Coca with figat, an autumn delicacy with the taste of Menorca

With the arrival of autumn, Menorcan cuisine rediscovers flavours that for generations have been closely linked to the countryside, the pantry and the natural rhythm of the seasons. Among these delicacies is coca with figat, a simple preparation rich in memory and tradition, combining the soft texture of the coca with the intense, deep sweetness of one of the island’s most traditional preserves.

Figat is a traditional Menorcan fig preserve, usually made with locally known “figues de cristià”, a variety of fig that ripens at the end of summer. In the past, it was a way of making the most of the harvest surplus and preserving the fruit for the months ahead. In Menorcan country houses, making figat formed part of the seasonal culinary rituals: picking the figs at the right stage of ripeness, slowly cooking them and storing that concentrated sweetness in jars to be enjoyed later with snacks, desserts and homemade pastries.

Spread over a coca, figat takes on another dimension. The soft, slightly tender dough contrasts beautifully with the dense texture of the preserve. The caramelised surface, often finished with a fine layer of sugar, creates an appealing interplay of textures, from the soft interior to a lightly crisp finish.

This is one of those foods that needs no sophistication. Coca with figat speaks of the pantry, resourcefulness and home cooking. A deeply Menorcan bite that brings the flavour of a still-living tradition back to the table every autumn.