It’s not long until National Picnic Week, so time to get some special orders in with this Spanish delicatessen so you can truly celebrate in style from the 15th – 24th June. After all, eating alfresco doesn’t mean you have to limit yourself to soggy sandwiches and scotch eggs – turn to Spanish cuisine and flavours for some ideas and add some flavour to your basket.
Spanish tortilla is a great one for a picnic, as it can be made in advance and served cold. With the addition of potatoes, it’s nicely filling too, and can be jazzed up with the addition of the likes of chorizo.
Instead of traditional Cornish pasties, try your hand at creating empanadas. These are somewhat similar, but usually filled with spiced meats or tuna, and can be cut into pieces to be served. Smaller pastries are usually called empanadillas and will work great for picnics as they travel well.
Spanish hams are a great addition to a picnic too. They pack punch of flavour, and while you might not want to serve them up as sandwiches, try on top of a slice of rustic loaf. Don’t forget to pack a mini cheese board too, as Spain has many delicious, worldwide-renowned cheeses that a good picnic can’t be without, including Manchego.
Of course, you can’t forget to pack the drinks too! When it comes to an ice cold beer, Mahou gives the authentic taste of Madrid, while Estrella is also a popular choice. Sangria makes an obvious substitution for a classic British Pimms, which is a staple of the summer picnic.