11 Sandwiches, Salads, and More to Pack for a Vegetarian Spring Picnic
This weekend I'm willing the weather to cooperate so that I can pack up my cooler and cart a few easy-to-eat tasty treats to the park, the beach, or anywhere I can find a wide open space to lay out a blanket and not read the book I'll be sure to toss into my bag as I head out the door.
That's right: picnic season is officially upon us. And now that I'm two weeks post-vaccine, I'm ready to finally eat something outside the walls of my apartment. On the menu: cheesy shortbread cookies, a cake infused with herbs and pocked with gobs of strawberry jam, and a boozy iced tea that's brimming with fragrant spice.
Photo by Rush Jagoe2/11Pita
You'll need something to swipe through that carrot dip. If you've never made homemade pita before, now is an excellent time to start.
Photo by Kevin J. Miyazaki3/11Maui Kale Salad With Sweet Onion Dressing
This kale and cabbage salad from chef Sheldon Simeon gets better as it soaks in the sweet-onion dressing. Cart the spicy glazed peanuts and potato chips alongside and toss them in just before eating to maintain maximum crunch. Bonus: It costs just $2 per person to make.
Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Lillian Chou5/11Kue Keju
These savory Indonesian shortbread cookies are a staple at all of cookbook author Lara Lee's family gatherings. Bring a container of the cheddar-laced snacks to the park and watch how fast they disappear.
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Prop Styling by Alex Brannian, Food Styling by Anna Hampton6/11Chickpea Salad Sandwiches
Move aside, chicken salad. This chickpea variation has a zingy dressing and is tossed with chopped cucumbers, feta, and lots of herbs. Eat it straight from the container, pile it onto baguette slices, or layer onto buns or bread with sliced avocado and fresh spinach for an A-plus picnic sandwich. Want more vegetables? The carrot-radish slaw is a regular sleeper hit.
Photo by Andrew Purcell, Food Styling by Carrie Purcell8/11Vegan Sour Cream and Onion Dip
For the best vegan onion dip, look not for plant-based sour cream, but instead for plant-based cream cheese, which stands up better to the mix-ins and tastes especially good with spring vegetables, chips, or crackers.
Photo by Michael Graydon & Nikole Herriott, Prop Styling by Kalen Kaminski, Food Styling by Rebecca Jurkevich11/11Wild Rice Dressing
Look beyond the seasonal confines of your recipe repertoire, and you'll find that this wild rice stuffing (especially when made with spring mushrooms and lots of fresh herbs) fits in equally well at a vegetarian picnic as it does on the Thanksgiving table.
