Picnics can be a fun and quick getaway from your busy daily life. It’s a chance to have some quality time with your loved ones, to really enjoy each other’s company surrounded by beautiful nature.
But of course, no picnic is complete without delicious food as company. Great food can uplift the mood and bring warm conversations, so be sure to bring only the best food to your picnic.
For reference, here are five delicious finger foods for your picnic ideas!
5 Delicious Finger Food for Picnic Ideas
Before we start, let’s establish that picnic foods should be nutritious and easy to pack. They don’t have to be complicated, so here are some easy-to-make finger food ideas you can try for your next picnic:
1. Onigiri (Japanese Rice Ball)
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Simple and customizable, onigiri is one finger food you can adjust according to everyone’s taste! Aside from being the perfect picnic finger food, it’s also a popular lunch for students or busy workers.
Onigiri is similar yet different to sushi rolls. While sushi is seasoned with vinegar, onigiri just uses plain rice as its base. Here’s how to make this easy recipe:
Ingredients
- rice, preferably koshihikari rice
- nori or flat seaweed wrapper
- furikake
How to Make Onigiri
- Cook the rice. Once done, to leave it to cool.
- Put the rice into a mixing bowl, add furikake and mix evenly.
- Separate the rice into large handful portions.
- Wet your hands and rub a pinch of salt into the rice to stop it from sticking and keep it fresh.
- If you want to add some fillings, take up a portion in your hands, make an indent for the ingredients, then fold the rice over.
- Press tightly into the ball. Use mainly your fingertips while resting the rice on your palm.
- Place a slice of nori on the bottom of the onigiri and fold it towards the middle of the onigiri.
Read Also: 6 Tried-and-True Practical Tips on Traveling with Kids
2. Fruit Salad
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If you’re going somewhere sunny, then you absolutely have to bring some fruit salad with you. Stay refreshed with your favorite fruits, here’s how you can make one:
Ingredients
- strawberries
- grapes
- blueberries
- raspberries
- blackberries
- or any other fruit of your choice
- yoghurt or honey
How to Make Fruit Salad
- Pack yoghurt or honey and pre-cut fruits in a container to bring with you.
- Once you arrive at the picnic site, you can mix in the fruits with the yogurt.
- If you prefer a stronger or sweeter taste, add some honey into the mix.
3. Sausage Rolls
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This savory snack made of puff pastry and meaty fillings is a must-bring during every picnic.
The bite-sized portion is perfect to enjoy with a dipping sauce. The flaky pastry won’t get everywhere if you can eat it in just one bite, so that’s even better.
You won’t have to rush to make it right before going picnic. Instead, you can start preparing it the day before, refrigerate the unbaked rolls, then reheat them the morning before your trip.
Here are the ingredients and steps to make delicious sausage rolls:
Ingredients
- puff pastry
- ground beef or sausage meet
- breadcrumbs
- eggs
- smoked paprika
- onion & garlic
- thyme
- cayenne pepper
- parsley
- salt
- cooking oil
How to Make Sausage Rolls
- Heat oil and saute onions in a medium saucepan for a minute. Add garlic, thyme, and cayenne pepper according to your heat tolerance.
- Stir for about another minute or two, be sure to not let it burn.
- Grab a medium bowl then place beef or unseasoned sausage meat, parsley, salt, breadcrumbs, egg, and smoked paprika. After that, add the sauteed ingredients and mix everything thoroughly.
- Unroll the puff pastry onto a lightly floured board, cut in half lengthways.
- Spoon ¼ of the mixture and spread along the length of each pastry strip, make sure to leave a 1-cm edge.
- Tightly roll the pastry around the mixture and secure it by brushing the ends with beaten egg, repeat for the remaining strips.
- Let it rest in the fridge for about 10 minutes before cutting each roll into 8–10 pieces per roll.
- Place in a 205°C oven and cook for about 20 minutes until the top is golden brown and crisp. You can choose your own selection of dipping sauce.
4. Nachos
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Another finger food you shouldn’t miss out on is nachos. Simple and tasty, you’re guaranteed to keep reaching for them during your picnic.
Here’s all you need to make the best nachos for your picnic:
Ingredients
- tortilla chips
- cheese (use cheddar, monterey jack, colby, american, pepper jack, mozzarella, or a combination of any of the mentioned cheese)
- toppings of your choice (e.g. ground beef, shredded beef, shredded chicken, tomatoes, black olives, black beans, jalapenos)
- sauce of your choice (e.g. sour cream, salsa, guacamole)
How to Make Nachos
- Put your tortilla chips on a standard size baking sheet, be sure to spread evenly.
- For a standard-size bag of chips, grate one pound of a block of cheese.
- Add your toppings, preferably at room temperature. As for the meat, be sure to cook it beforehand.
- Bake the nachos in the oven at 177°C for around 3–15 until the cheese melts.
- Pack it in a tight container and bring your choice of sauce.
5. Beef Empanadas
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Are you looking for a dish that provides both sweet and savory flavor in it? Well, beef empanadas are definitely for you; taste the sweet soft crust and discover savory ground beef filling within!
Here’s how you can make the most scrumptious empanadas for your picnic:
Ingredients
For empanada dough, you’ll need:
- all-purpose flour
- salt
- sugar
- unsalted butter
- eggs
- distilled white vinegar
- cold water or milk
For empanada filling, you’ll need:
- ground beef
- onion and garlic
- vegetable oil
- oregano spice
- ground cumin
- paprika, tomatoes, red bell pepper
- tomato paste
- chicken stock
- salt & pepper
- cilantro
How to Make Beef Empanadas
- Mix together the flour, salt, and sugar until they’re blended well.
- Add butter and pulse in short bursts until it turns coarse.
- Pour in eggs, egg yolk, and vinegar. Then, add a small amount of water and mix until the dough holds together in a ball.
- Divide the dough in two, wrap it in plastic wrap, and set it in the fridge for around 30 minutes until they’re slightly firm.
- While you wait, heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat.
- Put in ground beef, stir it so it doesn’t form large chunks for approximately 3–5 minutes.
- Add onions, minced garlic, oregano spice, ground cumin, paprika, then saute for about 3–5 minutes until fragrant.
- Season with salt and pepper, then sautee for the same amount of time until the liquid dries up.
- Add some cilantro, mix, and set it aside to cool.
- Then, remove the dough from the fridge and flatten it on a floured surface.
- Cut out circles on the dough by using a biscuit cutter (3 inches) until there’s no more dough left.
- Fill each dough with 1–2 tablespoons of filling. Be sure to fold over and seal the edges of the empanadas.
- Preheat the oven to 190°C, then bake for about 25–30 minutes.
Read Also: Traveling Alone: Your Chance to Make the Friendship of a Lifetime
Enjoy Night-Time Barbecue Below the Stars at Bobocabin
Want to relax by enjoying the scenic nature of Indonesia? Bobocabin is the solution for your modern glamping needs.
Each cabin is equipped with facilities unique to Bobocabin such as Smart Window and B-Pad. Adjust the window tint according to your liking for maximum privacy and comfort.
Spend some quality time below the stars by making use of the campfire and barbecue facility of the cabin.
Download the Bobobox app on Play Store or App Store for booking and more information.
