Pov: You want a recipe for fig salad that’s also perfect for an appetizer or cheeseboard. Enter this figs and prosciutto plate; a versatile collection of delicious things that simply belong together. Sweet fig, prosciutto, goat cheese along with pistachio and basil, dressed with a delicate citrus and verjuice vinaigrette - the perfect fig salad dressing IMO.

When figs are in season, or if you have ever wondered what to do with fresh figs (other than eating them whole and loving life), celebrate them by making this fig prosciutto goat cheese plate.

Read on to nerd out about the wonderful world of figs, but first, for more delicious summer plates and salads celebrating seasonal fruit, these are a must try:

• Strawberry, Watermelon & Feta Salad, A sweet, quenching salad with a delicious savoury praline.
• Peach Caprese Salad with Burrata, Juicy and vibrant, this is a must make for summer.
• Pickled Rockmelon & Prosciutto Salad, It’s the citrus pickled rockmelon for me, adding a little complexity of flavour.
• Bloody Mary Tomato Salad, because why not combine a cocktail and a salad?
• Fig, Halloumi, Ricotta and Thyme on Sourdough, less of a salad, more of a summery snack, combining all the right things to celebrate fresh figs.

How do you know when a fig is ripe?

Look for a fig that's soft to the touch but not squishy.

Do you eat fig skin?

The skin is entirely edible and left on when serving figs raw or in salads.

Should figs be refrigerated?

Yes, keep them in the fridge, they perish easily when left out. They can be left at room temp if you're planning to use them that day, but otherwise keep them in the fridge.

Can you eat raw figs?

Yes! In fact it’s almost a crime not to. Raw figs are delicious on their own, or halved and used in salads (like this one) or added to a cheese board.

Cooking tips for making figs and prosciutto

• Use perfectly ripe figs for the ultimate fig bite.
• Spoon over the dressing, rather than drench the whole thing. You just a little here and there, focussing on the figs.
• Choose good quality prosciutto and goat cheese.

Other fig salad variations to try:

• Sub the goat cheese for blue cheese (if you like a funky cheese).
• Use balsamic vinegar instead of verjuice for a richer flavour.
• A twist on the classic fig prosciutto salad is to bake the figs first for a caramelised note.

What flavours go well with figs?

• Savoury: prosciutto, goat cheese, blue cheese, ricotta, balsamic vinegar, nuts (like pistachios or walnuts), arugula, basil.
• Sweet: honey, vanilla, mascarpone, dark chocolate.
• Spices: black pepper, cinnamon, cardamom.

How do you prepare figs for a salad or appetizer?

• Cut washed figs in halves or quarters, have them raw for a juicy bite.
• Make roasted figs: grill or roast to soften them and intensify the sweetness and caramelliness.
• Stuff with soft cheese and topped with nuts or honey.
• Make prosciutto wrapped figs.

What to serve with figs and prosciutto

If you’re wanting to create a summer menu, a fig and prosciutto appetizer goes perfectly with this Epic pulled pork, which is best served with an apple whisky BBQ sauce. Serve with a roast potato salad or roast fennel and whipped feta. Finish off with a roast strawberry tart.

How to pair cheese and fruit.

When pairing cheeses and fruit, the figs goat cheese combo is pretty darn good. But going a little broader than figs for a sec for some bonus content, there's a lot of flexibility here to use a cheese you love, with some guidelines to ensure they go well together.

• Balance salty and sweet (like fig and goat cheese). A sweet fruit pairs well with a salty cheese. Or if you have a salty cheese and not very sweet fruit, add a drizzle of honey.
• Match the flavour intensity. A bold flavoured cheese needs a stronger fruit flavour to compliment it.
• Contrasting textures is a vibe. Soft cheeses with crisp fruit, crumbly cheeses with sticky or soft fruit goes well. This isn't a hard and fast rule thought.
• Balance the fat and acid. If the cheese has a rich/high fat content, consider a fruit that is a little more acidic to contrast and cut through.