A picnic is so much nicer when you’re not still chopping cucumbers five minutes before leaving the house. These make-ahead Mediterranean picnic recipes are easy to pack, full of fresh herbs, vegetables, dips, pastries, and simple sharing dishes, and most of them taste even better after a little time to sit. I like taking them along for a park lunch, a beach day, or a lazy afternoon in the garden when nobody wants anything too fussy.
Pogaca - Cheese Buns
Pogaca (Turkish Cheese Buns) is one of the most popular savory pastries in Turkey. They are perfect as a quick breakfast on the go, a tasty snack when you feel peckish, or a great addition to your picnic box.
To learn more:Â Pogaca - Turkish Cheese Buns
Banana Blueberry Muffins
These Banana Blueberry Muffins with Yogurt are extra soft, incredibly delicious, and baked to perfection in only 30 minutes!
They are effortless to make with only a few basic pantry ingredients.
To learn more: Banana Blueberry Muffins with Yogurt
Courgette Fritters
Mücver (Turkish Courgette Fritters) are small vegetable pancakes that contain courgettes, egg, flour, spring onion, and fresh herbs. They are easy to make and packed with flavour, making them a perfect addition to any meal or party. You can serve them as an appetiser, finger food, or a late afternoon snack.
To learn more: Mücver (Turkish Courgette Fritters)
Air fryer version: Crispy Air Fryer Mücver (Turkish Zucchini Fritters)
Cig Kofte
My Çiğ Köfte is a simple, vegetarian version of the classic Turkish street food made with fine bulgur, rich tomato and pepper paste, warm spices, and a touch of pomegranate molasses. It is a great option for a light lunch, picnics, or even a snack.
To learn more: Cig Kofte
Orzo Pasta Salad
This Orzo Pasta Salad is fresh, healthy, and flavorful, easy to put together, and perfect for making ahead. It is a great side dish for last-minute parties, small gatherings, or BBQs, and the leftovers are perfect for picnics and packed lunches.
And the best part is that this Mediterranean salad is made with easy-to-find fresh ingredients and is ready in just 20 minutes!
To learn more: Orzo Pasta Salad
Savory Cookies
These crumbly, savory cookies called Kandil Simidi are a Turkish favourite for tea time. They’re slightly crisp on the outside and covered in plenty of nutty sesame seeds. The dough comes together quickly with basic ingredients you probably have in hand. Each ring is dipped in egg white and sesame seeds before baking for a nice golden color.
To learn more: Kandil Simidi - Turkish Savory Cookies
Crispy Cheese Rolls
Turkish Cheese Rolls are crispy snacks made with thin and flaky filo sheets filled with feta cheese, and then shallow-fried for extra crispness. They are easy to prepare ahead, and are the perfect finger food for picnics.
To learn more: Sigara Boregi (Turkish Cheese Rolls)
Vegan Lentil Meatballs
Mercimek Köftesi (Turkish Vegan Lentil Meatballs) is a healthy and flavourful Turkish dish made with fine bulgur, red lentils, onions, and spices. They are inexpensive and very easy to make, and are usually served as an appetiser, a healthy snack, or a part of a mezze platter.
To learn more: Mercimek Köftesi (Vegan Lentil Meatballs)
Fatayer
My Fatayer Recipe is made with a soft homemade dough and two savory fillings: cheese with fresh herbs and spinach with ground beef. These small Middle Eastern pies bake until golden, are easy to shape, and make a great breakfast, snack, lunchbox filler, picnic food, or mezze dish.
To learn more: Fatayer RecipeÂ
Healthy Potato Salad
If you like simple, tangy, and light salads that work well year-round, Patates Salatası (Turkish Potato Salad without mayo) is a great one to try. It’s made with boiled potatoes, fresh herbs, green onions, and a lemony olive oil dressing.
To learn more: Patates Salatası - Turkish Potato Salad (no mayo)
Beetroot Hummus
This homemade Beetroot Hummus recipe is simple, reliable, and honestly turns out better than anything from a store-bought container. It’s one of those dishes that quietly becomes part of your regular rotation. It works just as well as a snack with crunchy vegetables as it does spread on a sandwich or for a quick, easy addition to a picnic.
To learn more: Beet Hummus
Cheese Borek
Cheese Borek is a crispy, light, and delicious Turkish filo pie filled with tangy cheeses and aromatic herbs.Â
You can serve these baked pastries as an appetizer or take them for picnics and packed lunches.
To learn more: Cheese Borek - Peynirli Borek
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