Vegan Snacks

Fresh Figs

I L-O-V-E fresh figs! And if you have never tried them, may I suggest to do it NOW! The end of summer is generally the time that markets have them available for a reasonable price. Figs provide a delicacy that is unmatched by other fruits. Its complex texture includes a chewy interior, a smooth exterior, a sweet flavor and a crunchiness from its seeds.

Fig Varieties

There are hundreds of varieties of fresh figs, so don't think that these listed are the only types available, they are the most prominent in supermarkets. You may even have a neighbor that has an unusual variety growing in their yard and they don't eat them. I'd get to be their best friend and offer to pick the fruit for free each summer!
Adriatic: light green skin with pinkish-tan interior flesh
Black Mission: purple-blackish skin with pink interior flesh
Brown Turkey: purplish skin with red interior flesh
Calimyrna: yellow-greenish with an amber interior flesh
Kadota: green skin with purplish interior flesh

How to Select and Store Fresh Figs

Fresh figs are highly perishable and should be purchased and eaten the same day or next. Don't try to keep them for a week or you will only find moldy fuzz growing all over them.

Smell the figs to determine their freshness and taste. Fresh figs will have a sweet fragrance.

June through September is best time in the United States for fresh fig purchase. I prefer those harvested in September... they seem to be the best tasting for me.


Fresh figs bruise easily, so handle them with great care. I wash them in a bowl of cold water with a veggie wash solution, rinse and then place them on a large kitchen towel to dry off. They don't get very dry though, because I eat half of them in the cleaning process.

How to EAT Fresh Figs

I like to select fresh figs that have a sweet aroma and are medium soft to the touch, not firm or hard. There is no one way to eat the fig, but to make the experience last longer,I cut it in half so I can experience the mysterious interior before popping it into my mouth. The stem is the only part that I don't eat regardless of the variety that I have purchased. I leave the stem attached when slicing to provide a tiny handle.

For a truly decadent experience, make the Vegan Creamy Cashew Cheese and place a dollop on each fresh fig before serving.

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