July is National Picnic Month! Picnics are a great way to keep in touch with old friends or get outside on a beautiful day. Sharing a recipe is a great way to get people to try new things. Here are some picnic recipes meant for groups of 4 or more.
Melon Salad
This salad includes a variety of in-season melons including honeydew, watermelon, and cantaloupe. Serve without bacon to make this starter vegetarian.
Time Needed: 20 minutes
Serves: 4
Ingredients:
- 1/2 c. of plain 2% reduced-fat Greek yogurt
- 2 tbsp. of chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley
- 1 tbsp. of white balsamic vinegar
- 1 tbsp. of extra-virgin olive oil
- 2 tsp. of honey
- 2 tsp. of fresh lime juice
- 3/8 tsp. of kosher salt
- 1/8 tsp. of freshly ground black pepper
- Dash of crushed red pepper
- 2/3 c. of honeydew melon balls
- 2/3 c. of watermelon balls
- 2/3 c. of cantaloupe balls
- 1 cherry radish, cut into thin slices
- 2 center-cut bacon slices, cooked and crumbled
- 12 small basil leaves
Instructions:
- On a large serving plate, spread yogurt in a circle.
- In a medium bowl, combine parsley, vinegar, olive oil, honey, lime juice, 1/8 teaspoon of salt, black pepper, and red pepper.
- Add all of the melon balls and radish to the same bowl. Toss gently.
- Use a slotted spoon to mound the melon mixture on top of the yogurt. Put some of the vinegar mixture off to the side.
- Spread bacon over the mixture and your remaining 1/4 teaspoon of salt.
- Drizzle the vinegar mixture and basil leaves over the melon mixture.
Sweet and Tangy Hummus
Great tasting hummus can be made three days before your picnic. This one has a bit of a smoky flavor and will be orange in color (similar to a sweet potato or yam).
Time Needed: 15-20 minutes
Serves: 8
Ingredients:
- 15.5-oz. can of chickpeas
- 1/3 c. of tahini
- 3 tbsp. of fresh lemon juice
- 1 1/2 tbsps. of pomegranate molasses (optional)
- Kosher salt
- 1 tsp. of olive oil
- Pinch of Aleppo pepper or crushed red pepper flake
- 1 loaf of warm pita bread
Instructions:
- Rinse your chickpeas and set aside 2 tablespoons until you’re ready to serve the finished hummus.
- In a food processor, combine the remainder of chickpeas, tahini, lemon juice, red pepper flakes, and optional pomegranate molasses until hummus is very smooth.
- Season with salt, drizzle olive oil and Aleppo pepper, and serve with Pita bread and extra chickpeas.
Tuna Salad
Looking for a great sandwich option for your picnic companions? Tuna salad is a classic picnic dish. You can substitute canned tuna for fresh tuna.
Time Needed: 30 minutes
Serves: 4
Ingredients:
- 2 celery stalks, finely chopped
- 1/4 small red onion, finely chopped
- 5-oz. can of water-packed tuna, drained
- 1/4 c. of mayonnaise
- 2 tbsps. of capers, drained, finely chopped
- 2 tbsps. of coarsely chopped fresh parsley
- 1 tsp. of Dijon mustard
- 1 tbsp. of fresh lemon juice, plus more if needed
- Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper
Instructions:
- In a medium bowl, use a fork to mix celery, onion, tuna, mayo, capers, parsley, mustard, and lemon juice. Break up any large pieces of tuna, until it is well combined.
- Season with salt, pepper, and more lemon juice if desired.
- Bring a loaf of bread and refrigerate the tuna salad until it is ready to be served.
Blondies
No picnic is complete without a delicious dessert. Blondies are a great way to end your picnic and will ensure that your guests are full!
Time Needed: 35 minutes
Serves: 12
Ingredients:
- 12 tbsp. of unsalted butter, melted, plus more for the pan
- 2 c. of flour, plus more for pan
- 1 1/2 tsp. of baking powder
- 1/4 tsp. of salt
- 1/2 c. of sugar
- 1 tsp. of vanilla extract
- 2 eggs
- 2 c. of roughly chopped white chocolate
Instructions:
- Heat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Grease and flour a 9 x 13 inch baking pan and set aside.
- Whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.
- Whisk together sugars, vanilla, and eggs in another bowl until smooth. Add butter, and stir until smooth.
- Add flour mixture into the bowl with the other mixture and stir until just combined.
- Stir in white chocolate, and spread your batter into the baking pan. Bake until a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out with a few crumbs attached (approximately 20 minutes).
* Please consider food allergies when making these recipes.
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