It was International Picnic Day this week- and us Pakistanis, we love a good picnic. Granted that our picnics are perhaps a tad bit more elaborate than a regular picnic in the park, but that doesn’t change the fact that a picnic is all about the food. Based on the food pickings of your average Pakistani and the fact that it’s most likely going to be hot- we’ve put together a list of goodies that won’t spoil too quickly and will be enjoyed by everyone, just in case you’re celebrating over the weekend!
Bakery Chips and Salsa
But of course! They’re the simplest yet most essential combo snack in any picnic/party. Get a couple of jars of local salsa (as good as the fancy imported ones) and pop them open once you’re at your destination. Chips are a running item throughout any picnic.
Also Read: 10 things that make us desis happy on the inside
Sandwiches
No picnic is complete without sandwiches. You can make them as gourmet as you like or keep them simple. There are three things you need to consider when making sandwiches: the bread, the filling and durability of the filling.
Here’s a simple table you can follow to create the sandwich best suited for you:
Fruit
Take fruit that does not need to be peeled or cut in advance. Something that has its own casing- bananas, apples, pears, oranges, mangos, apricots are good options. Avoid grapes, plums and berries as they’re softer and can go bad quickly. If you have a cooler for drinks, then it’s a good idea to store your fruit in it too.
Plain Tea Cake
NO FROSTING. Hate me for saying it but you’ll thank me later when you’re mess-free and don’t need a thousand tissues, disposable spoons, etc. just for a bit of cake. Opt for mess-free options like: pound cake, marble cake or banana bread.
Lemonade
No amount of soda is going to quench your thirst on a hot day. So make some lemonade and freeze your bottles the night before so it stays nice and cool for your picnic.
Related: 5 healthy drinks that will have you pumped for the summer
Roast chicken
The thing about roast chicken is that you can make it a day in advance and keep it in the fridge. Slice it or keep it whole for your picnic- but rest assured that it’ll be an absolute hit. Try not to keep fried chicken, considering it’ll be an oily, soggy mess by the time you get to eat it.
Baked Spaghetti
Another filling option you can opt for is baked spaghetti. Make a normal batch of spaghetti with marinara sauce, top with cheese and bake. What happens when you bake spaghetti is that the pasta release some of its starch and holds the sauce together. So when you serve it, it’ll more or less hold its shape and not be a sloppy mess that you can only eat with forks on a table. Plus, it’s delicious.
What essentials do you take for picnics? Let us know in the comments.