How to cook with figs

Sweet, jammy and fragrant, figs are a seasonal treat that work in sweet and savoury dishes. Discover how to cook with figs with these easy recipe ideas – the perfect excuse to try our ripe Bursa Figs during their short-but-sweet season.

Senior Food Editor

Heather Taylor

Choose the best figs

Fresh figs

Fresh figs have a mellow flavour and gentle sweetness that will work well in both sweet and savoury dishes. With a velvety skin and ripe flesh, they’re as good paired with salty prosciutto and rich cheeses as they are roasted with honey and piled on top of ice cream.

Bursa figs

Available in store in the late summer and autumn months, our speciality Turkish bursa figs are a seasonal treat that’s not to be missed. With smooth skin and honey-sweet purple flesh peppered with seeds, they’re extra-large in size and come perfectly ripe.

Dried figs

When fresh figs aren’t in season, sweet and intense dried figs make a great substitute. Bake into cakes and puddings or use to top Greek yogurt.

Browse figs in store

The best ways to eat figs

With cheeses and salty flavours

Contrast figs’ mellow sweetness with salty cheeses like Roquefort and hams like Serrano ham, jamon de bellota ibérico or prosciutto. Add the crunch of toasted walnuts, pepperiness of rocket and sweet acidity of good-quality balsamic vinegar for a next-level salad.

Roasted

Try roasting figs with a drizzle of honey to create a deep, caramelised flavour. Pair with something creamy, like ice cream or Greek yogurt.

With nuts

Figs and nuts are a classic pairing, whether they’re scattered with toasted chopped hazelnuts or served warm with pistachio ice cream.

With warming spices

Match with vanilla, cinnamon or star anise to bring out figs’ fragrant aroma.

Stuffed

Try carefully cutting a criss-cross into the top of the fig. It will leave you with a perfectly shaped cavity to stuff with, say, melted stilton and walnuts or a scoop of crème fraiche with a drizzle of honey.

More autumn recipe ideas

Best fig recipe ideas

From easy starters to autumnal salads and irresistible desserts, discover our pick of fig recipe ideas and find new ways to cook with figs.

Whipped cottage cheese and fig toasts

When figs are at their best, enjoy them simply sliced and piled onto golden fruit toast with fluffy, light and tangy cottage cheese, plus a drizzle of floral honey.

Fig and cottage cheese toast recipe

Honey-roasted figs with no-churn honeycomb ice cream

Roast beautifully sweet Bursa figs with a splash of Madeira, then serve with a cheat’s no-churn homemade ice cream flecked with chocolate honeycomb.

Baked figs recipe

Whipped goat’s cheese and fig chicory boats

Pair figs with creamy, salty whipped goat’s cheese and bitter chicory and a honey and walnut drizzle in this easy party nibble.

Fig chicory boats recipe

Baked stuffed figs with serrano ham and fennel salad

Try Tom Kerridge’s Spanish-inspired recipe for juicy baked figs, stuffed with goat’s cheese and wrapped in Serrano ham, served with honey and fig vinegar and a crunchy fennel salad, as seen on Tom Kerridge Cooks Spain.

Stuffed figs recipe

Griddled fig, Parma ham and Roquefort salad

This classic pairing of sweet figs, umami Roquefort cheese and salted Parma ham is hard to beat. Serve this salad as part of a bigger sharing feast or as an elegant starter.

Fig salad recipe

Fig, walnut and goat’s cheese tart

Figs look as good as they taste when used to top this pretty-as-a-picture tart, featuring buttery puff pastry and creamy goat’s cheese. It’s a doddle to put together – ideal for a relaxed autumn lunch.

Fig tart recipe

Honey and truffle-baked figs and feta

Our single apiary honey has a floral, fragrant flavour that’s the perfect foil for sticky baked figs and oozy, melty feta. Just add crusty bread to create a simple-but-stunning seasonal starter.

Baked feta and fig recipe

Benefits of figs

They’re high in fibre to support the normal function of the digestive system, something which many of us lack in our diets.
A source of vitamins and minerals, such as potassium, calcium, magnesium and vitamin A, K and B.

More healthy eating tips

Get figgy with it

Published 8.29.2025