It’s the thick of summer, which means it’s peak picnic season – but what picnic basket is complete without top-notch picnic recipes?

Nobody wants to be in the kitchen when there’s sun to be soaked up! The best picnic food ideas, then, are easy picnic food ideas. While we’ll always advocate for sausage rolls and fresh fruit from the supermarket (who hasn’t dashed to Tesco for easy finger food?), the perfect picnic includes homemade dishes too. These options are surprisingly easy – and they’ll elevate your picnic spread.

I’ve whipped up some easy summer sides, sauces, slaws and cocktails, to make ahead and take to the park this weekend.

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Coriander & Mint Mojito

For a new mojito moment, give your minty drink a citrus hum with coriander. It’s so good, even the picnic hamper haters will love it. If you’re heading to the park, store your cocktail in an insulated water bottle (like a Chilly’s) to keep it ice cold for hours.

Top tip! Store your tender herbs upright in water in the fridge so they last longer. For other fruit and vegetable storage hacks, see how to keep your fruit and veg fresh.

Serving size: Makes 1 cocktail
Prep time: Under 5 minutes

Ingredients

• 5g coriander
• 3 sprigs mint
• 1/2 -1 tbsp agave syrup (to taste)
• 25ml rum
• Juice of half a lime
• Ice
• Soda water

Method

Step 1: Tear the leaves from two sprigs of mint and add them to a tall glass.  Roughly chop the coriander into the glass and then using a muddler (or the end of a wooden spoon) crush the herbs until bruised.

Step 2: Add the agave, rum and lime to the glass and stir.

Step 3: Fill the glass with ice and top up with soda water.  Garnish with your remaining sprig of mint.

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Rocket pesto

Don’t let that half-bag of rocket in your fridge go to waste!  Instead, perk up pastas, salads or salmon fillets with a peppery alternative to your traditional basil pesto.

Serving size: Serves 2
Cook time: 5 minutes

Ingredients

• 100g rocket
• 3 tbsp pine nuts, or blanched almonds
• 60g grated parmesan cheese
• 130ml olive oil
• 1 garlic clove, crushed
• Pinch of salt to taste
• 1 tbsp lemon juice

Method

Step 1: Add the rocket, pine nuts and cheese to a pestle and mortar and grind into a paste, or whizz them up in a food processor.

Step 2: Stir through the olive oil and lemon juice, taste and add more salt or lemon if needed.

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Green Bean Fries

For a side that’s healthy, easy and, I’m just going to say it: better than potato fries, make these. They’re the ideal picnic snack with some harissa hummus or rocket pesto. Or give it a buffalo wings-twist by smothering it in hot sauce and blue cheese dressing.

Serving size: Serves 2, as a side
Cook time: 35 minutes

Ingredients

For the green bean fries:

• 200g green beans
• 4 tbsp flour (and more if needed)
• 1 egg
• 50g panko breadcrumbs
• 20g pre-grated parmesan cheese

For the blue cheese dressing:

• 100g sour cream
• 3 tbsp mayonnaise
• 50g blue cheese

For the buffalo hot sauce:

• 2 tbsp sriracha
• 2 tbsp tomato ketchup
• 1 tsp soy sauce
• 2 tbsp cider vinegar
• ½ tsp cayenne pepper
• 1 tsp cornflour

Method

Making the green bean fries

Step 1: Preheat the oven to gas mark 7/220ºC/200ºC fan. Wash your green beans.

Step 2: Add the flour to a plate. Crack the egg into a separate shallow bowl and beat with a fork. Add the panko breadcrumbs and grated parmesan to a third plate and mix to combine. You should have three plates in front of you.

Step 3: Dip the green beans in the flour and shake off the excess. Then dip them in the egg, and finally press it into the breadcrumbs firmly to coat all over.  Repeat with the rest.

Step 4: Drizzle a baking tray with 1 tbsp vegetable oil and add the coated green beans with another drizzle of vegetable oil.

Step 5: Put the tray in the oven for 10-12 minutes until your green bean fries are golden brown and crunchy.

Now for the blue cheese dip:

Step 1: Crumble the cheese into a bowl, stir through the mayonnaise and sour cream until combined.  Refrigerate covered until serving.

And for the buffalo hot sauce:

Step 1: Add the Sriracha, tomato ketchup, soy sauce, cider vinegar and cayenne pepper (can’t handle the heat? Go easy!) to a pot with 100 ml cold water. Add the pot to a medium heat and cook for 1-2 min or until warmed through

Step 2: Meanwhile, add the cornflour to a small bowl with 1 tbsp cold water and mix until you’re left with a smooth paste.  Add the cornflour paste to the pot and cook for 1-2 min more, or until the sauce has thickened. Serve warm.

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Little gem coleslaw

Swap wintry cabbage for gem lettuce to get a cool, sweet, crunchy tang with this picnic-perfect slaw. If you have any fresh herbs at home, they’d be great in this too.

Top tip! This slaw tastes incredible with our Loaded Beef Chilli Cheese Fries or with our veggie alternative: Bean Chilli Cheese Fries

Serving: Serves 2 as a side
Cook time: 5 minutes

Ingredients

• 30ml mayonnaise
• ½ lime
• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 1 carrot
• 1 little gem lettuce
• Optional: Handful of soft herbs, such as coriander, parsley and chives

Method

Step 1: Combine the mayonnaise with the zest of 1/2 lime, juice of 1/2 lime, olive oil and a generous pinch of salt and pepper in a large bowl.

Step 2: Top, tail, peel and grate the carrot. Shred the little gem lettuce and soft herbs finely. Combine the grated carrot, shredded lettuce and herbs with the mayonnaise dressing and give everything a good mix up.  Serve straight away.