1 of20 Annabelle Breakey
Picnic Meze
Zataar is a delicious herb-and-spice blend that's perfect for sprinkling atop a meze platter, while this green sauce—inspired by the flavors of falafel—acts as a delicious vinaigrette dipping sauce.
Recipe: Picnic Meze
2 of20 Thomas J. Story
Zaatar Yogurt Dip and Vegetables
A Middle Eastern spice blend, zaatar has a slight citrus note that goes well with vegetables. Enjoy the flavor combo in this no-utensils-required dish.
Recipe: Zaatar Yogurt Dip and Vegetables
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3 of20 Photo by Tara Donne
Picnic Crostini with Roasted Pepper, Onion, and Anchovy
Andrea Slonecker, the Portland-based author of Pretzel Making at Home (Chronicle, April 2013), is an avid picnicker. With some like-minded friends, she formed the Portland Picnic Society, and created this recipe for one of their recent outings. To prepare this recipe for a picnic, bake the bread ahead of time and let cool; then pack the crostini, the topping, and the anchovies separately.
Recipe: Picnic Crostini with Roasted Pepper, Onion, and Anchovy
4 of20 Photo by Tara Donne
Picnic Crostini with Roast Beef, Chimichurri, and Quail Egg
Also by Andrea Slonecker, this recipe will delight your fellow picnickers. Bake the bread ahead of time and let cool; then pack the crostini and the topping separately.
Recipe: Picnic Crostini with Roast Beef, Chimichurri, and Quail Egg
5 of20 Photo by Thayer Allyson Gowdy
Spring Aioli Feast
Savor the season with a fast and fresh picnic of crunchy veggies with zesty dip.
Recipe: Spring Aioli Feast
6 of20 Annabelle Breakey
Roasted Pepper, Feta, and Lamb Filo Pie
Layers of creamy cheese and roasted vegetables in a pastry make this pie a home run. To keep the filo crisp, wait until it’s completely cool before covering it with foil and packing in your cooler. Be sure to pack a sharp knife and a pie server.
Recipe: Roasted Pepper, Feta, and Lamb Filo Pie
7 of20 Thomas J. Story
Charmoula Grilled Chicken Sandwiches
The sandwich gets a flavor boost from charmoula, a versatile chicken marinade.
Recipes: Charmoula Grilled Chicken Sandwiches
8 of20 Photo by Annabelle Breakey; written by Stephanie Dean
Mediterranean Garden Wraps
A bounty of spring vegetables all in one quick and easy wrap.
Recipe: Mediterranean Garden Wraps
9 of20 Photo by Leo Gong; written by Amy Machnak
Chicken, Bacon, and Blue-Cheese Sandwiches
Chicken salad is always a favorite. We prefer ours with crisp, smoky bacon and tangy blue cheese.
Recipe: Chicken, Bacon, and Blue-Cheese Sandwiches
10 of20 Photo by Thomas J. Story
Radicchio, Roasted Pepper, and Provolone Ciabatta Sandwiches
The vegetables in these sandwiches don’t get soggy as they stand, and the flavors benefit from a little time together.
Recipe: Radicchio, Roasted Pepper, and Provolone Ciabatta Sandwiches
11 of20 Annabelle Breakey
Carrot Salad with Red Quinoa and Chickpeas
This healthy salad is picnic-perfect, because the carrots stay crunchy and the quinoa and chickpeas keep their texture. (Regular quinoa works fine in this recipe, if you can’t find the red variety.) This salad is delicious at room temperature, so if you’ll be eating it within 2 hours, there’s no need to pack it in the cooler.
Recipe: Carrot Salad with Red Quinoa and Chickpeas
12 of20 Photo by Annabelle Breakey; written by Margo True
Quinoa Salad with Chicken, Avocado, and Oranges
Quinoa is super easy to cook (easier than rice) and makes a wonderful salad base.
Recipe: Quinoa Salad with Chicken, Avocado, and Oranges
13 of20 Photo by Thomas J. Story
Spinach and Orzo Salad
This herb vinaigrette-dressed pasta salad keeps better than a mayo-based one from the deli—and tastes better too.
Recipe: Spinach and Orzo Salad
14 of20
Chicken, Corn, and Tomato Pasta Salad
This easy pasta salad gets its creaminess from ricotta and sour cream for extra cheesy tang. Substitute your favorite vegetables to add variety.
Recipe: Chicken, Corn, and Tomato Pasta Salad
15 of20 Photo by Thomas J. Story
Chocolate Hazelnut Brownies
Chewy, and big enough to share—though you may want every bite. For the richest flavor, use dark chocolate and cocoa such as Scharffen Berger.
Recipe: Chocolate Hazelnut Brownies
16 of20 Annabelle Breakey
Tiny Cardamom Orange Cookies
Hints of cardamom, orange, sesame, and pistachio provide a final Eastern Mediterranean flourish to the picnic. They’re so small, you can eat them by the handful. Pack cookies in an airtight, crushproof container.
Recipe: Tiny Cardamom Orange Cookies
17 of20 Photo by Thayer Allyson Gowdy
Strawberry Puff
Strawberries layered over orange-flavored filling in a cream puff crust makes a showy yet easy dessert that travels well.
Recipe: Strawberry Puff
18 of20 Photo by Thomas J. Story
Almond Raspberry Lemonade
For the most thirst-quenching drink, look for a less-sweet brand of lemonade such as Santa Cruz Organic.
Recipe: Almond Raspberry Lemonade
19 of20 Annabelle Breakey
Honeydew Spritz
This is just as refreshing as the usual melon wedges, without the sticky fingers. Orange-flower water adds a hint of the exotic. Tote the purée in a clamp-top bottle, and don’t forget ice for glasses.
Recipe: Honeydew Spritz
20 of20 Thomas J. Story
Cucumber Mint Spritzer
Make the cucumber mixture ahead of time and top it off with ice and club soda (or even Champagne).
Recipes: Cucumber Mint Spritzer