Summer cooking means light, fresh, flavorful meals. It’s the perfect time to add some fruit to your recipes! And there’s one in particular that just keeps popping up in everything from salads, to burger toppings, to dessert. Figs! They are really a super tasty addition to your meals this summer and they’re so easy to prepare and cook with.

Now, when you think figs, think California! California Fresh Figs are back in season and they’ve never been hotter or more on trend. You can find them now through December in the produce department of most major grocery stores or on the menus of the hottest restaurants.

Fresh figs are so beautiful and amazing on their own. Just wash and eat everything but the stem to get a delicious dose of fiber, potassium and calcium in your day. Look at the gorgeous colors you’ll find inside!

And I mentioned incorporating them into recipes… they add fun, flavor and excitement to hundreds of recipes. Try one of these I found on the website CaliforniaFigs.com.

Arugula and California Fresh Fig Salad with Fig and Buttermilk Dressing

Find recipe here.

I like to add fresh figs to salads - it’s so simple!

Turkey Sliders with California Pepper Fig Salsa

Find recipe here.

We know Summer is all about grilling and I just love these Turkey Sliders with California Pepper Fig Salsa.

Chocolate Covered Figs

Find recipe here.

And we can’t forget dessert of course. This sweet fruit is perfect for desserts. Ever tried a Chocolate Covered Fig? Yum!! There are so many varieties - each with their own unique flavors.

For instance, Black Mission Figs have a beautiful Purple and black skin with deep earthy flavor like a Cabernet. And Sierras have a light-colored skin with a fresh, sweet flavor like a Riesling. There’s even a variety called the Tiger Fig- that has more of a fruity, raspberry, citrus flavor. All varieties – Black Mission, Brown Turkey, Calimyrna, Kadota, Sierra and Tiger Figs – are available now and in excellent quality.

These are just a few of the amazing recipes you can try but you can find even more inspiration and ideas at CaliforniaFigs.com. So pick some up and let’s get creative with those summer dishes!

WATCH BELOW: