Fresh Figs, Three Ways

Next time you see fresh figs at the grocery store or Farmer's Market, buy a container or two and try these recipes, prepared three different and delicious ways.

Jun 28, 2025

figs and greens and cheese and honey and a fork on a platter

I used to hate fresh figs. To me, they fell into an unpleasant category of squishiness alongside the likes of papaya, under-cooked eggs and sponge-like mushrooms.

At restaurant a few years back I was presented a beautiful little appetizer of toasted baguette with a little piece of fig and a chunk of soft cheese and a drizzle of local honey. My life was forever changed :) These are a seasonal wonder, full of flavor with a luscious, jammy texture. They are so good, and here are a few of my favorite ways to eat them:

In a simple cheese plate with greens, toasted hazelnuts, flaky sea salt, honey and olive oil
As an easy yogurt bowl with granola, blueberries and honey. So good for breakfast.
As an appetizer or light lunch of toasted sourdough bread with soft cheese, fresh thyme, pistachios and honey. Honestly, I'd love to eat this anytime.

Figs, cheese and hazlenuts and honey on an orange platter

For full details and descriptions on the recipes and ingredients, please scroll to the recipe card below.

Fig Recipe #1

The ingredients you'll need to make a fig and cheese plate are:

Greens: A handful of organic green lettuces and also flat leaf (Italian) parsley
Figs: Fresh Mission variety, quartered and scattered on the plate
Hazelnuts: Toasted and chopped (and salted!)
Cheese: Manchego or other semi-hard cheese like Fontina, Gruyere or even Parmesan
Honey: For liberal drizzling
Olive oil: A full flavored fruity variety, if possible
Flaky Sea Salt: Always and forever

To assemble your plate:

Place the greens on a plate or platter
Add the cheese and sliced figs
Sprinkle with sea salt, fresh parsley and hazelnuts
Drizzle with honey and olive oil

Two white bowls of graola, yogurt and fresh figs

Fig Recipe #2

Seriously, is there anything better than fresh fruit, yogurt and a little crumble of granola? I've been known to eat this more than once in a day. It's like, addicting.

Ingredients:

Yogurt: Any flavor, but I recommend plain or vanilla to let the fresh fruit shine through.
Figs and Blueberries: Just a little of each.
Granola: A few sprinklings, tucked here and there for satisfying crunchiness.
Honey: To make things just a little sweeter.

One bowl of yogurt and fresh figs on a wooden table

Be sure to check out the full recipe card below for details on all these preparations. For a Yogurt and Granola Bowl:

Place the yogurt in a small bowl
Add the granola
Add the sliced fresh figs and blueberries on top
Drizzle with honey

This is a really delicious bowl to eat in the afternoon for a snack, or for breakfast. Easy, too!

Fig Recipe #3

two toasts with figs on a wooden platter wotj knife and honey and salt

Okay, every time I serve these, I get asked for the "recipe". No one can believe it's so simple!

Here's the ingredients you'll need:

Sourdough & Olive Oil: Use any artisan-style rustic bread, drizzled with olive oil and toasted
Cream Cheese: Softened for easy spreading on the warm toast
Figs: Of course :)
Pistachios: For crunch and flavor
Thyme, Salt and Honey: For sprinkling and drizzling

How to Make it:

Slice the bread, drizzle with olive oil, then toast it under the broiler until lightly golden brown.
Slather on some cream cheese.
Add the sliced fresh figs on top.
Sprinkle with crushed pistachios, thyme, and flaky sea salt.
Drizzle with honey and enjoy!

TIPS & Substitutions

Fig toasts on a wooden plate with yellow knife and salt and honey

You really need to taste fresh figs to experience them for yourself, but if you don't want to commit to buying a whole basket, most grocery stores or Farmer's Market's will gladly give you a sample if you ask nicely. :) You can also add figs to almost any kind of charcuterie board. Slice a few, and leave a few whole for a pretty presentation.

Here's some possible substitutions:

Use peach or vanilla Greek yogurt in the Yogurt & Granola Bowl
Try plant-based yogurt's too (I love plain)
Try other cheeses for the plate, like Gruyere or Fontina or even Parmesan
No pistachios? Try toasted almonds instead!
Varieties of Figs and Tips for Buying

Figs have a mysterious, almost savory quality, and they aren't too sweet or too tart. They are:

Sweet, with a rich flavor and soft texture
A pulpy flesh that's similar to jam
Beware! of unripe figs! which are dry! and rubbery!!! Be sure to select a basket where the figs are mostly firm and smooth.

There are hundreds of varieties of figs, but the most common and readily available are Black Mission (shown in the container above. Don't shy away from other types if you see them at the Farmers Market or grocery store:

Brown Turkey
Sierra
Calimyrna
King
Kadota
I've eaten figs straight from the container, but you should gently rinse and dry them, trim the stem and very bottom with a sharp knife and enjoy!

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I store fresh figs?

Fresh figs are pretty fragile and bruise easily, and should be stored in the refrigerator. Just gently rinse them off and trim the ends before use.

How long will fresh figs last before using?

Figs will last for up to 3 days in the refrigerator if they were firm when you purchased them.