with Pomegranate
These stuffed figs are served raw and cold, but you could pop them in the oven as is for 10-15 minutes, if you want sweeter figs and warm, melting cheese. And, if you can't find robiola, substitute brie or any other soft cheese. Recipe here.
2. Smashed Figs with Walnuts and Burrata
Don't feel like stuffing individual figs? Add them to your cheese board instead. Recipe: here.
3. Prosciutto-Wrapped Grilled Figs
No recipe, just wrap figs with prosciutto or a similar cured meat (salami, pancetta, sopressata, etc.), secure with a toothpick, and cook on the grill. You may want to cover your grill with foil first, to stop the figs from falling through the grates.
5. Roasted Kale Avocado Fig Salad
Kale salads are fantastic, as long as you know how to make them properly. Recipe here.
6. Balsamic Roasted Figs with Shallots and Herbed Socca
Gluten-free socca (made with chickpea flour) is a savory compliment to sweet roasted figs. Recipe here.
7. Fig, Beet, and Watermelon Salad with Caramelized Shallot Dressing
8. Roasted Butternut Squash and Fig Salad
Recipe here.
9. Jerusalem Roasted Sweet Potatoes with Fresh Figs
This recipe would be equally delicious if you swapped the sweet potato for parsnips, butternut squash, or any other sweet root vegetable. Recipe here.
10. Pizza Bianco with Caramelized Onion, Blue Cheese, Figs, and Balsamic
Figs pair great with cheese, meaning figs also pair well with PIZZA! Recipe here.
11. Grain Free Bosc Pear, Fresh Fig and Goat Cheese Pizza
Recipe here.
12. Fig and Rosemary Chicken Pizza
Recipe here.
13. Fig and Walnut Spaghetti
15. Seared Baby Lamb Chops with Fig Balsamic Pan Sauce
Sweet, seedy figs are a really great compliment to gamey meats like lamb.
Recipe here.
16. Roast Chicken and Figs
Roast chicken atop a bed of figs. The chicken fat and juices will drip down, making the fruit more savory. Recipe here.
17. Pork Loin with Figs and Port Sauce
This simple roast pork loin gets topped with figs plumped up in sweet port wine. Recipe here.
18. Oven Roasted Summer Fruits with Ricotta Vanilla Cream
Recipe here.
19. Fig Tart with Vanilla Scented Frangipane
Frangipane is really simple to make (just ground almonds, butter, sugar, and eggs), and it adds an extra level of flavor to pies, tarts, or even cakes. If you bake often, make extra and keep it in the freezer for up to a month. Recipe here.
20. "Gateau de Riz" with Figs
This "cake" is more like a baked rice pudding. It's a break from the norm, and it is delicious. Recipe here.
22. Grilled Figs with Honeyed Mascarpone
Recipe here.
23. Turkish Yogurt Cake with Figs
The fact that this is made with yogurt means that it definitely pass for breakfast. Recipe here.
24. Chocolate Covered Fresh Figs
Recipe here.
25. Fig and Vanilla Vodka
Okay, so actually eating the figs may not be the point here — feel free to try, but remember that eating fruit that's been sitting in straight vodka for a week is not the same as eating fruit that's been floating around in sweet sangria for a couple of hours. Recipe here.
26. Fig Sangria
A fun alternative to the classic apple and orange slices. Recipe here.
