A Greek-Inspired Picnic Menu to Brighten Up Your Summer
My favorite way to enjoy summer is with a simple picnic. My kids love eating outside whenever we go swimming in the local river, hiking in the forest, or boogie-boarding in the waves at Carmel Beach!
Although your local park may not be an option these days, that doesn’t mean you can’t have some delicious food al fresco with your family, your partner, or solo. When heading outside isn’t an option, a picnic can take place in your backyard, in your garden, on your balcony, or even in your living room!
In my experience, the best picnic food ideas aren’t just delicious -- they’re simple, too. Sandwiches, dips, and other easy-to-serve items are classic picnic fare, but I’m all about trying something new to shake things up. On the menu: A bright and crunchy watermelon salad and Greek-inspired stuffed pita pockets. These simple dishes are fresh, healthy, and full of cooling flavors and textures like cucumber, mint, and tzatziki.
How to Prep, Assemble, and Serve this Picnic Menu
Before you head outside, make sure all your ingredients are chopped, prepped, and ready to go. Keep all dressings and other leaky items separated from the rest -- this will keep all the food fresh and crunchy. You can pack them up in reusable to-go containers or add them separately to a large platter or bowl so you can mix once you’re ready to eat.
If you can’t get to the market to make the recipes exactly as written, don’t stress! Use whatever you have on hand and swap ingredients as needed. The main idea is just to create a nice picnic with whatever you can get your hands on.
I love the feeling of using real flatware, paper plates, and a soft linen picnic blanket, but you can bring whatever you have on hand. Once everything is out, take all the photos you want, and just dig in and relax. Lie down, chill, read, snack, eat some more, and repeat.
Greek-Inspired Pita Pockets
These pita pockets are stuffed with colorful vegetables and packed with whole grains and healthy fats. The recipe below is vegetarian, but if you’d like to add more protein, grilled chicken or homemade falafel would make wonderful additions.
Ingredients:
4 whole-wheat pitas, halved and lightly toasted
1 cucumber, quartered and thinly sliced
3/4 cup yellow grape tomatoes, halved lengthwise
3/4 cup red grape tomatoes, halved lengthwise
1/2 red onion, diced or thinly sliced into half moons
1/4 cup chopped fresh mint
1/2 cup pitted Kalamata olives, halved
Balsamic vinaigrette dressing (homemade or store-bought)
Tzatziki sauce (homemade or store-bought)
1/2 cup crumbled feta (optional)
Instructions:
To make the dressing, add the juice of 1 lemon, 1/3 cup of balsamic vinegar, sea salt, black pepper, and 2-3 tablespoons of extra virgin olive or avocado oil into a lidded jar. Shake well to mix and then set aside.
To make the tzatziki sauce, whisk together 1 cup Greek yogurt, 1 finely grated cucumber, 2 cloves minced garlic, 1 teaspoon lemon zest, 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice, and 2 tablespoons fresh chopped dill. Season with salt and pepper, then chill.
In a large bowl, toss together the cucumber, tomatoes, red onion, feta, mint, and olives. Drizzle vinaigrette over salad and toss gently to combine.
To assemble, smear some tzatziki in the pita pocket, then stuff each pita pocket with the Greek salad.
Strawberry Watermelon Feta Salad
This healthy and hydrating salad was recently featured on our Instagram! You can toss it with leftover balsamic vinaigrette for a rich flavor, or you can keep things light by simply drizzling it with honey. That’s what I love about this salad -- it’s completely customizable and always refreshing!
Ingredients:
2 cups of sliced organic strawberries
2 cups of cubed organic watermelon
2 cups of semi-thick cucumber rounds sliced in half
A handful of fresh basil leaves
3/4 cup of crumbled goat’s milk feta
Dressing: balsamic vinaigrette dressing, balsamic vinegar, or honey
Instructions:
Mix the cubed watermelon and sliced strawberries in a big bowl; drizzle with dressing and toss to coat evenly.
Sprinkle with crumbled feta and basil leaves before serving.
Happy picnicking! If you share your picnic on social, tag @carmelnaturals so we can see!