5 Great Summer Picnic Ideas

Picnics can be great fun, especially in the warmer summer months when it is great to gather your family around you and head out to your favourite picnic spot with a basket loaded with food and drink. Many people stick to the same old sandwiches and traditional picnic fare, so if you are looking for some inspiration here are five ideas to give your alfresco experience a little more pizzazz.

The New Potato Salad

Instead of new potatoes, boil or roast some chunks of sweet potato until tender but not too soft and mushy. Roughly chop or grate a variety of your favourite raw salad or vegetables, such as sweet, pointed peppers, carrots, spring onions or cherry tomatoes and add to the sweet potatoes. Make a quick and tasty vinaigrette of olive oil, a little chilli, ground roast cumin seeds, torn coriander leaves and a splash of sherry vinegar – keep this separate from the salad and use as a dressing on arrival at your picnic spot. For extra zing, add crumbled goats’ cheese or chopped cooked bacon to the salad and take your choice of seeds to sprinkle over the top.

 

Rice and Cheese Balls

Do you have some leftover rice? Use a couple of handfuls of cooked rice and mix with two large free-range eggs. Add some seasoning and herbs of your choice then roll the rice into balls, inserting a cube of melting mozzarella or strong cheddar into them. Roll in breadcrumbs and then chill. Next, shallow-fry them in a couple of table spoons of oil until golden, then place on paper towel to blot. Take a spicy or mild tomato salsa to dip them into.

Dressed Crab

Shred some crab meat and dress with lemon juice, pepper, chives or chopped spring onions and a little chilli. Use halves of small de-seeded peppers or halved and de-stoned avocados to carry your dressed crab in as edible bowls. Or instead of crab, why not try lobster or prawns? Add mayonnaise or crème fraiche if desired for an extra creamy dimension.

Pesto Chicken

Use pesto to dress cold cooked chicken thighs, fillets and thighs. Make your own pesto by mixing pine nuts, olive oil, garlic, copious amounts of basil and a twist of black pepper in a food processor. Add a new twist by replacing the standard Parmesan cheese with the cheese of your choice – feta is a good one – and other goodies such as washed rocket or a squeeze of lemon. If you have edible flowers in your garden such as Nasturtium then pick the peppery and colourful heads, carefully rinse and pack separately to sprinkle over the chicken.

If You Must Have Sandwiches

Try any of the above ideas in bread with the addition of a hearty salad of mixed leaves. Pick bread that will last the journey to your picnic spot to avoid the dreaded soggy sandwiches! Ciabatta, a rustic French stick or doorstep rye wedges would be perfect. Alternatively, children will love pita pockets or wraps cut into smaller wedges.

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