Basket? Check. Red checkered tablecloth? Check. Plates, forks, napkins, and cups? Check. The weather is beautiful and on June 18th, plan to eat outdoors because it’s International Picnic Day. Picnics have been beloved social gatherings for centuries with people getting together and sharing dishes. In the Victorian Era, picnics were important social events and encouraged people to spend time together outdoors. There is still no better way to take advantage of the nice weather than to dine outdoors with delicious food.
Having a picnic and eating outside in a casual setting is special and fun. Surrounded by nature, friends and delicious food — sounds like heaven! So what food should you bring on a picnic? Well, we have lots of suggestions! Plan your menu with these 20 recipes that are perfect for sharing with your friends. Delicious food? Check.
1. Raw Veggie Wraps With Walnut Paté
These vibrant Raw Veggie Wraps With Walnut Patécome together within minutes and are bursting with fresh, whole foods. A rainbow of vegetables is assembled and then and stuffed them into dark leafy greens. Raw green collards make an awesome wrap – they’re a natural, gluten-free, and nutrient dense alternative to most wheat-based tortilla wraps. Pack these collard wraps for lunch, bring them to a picnic, and enjoy them as the weather gets warmer.
2. Easy Sesame Brussels Sprouts Slaw
This Sesame Brussels Sprouts Slaw is a vivid alternative to the usual slaw. It’s also a whole new way to enjoy Brussels sprouts. Enjoy it as you would any other slaw — piled high on a veggie burger, in tacos, stuffed in a wrap, or alongside some grilled veggie sausage.
3. Tempeh Bacon Salad With Marinated Mushrooms
If you like lots of flavor and ingredients in your salad, you will love this Tempeh Bacon Salad With Marinated Mushrooms. Crunchy lettuce, tempeh bacon, tomatoes, marinated mushrooms, creamy cashew, and sun-dried tomato dressing… The list goes on. This salad is savory, delicious, and nutrition-packed!
4.Trinidadian Alloo Hand Pies
These Trinidadian Alloo Hand Pies are a popular street food made from spiced mashed potatoes folded into dough and then fried. The potatoes are flavorful and creamy, with warm spices, vegan butter, and vegan sour cream, while the dough is crispy and warm. These are best served with spiced chickpeas or any kind of chutney, from savory onion to sweet and spicy mango.
5. Spicy Raw Mango Salad
This Spicy Raw Mango Salad is a flavor explosion in each bite! It’s tangy from the raw mango, crunchy from the peanuts, sesame seeds, and raw onions, a little bitter-sweet from the fried onion and spicy and garlicky sweet all over. Yum!
6.No-Chicken Coronation Sandwich
This No-Chicken Coronation Sandwich is so easy to make and so delicious, it’ll become a staple in your lunchtime rotations. It’s made with chickpeas and mango chutney with warm curry powder, cinnamon, and coriander. Serve this on sandwich bread or add it to your salads to give them a boost of flavor and protein.
7. Panzanella With Millet
Panzanella is a traditional Tuscan salad made from bread and tomatoes. This Panzanella With Millet is a super-quick spring salad that puts a slight spin on the classic dish by adding strawberries and millet to the mix. Fresh, easy-to-make, and hearty enough for a lunch or light supper, this salad is a perfect summer go-to.
8.Thai Tempeh Collard Greens Wrap
In these Thai Tempeh Collard Greens Wraps, vibrant veggies and toasted tempeh flavored with ginger, garlic, and soy, are wrapped up in a luscious leaf! They’re crunchy, flavorful, and refreshing! These wraps make a fantastic lunch on a warm and breezy spring day, where the weather is perfect for eating outdoors.
9. Pesto and Olive Stuffed Mushrooms
These incredible, simple Pesto and Olive Stuffed Mushrooms make a great starter, main dish, or snack. They are easy to make and they taste stunning! The mushrooms are filled with savory olive paste, cool walnut-basil pesto, scallions, and parsley to make them absolutely irresistible.
10. Beet Hummus Panini With Smashed Avocado and Greens
If you need a new kind of sandwich to jazz things ups, try this awesome Beet Hummus Panini With Smashed Avocado and Greens. The fresh greens and zucchini are cool and crisp in contrast to the warm, grilled bread, creamy avocado, and the earthy, garlicky beet hummus. It’s great cold as well, but grilling the bread brings a satisfying crispy crunchiness to the entire ensemble.
11. Tangy Asian Pasta Salad
Forget the same old mayo-based pasta salads and try this Tangy Asian Pasta Salad for something new! Pasta and vegetables are tossed in a gingery tahini peanut butter sauce and marinated for a few hours. This pasta salad is bursting with flavor and will disappear in minutes.
12.Moroccan Chickpea Wraps
These Moroccan Chickpea Wraps make incredible picnic sandwiches. Once this wrap is fresh off the skillet, it’s loaded with veggies and a spicy Cajun hummus spread making it the perfect easy-to-make lunch or to-go snack. Make a big batch of the hummus and you can make wraps all week, or add it to your favorite Buddha bowls.
13. Mediterranean Pesto Carrot Pasta
In this Mediterranean Pesto Carrot Pasta, spiralized carrot noodles are topped with Mediterranean veggies, and then tossed in an herby pesto made of basil, mint, and spinach. With lots of cooling flavors, no cooking or baking required, and tons of color, this light dish packs a summery punch.
14. Herbed Beet Quinoa Tabbouleh
This colorful, light, and flavorful Herbed Beet Quinoa Tabbouleh takes less than half an hour to make, and is both vegan and gluten-free! Quinoa combines with cooling vegetables and herbs for a perfect summer treat. Plus, it’s such a pretty shade of hot pink!
15. Harissa Flatbread With Olives and Jalapeño
This Harissa Flatbread With Olives and Jalapeño will get all the attention at your next picnic. Made with a slightly spicy Harissa sauce, tangy tomato paste, black olives, and jalapeño, there is a ton of flavor in each bite. And don’t worry if you’ve had less than stellar success with pizza pies in the past, the oval shape of this bread is infinitely easier to make.
16.Sweet Potato Sushi Burrito
You love sushi and you love burritos, so why not combine them for a tasty two-in-one lunch? This Sweet Potato Sushi Burrito has roasted sweet potato, avocado, and shredded red cabbage all rolled up in brown rice that is seasoned with rice vinegar and a big sheet of nori. It’s the perfect fusion dish when you can’t decide between two favorites.
17.Grilled Buffalo Tofu Po’ Boy With Apple Slaw
Say hello to your new favorite sandwich. This Grilled Buffalo Tofu Po’ Boy With Apple Slaw is perfect for all your summer gatherings. Grilled marinated tofu with Buffalo sauce is topped with a creamy and crunchy cabbage and apple slaw. Serve with lots of napkins.
18.Mango and Coconut Jelly
This Mango and Coconut Jelly dessert is inspired by a Burmese dessert called “kyauk kyaw” — a light and sweet jelly made without the gelatin. The mango has a sweet and tangy flavor which is balanced by the creaminess of the coconut. A splash of lime juice adds a nice punch to the dish.
19. Banana Akaras: Sierra Leone Banana Fritters
These Banana Akaras are a favorite breakfast in Sierra Leone. Light and fluffy, but also gluten-free, the taste and texture of these fritters is like banana pancakes combined with doughnuts. They’re also ready in just 20 minutes, from start to finish, so they’re perfect for your days off where you want to cook yourself something special, but don’t want to spend your entire day in the kitchen. Enjoy them as snacks all day long.
20. Spanakopita
Spanakopita is a Greek savory filo dough pie filled with spinach and cheese. Here, vegan mozzarella cheese and lemony Spinach come together to form this delicious, flaky, and buttery pie. This is super delicious, healthy and makes a satisfying meal.
Who wants to eat indoors when the sun is shining and the weather is warm and inviting? Pack up all your favorite dishes for a picnic and share them with friends all summer long.
Lead image source: Raw Veggie Wraps with Walnut Paté
