20 Fantastic Ways to Use Fresh Figs

June 15, 2009
Credit: Photo: Becky Luigart-Stayner
Fresh or dried, figs lend a sublime sweetness to all sorts of dishes, from easy apps to healthful desserts to interesting entrées.
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Fresh Fig Galette

Credit: Photo: James Ransom
View Recipe: Fresh Fig Galette

Almond meal is nothing more than finely ground almonds; it adds a rich, crumbly texture and nutty flavor to the crust of this free-form tart.

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Summer Fig and Watermelon Salad with Feta

Credit: Photo: James Ransom
View Recipe: Summer Fig and Watermelon Salad with Feta

A pop of acidic vinaigrette balances ultrasweet figs. Balsamic glaze is a syrup of concentrated, cooked-down, sweetened balsamic vinegar; it adds a sweet and tangy element to this refreshing salad. Look for it near the vinegar.

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Seared Figs and White Peaches With Balsamic Reduction

Credit: Randy Mayor
View Recipe: Seared Figs and White Peaches With Balsamic Reduction

This restaurant-quality dessert will impress absolutely anyone, but it requires eight ingredients and less than 10 minutes to make. Caramelizing the natural sugars in the fruit gives them intense flavor, an intense balsamic vinegar pan sauce mixed with creamy and tangy crème fraîche sets off the sweetness, and an sprinkle of pepper adds an unexpected surprise.

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Brandied Preserved Figs

Credit: Photo: Brian Woodcock
View Recipe: Brandied Preserved Figs

This recipe will work with any fresh figs you have, such as Brown Turkey, Calimyrna, or Black Mission. Enjoy them as a simple dessert on their own, served with ice cream or yogurt, or as a salad topper. Store in a cool, dry place for up to 1 year. 

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Prosciutto, Fresh Fig, and Manchego Sandwiches

Credit: Photo: John Autry
View Recipe: Prosciutto, Fresh Fig, and Manchego Sandwiches

Prosciutto and fresh figs are a classic Italian combination. Here, along with Manchego cheese and fig jam, they create a sweet-savory sandwich that's simple yet memorable. Great ingredients make all the difference here, so look for a fine loaf of artisan bread and quality prosciutto.

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Small-Batch Fig Jam

Credit: Photo: James Ransom
View Recipe: Small-Batch Fig Jam

Fig preserves are among the easiest to make because the fruit mixture thickens beautifully on its own without added pectin. Consider this jam a "refrigerator preserve," but you can process it for canning, if you wish. Enjoy it spread on whole-grain bread or scones.

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Granola With Honey-Scented Yogurt and Baked Figs

Credit: Photo: John Autry
View Recipe: Granola With Honey-Scented Yogurt and Baked Figs

Warm, sweet, and a little bit tangy—a bowlful of these flavors will leave your hunger (and your taste buds) satisfied.

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Glazed Chicken and Fig Skewers

Credit: Photo: James Ransom
View Recipe: Glazed Chicken and Fig Skewers

Over the fire, figs caramelize and take on smoky flavor. Because they will cook more quickly than the chicken, skewer the figs separately.

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Fig, Prosciutto, and Gorgonzola Salad

Credit: Becky Luigart-Stayner
View Recipe: Fig, Prosciutto, and Gorgonzola Salad

This colorful, elegant dish combines all the different flavors and textures―sweet, tender figs; salty, crisp prosciutto; tangy, creamy cheese; and brightly sour balsamic vinegar―that are necessary for a perfect summer starter.

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Lamb Chops with Fresh Fig Pan Sauce

Credit: Photo: James Ransom
View Recipe: Lamb Chops with Fresh Fig Pan Sauce

Fresh figs cooked with red wine provide the perfect foil for rich lamb rib chops.

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Fig-Walnut Sticky Buns

Credit: Becky Luigart-Stayner
View Recipe: Fig-Walnut Sticky Buns

Just the name makes mouths water, but the flavor of these rolls will blow you away. With the fruity flavor of figs, the bitter crunch of walnuts, and an ooey-gooey topping to hold it all together, these are a nearly perfect breakfast or dessert.

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Sweet Fig Smoothies

Credit: Photo: James Ransom
View Recipe: Sweet Fig Smoothies

Figs are downright sublime blended in a smoothie. This recipe offers a great use for figs that are very ripe (or even overripe) and need to be used soon. The riper the fig, the sweeter and more delicious in this creamy breakfast drink.

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Fig and Goat Cheese Bruschetta

Credit: Randy Mayor
View Recipe: Fig and Goat Cheese Bruschetta

This easy, impressive party app highlights a versatile fig jam that can be made up to three days in advance. On the day of your party, top bread slices with fig jam, goat cheese, and a sprinkling of walnuts, and broil for about 2 minutes. (Leftover jam is great on toast or sandwiches.)

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Crostini With Gorgonzola, Caramelized Onions, and Fig Jam

Credit: Becky Luigart-Stayner
View Recipe: Crostini With Gorgonzola, Caramelized Onions, and Fig Jam

This recipe brings together big flavors―the tart sweetness of figs, the savory sweetness of onions, and the pungent kick of Gorgonzola cheese―in a balanced way. Try this suggestion from eatwelltx to make assembly easier: "I put the toasted bread with the cheese back in the oven (turned off but still warm) to melt the gorgonzola before adding the fig jam and onions, and this made layering the jam and onions over the cheese much easier. Absolutely delicious."

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Fig, Date, and Walnut Quick Bread

Credit: Randy Mayor
View Recipe: Fig, Date, and Walnut Quick Bread

Filled with sweet figs, chewy dates, and crunchy walnuts, this rich, healthful quick bread makes a wonderful breakfast, neighborly gift, or packable snack. Grated lemon rind, ground nutmeg, and ground cloves add spice.

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Fig-Pecan Macaroons

Credit: Randy Mayor
View Recipe: Fig-Pecan Macaroons

This is a classic French-style macaroon: made with egg whites and ground nuts, crisp on the outside, and chewy within. To that formula, these cookies add the distinctly American flavors of pecans and Black Mission figs for a whole new macaroon experience.

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Fig and Blue Cheese-Stuffed Pork Tenderloin

Credit: Randy Mayor
View Recipe: Fig and Blue Cheese-Stuffed Pork Tenderloin

This 5-star recipe proves elegant does not equal fussy. You'll be amazed at the kind of complex flavor you can get from just four ingredients (not counting salt, pepper, and cooking spray). Sweet dried figs counter the savory bite of blue cheese, and the elegant rolled presentation bakes in just 20 minutes.

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Chicken Panini With Fig Jam

Credit: Lee Harrelson
View Recipe: Chicken Panini With Fig Jam

A little heat turns a sandwich into a meal. This panini combines the sweet and savory flavors of fig jam and crumbled blue cheese for a special treat. Don't have a sandwich press? No problem―it's easy to improvise. Just place the sandwich in a regular nonstick skillet and press it under the weight of a cast-iron skillet or a regular skillet weighted down with cans.

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Fig and Lime Jam

Credit: Photo: Gentyl & Hyers
View Recipe: Fig and Lime Jam

We tested this recipe with not-too-sweet Brown Turkey figs; if using sweeter Black Mission figs, you may need to decrease the sugar. The mashed fig mixture can stand as long as overnight.

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Cantaloupe and Grilled Fig Salad

Credit: Photo: Becky Luigart-Stayner
View Recipe: Cantaloupe and Grilled Fig Salad

The contrasting flavors of the sweet fruit and tangy lime juice plus the variety of textures in the fruits, nuts, and vegetables create an intriguing and beautiful first course.

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