The taste of summer: Picnic food and refreshment recipes
PERK up your picnic with these delicious recipes.
Perk up your picnic with these delicious recipes
Melon aqua fresca
Serves: 6
Preparation time: 5 minutes
800g (1¾lbs) watermelon, flesh only, roughly chopped
300ml (10½fl oz) water
1 tbsp sugar
Juice of 3 limes
l Blend the watermelon with half the water, sugar and lime juice.
l Mix with the rest of the water then pour into a vacuum flask with a handful of ice.
l Make it an adult version by mixing equal quantities of champagne and aqua fresca or try 200ml (7fl oz) of vodka or rum.
Stuffed focaccia
Serves: 6
Cooking time: 30 minutes
Preparation time: 2 hours
450g (1lb) strong, white plain
flour, plus extra for dusting
2 tsps dried yeast
1 tbsp chopped fresh rosemary
1 tsp flaky salt
5 tbsps olive oil
300ml (10½fl oz) tepid water
2 courgettes
1 jar roast peppers (size of your choice)
160g (5¾oz) black olives
200g (7oz) sun-blushed tomatoes
100g (3½oz) pesto
2 mozzarella balls
l Sift the flour into a large bowl then mix with the yeast, rosemary, salt and 2 tablespoons of the olive oil.
l Make a well in the middle of the flour, pour in the water and mix.
l Transfer the dough to a lightly floured surface and knead until it becomes soft and elastic.
l Place back in the bowl then cover and rest in a warm place to rise for 1-1½ hours or until doubled in size.
l Meanwhile, thinly slice the courgettes along the length.
l Place a griddle pan over a high heat until smoking hot then griddle the courgettes until just colouring on both sides. Set aside to cool.
l Drain the peppers, olives and sun-blushed tomatoes. Roughly chop and mix together in a bowl.
l Split the dough into 2 pieces then roll 1 out on a lightly floured surface until it’s 25x30cm (9¾x12in).
l Drizzle a large baking tray with 1 tablespoon of the olive oil and lay the rolled dough on the tray.
l Brush the pesto over the dough, leaving a 2cm (¾in) rim.
l Sprinkle with the chopped peppers, tomatoes and olives then lay the courgettes over the top.
l Drain the mozzarella and tear evenly over the courgettes.
l Brush the outside 2cm (¾in) of the dough with a little water.
l Roll the second piece of dough on a lightly floured surface to the same size as the other piece then carefully lay over the top. Press together to make sure it is sealed.
l Using your fingertips, press all over the top of the dough then brush with the last 2 tablespoons of olive oil.
l Cover and allow to rise a little for 15 minutes.
l Preheat the oven to 200°C/ 400°F/gas mark 6 then uncover and bake for 20-25 minutes.
l Leave in the tin for 15 minutes then put on a cooling rack.
Roast sweet potato and kale filo quiches
Serves: 6
Cooking time: 45 minutes
Preparation time: 25 minutes
1 sweet potato
2 tbsps olive oil, plus extra for the muffin tin
A pinch of chilli flakes
1 tsp chopped thyme
Salt and pepper, to taste
50g (1¾oz) kale, stalks removed
4 filo pastry sheets
3 eggs, plus extra for brushing
100g (3½oz) Gruyère or mature
Cheddar cheese, grated
360ml (12¾fl oz) double cream
l Peel and dice the sweet potato into 1cm (½in) cubes. Toss with
1 tablespoon of the olive oil, chilli flakes, chopped thyme, salt and pepper then roast in a large roasting tray for 20-25 minutes.
l Roughly chop the kale, rinse under cold water and drain.
l Heat a frying pan with a tablespoon of the olive oil, wilt the kale for 30 seconds then transfer to a plate.
l Preheat the oven to 170°C/ 325°F/gas mark 3.
l Lightly oil a 6-hole muffin tin.
l Lightly brush each layer of filo with egg and carefully lay them back in a perfect stack.
l Cut the filo down the middle lengthways then into 3 the other way to create 6 squares. Carefully push each square into a muffin tin hole and bake for 5 minutes.
l Remove the filo cases from the oven and divide the grated cheese into each case, followed by the kale and roast sweet potato.
l Beat the eggs and cream together, pour the mixture into each case and bake for 12-15 minutes, making sure the filo isn’t overcooking.
l Remove from the muffin tins and cool on a rack.
Grain jar salad
Serves: 4
Cooking time: 12 minutes
Preparation time: 25 minutes
150g (5¼oz) quinoa
1 tsp sumac
4 tbsps olive oil
1 tsp flaky salt
300ml (10½fl oz) water
200g (7oz) yoghurt
Juice of 1 lime
A handful of chopped mint
2 carrots, peeled and grated
2 beetroots, peeled and grated
1 tsp harissa paste
1 tbsp sherry vinegar
4 large ripe tomatoes, chopped
100g (3½oz) washed baby spinach
l Rinse the quinoa under cold water for 1 minute then drain.
l Place the quinoa in a saucepan and mix with the sumac, 1 tablespoon of the olive oil and salt.
l Cover with the water, bring to the boil and simmer for 12 minutes or until all of the water has been absorbed. Set aside to cool.
l Mix the yoghurt, lime juice, 1 tablespoon of the olive oil and mint then divide between 4 Kilner jars.
l Fluff the quinoa with a fork then divide between the Kilner jars.
l Divide the carrots and beetroots equally over the quinoa.
l Whisk together the harissa paste and vinegar until smooth. Whisk in 2 tablespoons of the olive oil then drizzle the mixture into the jars.
l Place the tomatoes in the Kilner jars followed by the spinach.
l Seal the lid and chill until needed.
Citrus slices
Serves: 10
Cooking time: 45 minutes
Preparation time: 40 minutes
150g (5¼oz) unsalted butter
1 tsp vanilla bean paste
400g (14oz) caster sugar
1 tbsp cornflour
300g (10½oz) plain flour
6 eggs
Zest of 1 orange
Zest of 1 lime
Zest of 1 lemon
250ml (8¾fl oz) citrus juice (1 orange, 2 lemons and 3 limes, depending on how juicy they are)
l Preheat the oven to 160°C/325°F/ gas mark 2½ and line a 20x30cm (8x12in) tray with baking paper.
l Soften the butter in a bowl then mix with the vanilla paste and 100g (3½oz) of the sugar until smooth.
l Sift the cornflour and 200g (7oz) of the plain flour into the butter then mix. Knead into a ball then, using your fingertips, push into the tray to fill all of the corners and flatten.
l Place in the fridge for 20 minutes then bake for 20 minutes until golden brown. Allow to cool in the tray.
l Whisk the eggs, the other 300g (10½oz) of caster sugar, and the orange, lime and lemon zests until the sugar has dissolved. Sift in the other 100g (3½oz) of plain flour, beat and mix in the citrus juice.
l Pour over the base and bake for 20-25 minutes until the citrus curd is just set but has a little wobble, as it will continue cooking.
l Remove from the oven and allow to cool before cutting.
Styling by Victoria Gray Photographs by Winfried Heinze
Recipes written and devised by home economist Dominic Hoile.