Looking for ideas on what to do? Why don't you plan a picnic?! But not just any old picnic...instead, plan a picnic Italian style!
Growing up, I was fortunate enough to experience Italian picnics first hand on our summer trips to il bel paese (the beautiful country, aka Italy). Since my family hails from the Abruzzo region, picnics in the mountains were a common treat! Most especially during Ferragosto in Italy, which is a public holiday celebrated on August 15th. I remember, the first time I saw breaded cauliflower at a "picnic," I truly realized that Italians simply know how to do it best when it comes to food.
Since it was a "picnic," my aunt had prepared gourmet food in transportable, individual portions. Aside from the "breaded cauliflower bites," we enjoyed chicken cutlets on a bun with grilled vegetables, bocconcini and tomato skewers, a mixed bean salad, fresh bread, and of course, an abundance of fresh fruit! For dessert? Homemade crostata, with espresso (kept at a perfect temperature in a thermos, of course! ;) ) The experience definitely influenced my future picnic expectations, to say the least.
If you're drooling over your keyboard imagining such a delightful meal, then you'll be happy to know that I gathered a few great recipes below to help you plan your own fantastic picnic, "Italian Style." Buon Appetito!
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Bocconcini and Tomato Skewers
A refreshing appetizer that can be made even more delicious with fresh ingredients from the garden! Try Williams Sonoma's take on this dish!
Mixed Salumi (Cured Meats) and Formaggio (Cheese)
Another great option for antipasto is a mixture of salumi (cured meats) and cheeses. Salumi such as, prosciutto, salami and sopressata pair nicely with breadsticks or foccacia bread. For cheese options, make sure to mix up your plate with both fresh and firm cheeses. Fresh cheeses can include options like, ricotta, burrata, or fresh mozzarella; while some firm cheese options include Asiago, Parmigiano-Reggiano and Pecorino Toscano. Of course, don't forget the olives! As well as, any pickled vegetable, like artichokes or eggplants. You can find further details on how to create the perfect antipasto platter on Food.com
Riso Freddo al Tonno (Cold Rice Salad with Tuna)
Italians are known for their amazing risottos, so it's no surprise they changed up their famous rice dish to offer a lighter, summer option as well! This dish can be made in a variety of ways. Skinny Taste features a great version with capers and lemon juice - two of my favourite ingredients!
Bean Salad
Bean salads are a great summer dish! They are an easy go-to dish, as they usually have minimal ingredients and take little time to make. Since they are nice and light they make a great side dish; however, in some cases, the dish can be a meal on its own! Check out Inside the Rustic Kitchen for a great bean salad that can be whipped up in less than 20 minutes!
Lemon Crostata
While fresh fruit is important to include in an Italian picnic, it is nice to have a little dessert with your espresso too! Check out Viva la Dolce's Crostata Recipe to learn how to make a delicious crostata from scratch!
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