By Casa de Suna
Published Aug 08
When it comes to prepping for a picnic, a lot of people get lost in the idea that you need to pack old-school picks like peanut butter & jelly sandwiches and leave the finer-dining prospects at home.
We say: you don’t need to be a chef to elevate your picnic game – you just need this recipe roundup. Our key tip for making your picnic a memorable culinary event: don’t be afraid to bring food that requires a fork (many picnic baskets contain special compartments for them, as a matter of fact). As long as the items you’re prepping aren’t ultra-messy – and you come prepared with napkins – you’ll be golden.
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Start with a crowd-pleasing cocktail
It’s hard to go wrong when our Pitcher Palomas are in the rotation! The recipe already serves four, and keeps nicely in an airtight mason jar. For the kids, whip up some of our homemade lemonade concentrate – all you need to do is add water for a perfectly refreshing glass of lemonade.
Leverage seasonal ingredients
Tomatoes are at their peak during picnic season, and we love taking advantage of that by prepping and packing our fuss-free cherry tomato focaccias. They’re delicious – close enough to pizza that any kids in your crowd won’t blink before enjoying them, but sophisticated enough for the grown-ups, too – and easy to eat. Make extra!
Don’t be afraid to bring a salad
Our Charred Broccoli Sheet Pan Salad comes together in the oven. It’s no-mess, nutrient-dense, and only takes 20 minutes to make. Thanks to the hearty broccoli and chickpeas that form its base, it also doesn’t get soggy in transport, making it the perfect healthy option to bring along for those who crave a serving of plants, even when picnic-bound.
Surprise and delight with a special savory treat
Harissa-rubbed halloumi might not instantly occur to you as a picnic food–but once you introduce it to your fellow attendees, you’ll be the star of the show. From the pistachio to the lime zest, it’s packed with flavors you didn’t know your palate needed, and while you can definitely cut it and eat it demurely, it’s not too messy to enjoy with your hands, should you find yourself short on utensils.
Incorporate a hearty sandwich
Meat isn’t the easiest to eat on the go, even if you’ve purchased and packed picnic-ready forks. But the meat recipe we’re bringing you today doesn’t require special knives – or even forks – in fact, it’s a sandwich so delicious you may want it for lunch every day, not just at your picnic. Our boulangerie style pork shoulder sandwiches should be packed tightly and stored separately – or you can assemble them when you arrive at your final destination – but they’re worth the extra transport efforts. From the dijon mustard to the cornichons and greens, this is the summertime sandwich you used to crave as a kid – taken to the next level (and then some).
