Vegetarian Picnic Menu

I don't know about you, but I absolutely love picnics. There's something about sitting outside when it's nice and warm, sipping a cool drink, and nibbling away at simple but tasty food. Here are some recipes and ideas to help pack the perfect vegetarian picnics.

  
Appetizers and Salads

Cheese Platter
I always enjoy a bit of cheese and bread on my picnics: Brie and any kind of smoked cheese are ideal.

Crudités
A platter of crudités typically consists one or more types of raw vegetables served with one or more dips - perfect for a picnic.

Deviled Eggs
Aside from being a nice way to use up leftover hard-boiled eggs, deviled eggs are easy to make, convenient to eat, and tasty to boot.

Dips
A variety of vegetarian dip recipes.

Zucchini Fritters
These breaded and pan-fried fritters are delicious hot or cold.

  
Bread

French Bread
Pick up a loaf or two of French bread to eat with some salad or cheese.

Pita Bread
This pocket bread, popular in Greece, Lebanon, and many Arab countries, is great for filled sandwiches or with dips.

  
Salads and Sandwiches

Barbecued Tofu Sandwich
Delicious hot or cold.

Caprese
Instead of making little sliced towers, chop everything up. It tastes just as good but is easier to eat on a picnic.

Cole Slaw
Cole slaw, a perfect summer picnic salad, is traditionally made with mayonnaise. This cole slaw recipe includes several dressing variations.

Cucumber Salad
Simple and refreshing, cucumber salad is the epitome of summer.

Macaroni Salad
A simple but tasty dish. Macaroni salad is great for picnics and buffets, or as a side dish.

Orange Salad
Both versions of this easy-to-prepare salad are wonderfully refreshing.

Sun-Dried Tomato Salad
This tangy dish is easy to prepare and is especially delicious in the summertime.

Tortellini Salad
A very simple yet surprisingly tasty salad, perfect on a picnic.

White Bean Salad
This is a simple and delicious recipe.

Veggie Sandwich
Quick, easy, and as healthy as you care to make it.

 
Dessert

Apricot-Nut Bread
This is a lovely, slightly sweet bread - great for breakfast or dessert.

Banana Bread
A good way to use up overripe bananas and great as breakfast or a snack.

Chocolate Chip Cookies
Delicious and not too sweet. My husband keeps them in the freezer, where they get cold but don't really freeze.

Rice Pudding
Sweet and rich, this easy rice pudding recipe can be made with white or brown rice, whether dry or leftover from dinner.

  
Drinks

Lemonade
The ultimate summertime drink - fresh, sweet-tart lemonade.

Minty Lemonade
This tangy lemonade is so refreshing, you'll want to drink it all summer.

Sangría
This traditional Spanish drink goes well with spicy foods, is delicious in summer, and works well as a party punch bowl.

Virgin Sangría
Like the taste of Spanish sangría but not the alcohol? Try this non-alcoholic version - kids will love it!

Wine
I think pink wine, like rosé or white Zinfandel, was made for picnics. There is nothing I like more than sipping pink wine while sitting in the sunshine. Utter bliss! A sweet white wine like Reisling is pretty good too.

  
So that's my perfect picnic menu - what do you think? Have I missed anything - please let me know!
 

Summer Recipes     More Vegetarian Menus

 
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