How do you eat fresh figs? Let’s learn how to eat them fresh and what dishes you can prepare them in.

Eating fresh figs whole, skin included, is super easy.

Figs are native to the Mediterranean coast. In ancient legends of Mediterranean countries, figs were called “holy fruit” and used in sacrificial offerings.

How to eat figs?

Eating fresh figs is easy. Wash them thoroughly and eat the whole fig, skin included, for a more flavorful and balanced experience. The stem often has a slightly bitter taste, so if you’re not used to it, you can remove it before eating. Unlike other fruits, which are usually eaten for the flesh alone, a ripe, red fig contains the flowers, nectar, seeds, and peel—all the plant’s most nutritious essence. Enjoy it all at once for a truly delicious experience.

Figs contain high levels of glucose and fructose, as well as protein and various vitamins, making them extremely nutritious. They also have a laxative effect, so those with constipation should try them.

Because fig cultivation requires greenhouses or net houses, the fruits will spoil after being left at room temperature for about 2-3 days after harvest. Therefore, to extend their shelf life, they are usually harvested when they are approximately 80% ripe and transported refrigerated. If you buy fresh figs, be sure to consume them as soon as possible to avoid waste.

Nutritional Value of Figs

Figs can be eaten fresh, dried, or made into jam. The Compendium of Materia Medica records that dried figs can be used as medicine, boasting benefits such as tonifying qi and blood, strengthening the spleen and intestines, and relieving rheumatism. Fresh figs are highly nutritious, containing high levels of fructose, fruit acid, protein, and vitamins.

As long as you know how to cook, figs can be fried, boiled, roasted, or deep-fried, and you can even use jam to make sausages. Figs grown in the dry regions of the Middle East, such as Iran and Turkey, are primarily produced in dry areas and are often dried naturally.