With the sun shining and temperatures rising, nothing quite screams summer more than soaking up the good weather with a picnic. Whether you head to a local park or keep things closer to home with a backyard affair, rolling out the picnic blanket with some friends and family is the perfect way to pass the time.
But while it may be tempting to dash to the shops to pick up packets of pies, rolls and dips, there’s plenty of picnic food that can be made from scratch at home. From refreshing salads to sweet treats, here’s four recipes sure to be the star of the picnic basket.
Rainbow quinoa salad
Serves four
It might look small but it packs a mighty punch. Jammed with seasonal goodness, this handy on-the-go salad is filling and full of flavour.
Ingredients
- 500g wholegrain quinoa
- Handful of raisins, nuts and seeds (optional)
- 500ml natural yoghurt
- 1 tsp garlic salt
- Lime juice
- 2 carrots, sliced finely into strips
- 2 beetroots, sliced finely into strips
- 1 red pepper, sliced
- 2 chilli peppers, diced
- Salad leaves
- 6 tomatoes
Method
Tart lemon custard slices
Makes 10-15
Silky, thick custard with a zingy zest of fresh summer lemon, bedded on a biscuit base – the perfect sweet sunshine snack.
Ingredients
For the custard
- 300g caster sugar
- 250g custard powder
- 500ml thickened cream
- 500ml full-fat milk
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 lemon (juice and zest)
For the base
- 400g pack of digestive biscuits
- Handful of macadamia nuts
- 150g softened butter
- 3 tbsp maple syrup
- Dusting of icing sugar, optional
Method
Watermelon rose cooler
Makes four
Cooling and refreshing, this non-alcoholic drink will quench your thirst – it’s summer in a glass.
Ingredients
- Medium-sized watermelon, cubed and frozen
- 5 tsp rose syrup
- 500ml coconut water
- Fresh lemon juice
Method
Butternut squash soufflés
Makes eight
These savoury bites are full of vitamins, minerals and protein, and they’re so easy to make in advance.
Ingredients
- ½ butternut squash, cut into small cubes
- 2 garlic cloves
- Olive oil for roasting
- 250ml milk
- Half a white onion
- Pinch of nutmeg
- 1 bay leaf
- 50g unsalted butter
- 50g plain flour
- Salt and pepper
- 5 large eggs, separate yolks and whites
- 100g mature cheddar cheese
- Ready-made filo pastry
Method
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