Picnic Lunch Ideas

Fresh salads, easy sandwiches and delicious crostatas are all perfect for a summer picnic lunch. Here, inspiring recipes for delicious and easily portable picnic foods.

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Fresh Guacamole and Chips

PHOTO © THE FOOD GAYS

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This fresh, zesty guac is loaded with avocados, tomato, red onion, jalapenos and plenty of fresh lime juice. If you're feeling adventurous (or just plain feisty), try adding a shot of tequila to the mix, too.

Guacamole with Charred Jalapeño and Scallions

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Watermelon and Tomato Salad with Spicy Feta Sauce

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The feta sauce is also terrific with Ana Sortun's Red Lentil Kofte.

Watermelon, Feta and Charred Pepper Salad

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Tuna Banh Mi

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F&W's Justin Chapple makes his best-ever tuna banh mi by mixing canned tuna, lime juice, fish sauce and jalapeno and spooning it onto a crusty baguette spread with mayonnaise.

Jam Crostata

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Artichoke Bread Pudding

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If cooks were asked to name the vegetables they find most intimidating and time-consuming to prepare, artichokes would surely top the list. Marinated artichoke hearts from Umbria in central Italy solve the problem: No trimming, cooking or choke removal is required.

Pumpkin Pie Bread Pudding with Bourbon-Pecan Hard Sauce

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Honeyed Fig Crostatas

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Forget the figgy pudding; for your holiday bash this year make these party-perfect fig crostatas and your guests will surely think the world a merry and bright place.

Peach Crostata

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Corn and Green Bean Salad

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This crunchy, colorful salad pairs blanched corn and green beans with an incredible dressing for a great throw-together meal.

Green Bean Slaw

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Sesame–Ginger Chicken Pasta Salad

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This quick-prep, creamy, Asian-inspired pasta salad is a meal in itself or a great BBQ or picnic side dish.

Spicy Asian-Chicken-Salad Lettuce Cups

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Egg Salad with Herbs and Pickles

EVA KOLENKO

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In this simple version of egg salad, Food & Wine's Kay Chun forgoes mayonnaise in favor of tangy Greek yogurt. She amps up the flavor with herbs like parsley and tarragon as well as tangy capers and crunchy cornichons. This egg salad is excellent on crackers or in a sandwich, but to dress it up, serve it piled on a bed of crisp lettuce or over juicy tomatoes

Avocado Egg Salad

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Potato, Snap Pea and Pickle Salad

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This is a terrific springtime version of a warm potato salad, with lots of scallions and little bites of half-sour pickles.

Dill Pickle Panzanella

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Vegetable Sandwich with Dill Sauce

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Stacked high with slices of tomato, onion, cucumber, avocado, and provolone cheese, this is a vegetable sandwich that even confirmed carnivores will love. You can add or substitute other fresh vegetables; radishes, spinach, or grated carrot go particularly well here. When you can't get good tomatoes, don't buy lousy, cotttony ones; use twice the amount of lettuce instead.

Squash Confetti Pasta with Dill and Walnuts

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Crunchy Cabbage Salad

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Sometimes Jacques Pepin makes this simple salad with just one color of cabbage; sometimes he arranges it in alternating rows of color. The tangy-salty anchovy dressing would also be delicious on other crisp salad greens, such as escarole or chicory.

Shaved Cabbage Salad with Paprika Vinaigrette

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Vegetable Bagna Cauda with Dill Oil

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In his paean to vegetables, chef Jim Christiansen grills, blanches, sautes and pickles a wide array to dip in his warm, silky, buttery anchovy sauce.

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Picnic Lunch Ideas

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Fresh Guacamole and Chips

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Watermelon and Tomato Salad with Spicy Feta Sauce

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Tuna Banh Mi

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Artichoke Bread Pudding

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Honeyed Fig Crostatas

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Corn and Green Bean Salad

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Sesame–Ginger Chicken Pasta Salad

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Egg Salad with Herbs and Pickles

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Potato, Snap Pea and Pickle Salad

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Vegetable Sandwich with Dill Sauce

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Crunchy Cabbage Salad

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Vegetable Bagna Cauda with Dill Oil

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