What to do with: Figs

Here are our favourite ways to use this luscious fruity treat.

• Fig and goats’ cheese salad
  Slice ripe figs into quarters and combine with watercress or rocket, a few toasted, sliced almonds and a dressing made from lemon juice, olive oil and honey. Perfect as a first course or a side salad.
• Roasted figs
  Cut the stems off and cut a cross into the top of each fig. Drizzle in a little honey or apple syrup. Bake in a hot oven for 15 minutes. Serve with plain yoghurt or ice- cream.
• Easy fig tarts
  Take a sheet of ready-rolled low- fat pastry and cut into four squares. Spread each square with fig jam, then layer on sliced fresh figs. Bake in a hot oven until the pastry is crispy and the figs soft.
• Wine-poached figs
  Combine red wine with a little sugar and heat gently until the sugar is dissolved. Stab figs a few times with a skewer, then put into the pot and simmer gently until they are tender. Serve hot or cold.
• Slow-dried figs
  Slice figs in half and lay on an oven tray. Leave as they are, or can sprinkle with a little brown sugar. Cook in a very low oven (50°C) for several hours, until the figs have collapsed and partially dried. Lovely with breakfast cereal.