This fig salad is fresh figs, spinach, goat cheese and candied pecans, all tossed together in a homemade balsamic vinaigrette. A quick and easy side dish that’s full of flavor.

You can never go wrong with some great fall salad recipes . Some of my favorite options include pear salad, brussels sprout salad , mandarin orange salad , fennel salad , Thanksgiving salad , beet salad and kale salad .

A bowl of fig salad with spinach, goat cheese and pecans. - 1

I think that figs may be my absolute favorite fruit. Part of the appeal is that they’re one of the few fruits left that are truly seasonal so it’s a treat when the figs start popping up in the stores. This fig salad is the perfect way to showcase this seasonal delight.

  • Fig Salad Ingredients
  • How Do You Make Fig Salad?
  • Tips For The Perfect Dish
  • Quick Tip
  • Recipe FAQs
  • Flavor Variations
  • More Great Salad Recipes
  • Love This Recipe?
  • Fig Salad with Spinach Recipe

Fig Salad Ingredients

Bowls of ingredients including figs, cheese, pecans, olive oil and seasonings. - 2

To make this recipe, you will need baby spinach, fresh figs, goat cheese, candied pecans, olive oil, balsamic vinegar, honey, Dijon mustard, salt, black pepper and shallot.

How Do You Make Fig Salad?

Place the spinach, figs, goat cheese and candied pecans in a large bowl. In a small bowl, whisk together the olive oil, balsamic vinegar, honey, mustard, shallot, salt and pepper to make the dressing. Pour the dressing over the salad, then toss gently to combine. Serve immediately and enjoy.

Step by step process shots showing how to make a fig and spinach salad. - 3

Tips For The Perfect Dish

  • Any variety of fresh figs will work for this recipe. My favorites include black Mission figs, green Kadota figs and striped tiger figs.
  • You can find candied pecans in the salad dressing aisle or produce department at most grocery stores. If you can’t find them, try making your own candied pecans .
  • The salad dressing can be made up to 5 days before you plan to serve it.
  • I recommend buying a log of goat cheese and crumbling it yourself. The flavor is so much better than packaged crumbled goat cheese which is often coated in preservatives and anti caking agents.

Quick Tip

Due to the delicate nature of fresh figs, this salad is best when served immediately .

Dressing being poured over spinach salad. - 4

Figs pair well with nuts, as well as soft mild cheeses such as goat cheese, brie or mascarpone. They are great with greens such as argula or spinach, and can even be roasted with chicken for a sweet and savory main course option.

Fresh figs are great in salads, on a charcuterie board , or you can bake them to make roasted figs . Figs can also be cut open and stuffed with cheese, or wrapped in prosciutto to make an easy and elegant appetizer.

If fresh figs are very ripe, they should be refrigerated so that they don’t spoil. You will know when figs are ripe because they get soft. If you have firm, underripe figs, store them at room temperature until they get ripe and soft.

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Tongs serving up a portion of fig salad. - 5

Flavor Variations

This fig salad is delicious as is, but you can also add other ingredients to customize the flavors of the dish to your tastes.

  • Fruit: If figs are out of season, you can use another late summer/early fall fruit such as peaches or pears.
  • Nuts: Swap out the candied pecans with candied walnuts , pistachios, sliced almonds or even toasted pine nuts.
  • Cheese: Instead of goat cheese, try using feta cheese, blue cheese, burrata or even small cubes of brie.
  • Greens: No spinach on hand? Arugula is a great substitute. You can also use a spring mix.
  • Add-ins: Try adding some other ingredients to your salad such as dried cranberries, thinly shaved fennel, bacon, pomegranate seeds, or roasted squash.

I’m going to be soaking in fig season for as long as it lasts. Hopefully some day the little fig tree in our yard will produce more than 2 figs at a time so that I can have my own personal stash. In the meantime I’ll keep hunting for them at the store and enjoying them in this salad.

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This recipe for Tuscan kale salad is full of kale, grilled chicken, avocado, tomatoes, almonds and feta cheese, all tossed in a simple lemon dressing. An easy and healthy meal! #LaneToGreatness #ad - 10

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Ingredients1x2x3x

For the Salad

  • ▢ 6 cups baby spinach
  • ▢ 2 cups fresh figs quartered
  • ▢ 1/2 cup goat cheese crumbled
  • ▢ 1/2 cup candied pecans chopped

For the Dressing

  • ▢ 1/3 cup olive oil
  • ▢ 3 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
  • ▢ 1 tablespoon honey
  • ▢ 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
  • ▢ 2 teaspoons shallot minced
  • ▢ salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

For the dressing

  • Place all the dressing ingredients in a small bowl. Whisk well to combine.

For the salad

  • Place the spinach, figs, goat cheese and candied pecans in a large bowl.
  • Drizzle the dressing over the salad and toss gently to combine.
  • Serve immediately.

Notes

  1. The dressing can be made up to 5 days in advance.
  2. You can use any type of fresh figs. My favorite options include black Mission figs, green Kadota figs or striped tiger figs.

Nutrition

This fig salad is fresh figs, spinach, goat cheese and candied pecans, all tossed together in a homemade balsamic vinaigrette. - 11 A bowl of fig salad with spinach, goat cheese and pecans. - 12

Fig Salad with Spinach

Ingredients

For the Salad

  • 6 cups baby spinach
  • 2 cups fresh figs quartered
  • 1/2 cup goat cheese crumbled
  • 1/2 cup candied pecans chopped

For the Dressing

  • 1/3 cup olive oil
  • 3 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
  • 1 tablespoon honey
  • 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
  • 2 teaspoons shallot minced
  • salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

For the dressing

  • Place all the dressing ingredients in a small bowl. Whisk well to combine.

For the salad

  • Place the spinach, figs, goat cheese and candied pecans in a large bowl.
  • Drizzle the dressing over the salad and toss gently to combine.
  • Serve immediately.

Notes

  1. The dressing can be made up to 5 days in advance.
  2. You can use any type of fresh figs. My favorite options include black Mission figs, green Kadota figs or striped tiger figs.

Nutrition