A chunky cashew pesto made with sharp, pungent Västerbotten cheese is tossed with chopped arugula in this rich salad with a robust umami flavor. Felix Odell
A sunny weekend — or a Summer Friday — is the perfect excuse to pack up a picnic basket and enjoy the great outdoors. Whether you head down to a local park or embark on a long hike, you want your summer picnic food to arrive as perfect as it was when you loaded it in. From hearty salads, to classic cookies and brownies, and some of our favorite sandwiches, this collection features a summery array of dishes that won’t suffer from being jostled around, and are at their best eaten cold or at room temperature.
Fried Chicken
Simply seasoned and fried, with a thin, crisp coating and tender, juicy meat, the fried chicken at Martha Lou’s Kitchen is some of the best we’ve ever tasted.
Barbecue Potato Chips
Barbecue chips’ smoky, tangy flavors are easy to create at home with a simple mixture that combines classic barbecue sauce spices such as chile powder, garlic powder, and onion powder, with the added kick of cayenne pepper. The beauty of making barbecue chips yourself is that you can alter the amount of heat, spice, or saltiness depending on your preferences.
Knife-and-Fork Egg Salad Sandwiches with Chives
Molly Stevens often serves this egg salad on slices of brown bread made according to the classic recipe found in James Beard’s Beard on Bread (Knopf, 1973), though it’s equally delicious atop any bread or even eaten on its own.
California Sandwich
A version of a California classic, this sandwich is a mix of vegetables, whole-grain bread, and Jack cheese, topped with ranch dressing.
Moroccan Pasta Salad
The flavors of a richly spiced Moroccan tagine come together in a pasta salad accented with olive, lemon, and cinnamon.
Cowboy Cookies
Incorporating an interesting array of ingredients, such as rolled oats, chopped pecans and flaked coconut, this hearty recipe is a favorite of former first lady Laura Bush. Oatmeal chocolate chip cookie fans, this one’s for you.
Bacon-and-Cheese Deviled Eggs
SAVEUR kitchen assistant Max Iattoni gave us the recipe for these eggs, which he based on his favorite breakfast sandwich.
Muffuletta
Deli meats and cheese are elevated to greatness with an olive salad in this New Orleans classic.
Cucumber Salad
This crunchy salad is a cool complement to smoked meat.
Cipollini Onion Hummus
Gently browned cipollini onions add an unexpected hint of caramel sweetness to this hummus, deepening its earthy flavors.
Hawaiian-Style Sesame Cabbage Salad
The noodles in this recipe add crunch, texture, and sweetness to this terrifically versatile Hawaiian-style slaw. As the salad sits and the noodles soak up the intensely flavorful sesame dressing, they soften slightly, so be sure to serve this salad straightaway.
Tomato Sandwich
Our idea of the perfect summer sandwich? Two thin slices of good toast, mayo, and a couple juicy slices of tomato.
Cucumber Limeade
Mint and cucumber make this classic summertime drink extra refreshing.
Green Bean and Peach Salad
Summer peaches pair remarkably well with sweet caramelized onions and crisp green beans in this salad from Deb Miller of Lawrence, Kansas.
Ruccolapesto med Cashewnötter (Arugula and Cashew Pesto Salad)
A chunky cashew pesto made with sharp, pungent Västerbotten cheese is tossed with chopped arugula to yield an unctuous salad with a robust umami flavor. Swedish home cook Asa Johanson prepared this nut-enriched side dish for her Midsummer celebration in Vickleby, Sweden. See the recipe for Ruccolapesto med Cashewnötter (Arugula and Cashew Pesto Salad) »
