Fig Salad with White Balsamic Dressing

When fresh figs are in season, this Fig Salad with White Balsamic Dressing is the first thing I want to make. Sweet, jammy figs-some fresh and some roasted-meet caramelized red onion, salty shaved Pecorino, sweet and spicy pecans, and a simple sweet-and-tangy white balsamic dressing.

All about this fig salad

Every August, I see those little cartons of fresh figs in the grocery store and tell myself, "You really do not need another package."

And then I buy another package.

I have made this salad every week this August. Every time I see figs on my shopping trip, another carton somehow finds its way into my cart. I have shared this salad with family and friends, and everyone who has eaten it has asked for the recipe.

So, I promised I would get it posted right away.

Here it is.

What makes this fig salad a little different is that I use the figs two ways. Some stay fresh, juicy, and beautifully jammy. The others go into the oven with slices of red onion, where the heat brings out their natural sweetness and turns the onion soft and almost candy-like.

Honestly, I cannot help myself from popping a roasted fig-or a piece of that sweet roasted onion-straight from the baking sheet into my mouth.

The whole thing gets finished with shaved Pecorino, some sweet and spicy crunchy nuts, and the easiest white balsamic dressing. It is a little sweet, a little salty, a little tangy, and exactly the kind of salad I could happily eat every week while fresh figs are around.

And if you are a fig salad fan looking to expand your repertoire, I have another idea for you. Add fresh figs, roasted figs, or both to my Dragon Fruit and Mango Spinach Salad with Jam Vinaigrette. Keep the mango, swap it for figs, or go all in and keep all three fruits-dragon fruit, mango, and figs. Also, consider adding figs to this watermelon and grilled Halloumi salad.

Dealer's choice. I'm not here to limit your fruit salad possibilities.

Jump to:

• All about this fig salad
• Why You'll Love This Fig Salad
• Ingredients for Fig Salad with White Balsamic Dressing
• Why Roast the Figs and Red Onion?
• What is white balsamic vinegar?
• Balsamic Vinegar vs. Condiment: What's the difference?
• The Easiest White Balsamic Dressing
• Share your thoughts
• Related
• Fig Salad with White Balsamic Dressing
• my new cookbook is here!

Ingredients for Fig Salad with White Balsamic Dressing

The beauty of this salad is that you do not need much. When figs are ripe and in season, they bring plenty of flavor all on their own.

Fresh and Roasted Figs

Fresh Figs are the star here, so look for figs that are ripe and slightly soft when gently pressed. I like using some straight from the carton and roasting the rest. The fresh figs bring that juicy, delicate texture, while the roasted figs become softer, sweeter, and almost jammy.

If you are anything like me, though, you might want to buy an extra carton. A few figs have a way of disappearing before they ever make it into the salad.

Red Onion

Red Onion adds a little bite to the salad, but roasting it alongside the figs completely changes its personality. The edges soften, the sharpness mellows, and the natural sweetness comes forward.

Fair warning: you may find yourself eating a few pieces straight from the baking sheet. They are that good.

Finishing Touches

• Pecorino - Instead of crumbled cheese, I love shaving a young aged Pecorino over this salad with a Y-vegetable peeler. The thin ribbons add a salty, slightly nutty bite without overwhelming the figs. If you cannot find Pecorino, Manchego would be my first substitute.
• Sweet and Spicy Pecans - A little crunch is always a good idea, especially when the rest of the salad is filled with soft figs and tender roasted onion. I often pick up a bag of Trader Joe's Sweet & Spicy Pecans because they are delicious, reasonably priced, and happen to work perfectly here. But if you want to make your own here is my favorite recipe for sweet and spicy pecans.

You can certainly use another candied or caramelized nut, though. Walnuts, pecans, or even hazelnuts would all be delicious.

Note: You will find the measurements and other helpful ingredient tips in the recipe card below.

Why Roast the Figs and Red Onion?

Fresh figs are wonderful in a salad, but roasting some of them gives this one another layer of flavor.

The heat concentrates the natural sugars in the figs, making them softer, sweeter, and almost jammy. At the same time, the red onion loses some of its sharp bite and becomes tender and sweet around the edges.

That is why I like using both fresh and roasted figs. You get the best of both worlds: juicy, delicate slices of fresh fig alongside those warm, concentrated little bites of roasted fig.

And while the figs and onion are roasting together, something magical happens on that baking sheet. The juices caramelize, the kitchen starts smelling wonderful, and suddenly I am standing there eating them before the salad is even assembled.

Do I Need to Add Cinnamon?

Not at all.

I often add just a tiny sprinkle of cinnamon to the figs before roasting because I love the little bit of warmth it brings. It plays beautifully with their natural sweetness without making the salad taste like dessert.

But the figs are perfectly delicious on their own, too. If you want the flavor of the ripe figs, sweet roasted onion, and white balsamic dressing to take center stage, skip the cinnamon.

Dealer's choice.

What is white balsamic vinegar?

White balsamic vinegar has that wonderful balance of sweet and tangy that we love in traditional balsamic vinegar, but with a lighter color and a slightly brighter flavor.

That lighter color is one reason I love using it in this fig salad. It adds plenty of sweet-and-sour flavor without turning the greens, figs, and Pecorino dark.

You will find white balsamic vinegar online and in most grocery stores, specialty food stores, and Italian markets. And if you enjoy a good drizzle of balsamic dressing, this is one worth keeping in the pantry.

Balsamic Vinegar vs. Condiment: What's the difference?

Now, here is where the labeling can get a little confusing.

In Italy, you may see products labeled aceto balsamico and others labeled condimento. While balsamic vinegar is made according to specific production standards, condimento is a broader term used for a seasoned or condiment-style product. Depending on the producer, it may be made and aged differently and can vary quite a bit in flavor and ingredients.

The good news? You do not need to become an Italian vinegar expert to make this salad.

For this recipe, look for a good-quality white balsamic vinegar-or a white balsamic condiment-with a flavor you enjoy. So you may need to taste test a couple to decide. Most of the specialty stores do provide tastings. I look for that balance of sweetness and acidity - not too sweet and not too much tang.

The Easiest White Balsamic Dressing

I am calling this a dressing, but there is no whisking, shaking, or measuring out a long list of ingredients involved.

For salads, nothing beats Oleavia Extra Virgin Olive Oil (photo above). A bottle is always on hand specifically for dressing salads. Read: this is the olive oil that does not get used for cooking! Find this award winning olive oil at specialty shops like Cocellena here in the twin cities of Minnesota or you can order from them online.

South Aegean Special Edition is crafted by blending olive oils from three distinct single-estate farms; two featuring Memecik olives and one with Ayvalik olives. In each estate, olives are early-harvested, hand-picked, and cold-pressed within hours to preserve their exceptional polyphenol content and health benefits. Trust me it is worth seeking this one out.

Back to making the dressing, I then drizzle the greens with just enough olive oil to lightly coat them and add a splash of white balsamic vinegar and sprinkle with flaked salt and a grind of black pepper. Toss everything together and give it a taste.

If your figs are perfectly ripe-and especially if you have roasted some of them-you may not need anything else.

But if you like a little extra sweetness, add a drizzle of honey.

That is it.

The figs, roasted red onion, salty Pecorino, and sweet-and-spicy pecans already bring plenty of flavor to the bowl. This simple white balsamic dressing is there to tie everything together, not cover it up.

Related

Looking for other salad recipes that you could add figs as a bonus? Try these: