Our 27 Favorite Fig Recipes (2024)

FAQs

Can I freeze figs? ›

Like many other fruits and vegetables, figs can easily be frozen and used in a variety of dishes. This year when fig season comes around, make sure to buy a few extra pounds to freeze and eat in the future. You can swap fresh for frozen figs in many recipes such as this one for easy Fig Bread.

Figs can go sweet or savory. They love honey, or caramel, or cinnamon and sugar. They appreciate a little salt and/or pepper, and positively shine in the company of cultured dairy like sour cream, crème fraîche, yogurt, labneh, or quark—and all kinds of soft fresh or hard aged cheeses.

The best way to enjoy figs is raw, with the skin and seeds intact. You can also remove the peels and scoop out the seeds, if you like, or cook figs by baking, broiling or grilling them. But, the quickest and easiest way to enjoy these gems is by removing the stem and taking a bite right out of the raw fig.

Avoid Figs that are hard and chalky since they will never be good or syrupy like the ripe and soft ones. Figs go with every type of Cheese – no matter if they are fresh, dried, in a jam or braised! It is very popular to serve figs with blue cheese but since I am not a big fan of blue cheese I chose Manchego instead.

You can freeze figs whole or cut them in half or even quarters. Wash your figs before cutting or freezing whole, and make sure to dry them well.

The General Guideline: On average, 2-4 figs per day can be a sweet spot for most people, balancing taste and nutritional benefits. Your Personal Needs: Your individual needs, health condition, and lifestyle can affect the ideal amount of figs for you.

Figs are an excellent source of dietary fibre, and when soaked, their soluble fibre content increases. This aids in promoting a healthy digestive system by preventing constipation and supporting regular bowel movements, ensuring a smooth start to your day.

Dried figs are an amazing remedy for constipation which can give you noticeable results in a few uses only. Dried figs are loaded with fibre which can help in a smooth bowel movement. These are also rich in vitamin B6 that can indirectly ease digestion.

When it comes to raw fruit, you can easily have 2-3 figs in a day. If you are having dried figs, stick to 3 figs and do not have them without soaking overnight. Our body can absorb the nutrients and digest some dried fruits and nuts in a better way when they are soaked well.

Figs contain a lot of fibre, and eating too much fibre may lead to indigestion and constipation. Eating figs in excess may damage the intestines and liver. Regular intake of figs in large quantities along with its seeds can possibly cause bloating and upset stomach.

Should you eat figs at night? ›

Figs are rich in magnesium, potassium, calcium and iron, making them a powerful sleep aid. These minerals all help with blood flow and muscle contraction which are crucial for falling asleep. They also contain high amounts of fibre, keeping you full through the night and preventing midnight cravings.

Figs — and their leaves — are packed with nutrients and offer a variety of potential health benefits. They may promote healthy digestion, decrease your risk of heart disease, and help you manage your blood sugar levels.

Menniti says this love of fig trees comes from reverence for a historical means of survival. For agricultural people in Southern Italy, a fig tree offered a source of fruit that could be dried and kept for lean times. The trees also became a symbol of adaptation.

Flavors to partner with figs include nuts, vinegars including balsamic and sherry vinegars, honey, cured meats like prosciutto and ham, warm spices including cinnamon and cardamom, herbs like rosemary and thyme, and dairy, especially cheese. Because they are so high in sugar, fresh figs caramelize easily when roasted.

Fresh figs are usually eaten raw. They taste best eaten straight off the tree, ideally still warm from the sun. The entire fig is edible, from the thin skin to the red or purplish flesh and the myriad tiny seeds, but they can be peeled if you wish.

Wash them thoroughly and, setting aside any that are very soft, space them out on a wax paper-lined baking sheet in the freezer. When they're completely frozen, transfer to freezer bags.

Select fully ripe fruit; wash, and peel if desired. Figs can be frozen in several ways. Sugar pack: Roll the whole figs or halves in sugar before packing into freezer bags or containers. Syrup pack: Pack figs into freezer bags or containers and cover with a sugar syrup before freezing.

The way we freeze figs is just to put them into plastic freezer bags and straight into the freezer. Others have told us they dip the fig in sugar first, then dry them some to reduce the juiciness before they freeze them.

It's important to keep fresh figs cold to slow deterioration. Use them immediately or store in a plastic bag in the coldest part of your refrigerator for up to two days. Fresh figs can be frozen whole, sliced, or peeled in a sealed container for ten to twelve months.