Sun, friends, a ball or Frisbee, maybe a guitar and a great desire to relax: a picnic is a special, informal, nice moment in which everyone is together to enjoy nature and life in the open air, with music, pillows, games, songs, talk and readings.
In Italy "picniquer" is often made, one goes along the rivers in the big cities or in the parks and on the hills on the first of May, on doing the summer.
There are other countries where it is really a social event. Think of the tradition that they have in Sweden, where sharing the Spring Festival, better known as the Valborg Festival, there are all, but really everyone, between April 31 and May 1, between bonfires, dances, tug of war, wreaths of flowers; all accompanied by beer, boiled eggs and potatoes, canned herring and anchovies, whole cheeses to be cut into flakes and rye bread.
Picnic recipes
Wherever you are, the picnic is also a good opportunity to play in the kitchen, with healthy, seasonal ingredients and prepare healthy dishes and snacks to savor during the day.
In addition to salads for vegetarians or the inevitable pizzas and focacce, here are some special ideas, simple and fast, with the relative recipes.
Vegetarian meatballs with barley and zucchini
Ingredients:
> 300 grams of barley
> a pair of medium-sized courgettes
> a clove of garlic
> 3 tablespoons full of parmesan
> 2 eggs,
> salt and pepper
> corn flour
> breadcrumbs
> sesame
Preparation : boil the barley in a pan with plenty of boiling salted water for about 35 minutes. Drain it and place it in a bowl. Grate the courgettes into it raw, with the grater with wider blades. Peel the clove of garlic, chop it and add it to the whole, with the grana, the eggs, salt and pepper. Make meatballs, adding a little grated bread if necessary.
Pass the meatballs in a mix of cornmeal, breadcrumbs and sesame. Place them on the baking sheet with baking paper and cook them sprinkling with a little olive oil for about 15 minutes at 170 ° C.
Sliced vegans, how to make them?
Greek sauce tzatziki
ingredients for 4 people:
> a cucumber,
> a bowl of whole Greek yoghurt,
> 2 cloves of garlic,
> chopped mint leaves,
> a tablespoon of extra virgin olive oil,
> salt and pepper
Preparation : peel the medium-sized cucumber and cut it very fine or grate it with the large part of the grater blades, place it in a bowl; add a bowl of whole Greek yogurt; crush the cloves of garlic which will then be removed, or if it does not bother you, add a chopped one in tiny pieces.
Add the chopped mint leaves, a tablespoon of extra virgin olive oil, salt and pepper and leave in the fridge for a couple of hours before serving.
Integral Herbal
Ingredients :
> 250 grams of durum wheat flour
> 250 grams of whole wheat flour
> enough water,
> a tablespoon of extra virgin olive oil
> half a teaspoon of fine salt
> dandelion leaves
> herbs, oil, red pepper, garlic
Preparation : prepare the dough with flour, enough water, extra virgin olive oil and fine salt. Knead for about seven minutes until it forms a ball with an elastic consistency. Let it rest for about half an hour.
Divide it into two parts and roll out a first thin sheet with the help of the rolling pin directly on the kitchen paper, which you will then put in a round baking pan as a base.
Stuff with dandelion leaves and a couple of bunches of herbs previously blanched with a pinch of salt, oil and chilli and the addition of a little water and a garlic clove, to taste, then remove.
Spread the other dough and cover with the pastry, closing the edge with a light pressure of the fingers. Sprinkle the surface with a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil and a little salt; prick the dough with a fork, bake at 200 ° for about 15 minutes or until the dough is cooked.
Outdoor birthday party: picnic and more
