Picnic recipes Whether you favour a wicker hamper or a state-of-the-art solar-powered, laptop-linked cool box, the real star of the picnic is the food held within. We've put together four fabulous alfresco feasts for you to enjoy in the great outdoors.

In this article

Gourmet picnic Vegetarian picnic

Mezze-style picnic Family picnic

The joy of a day trip is the feeling of escaping the trappings of your usual surroundings and experiencing something fresh and new. The downside can be the challenge of finding decent food and drink to keep your energy levels up. Unless you're a wild food foraging genius, you're probably going to end up at the mercy of your chosen location's sometimes limited caterers; so why take a chance when you could take a picnic?

Whether you're dining on a beach or need food purely for a pit-stop en route to a greater destination, you can easily pre-prepare a selection of convenient and tasty bites to see you through the day. Try some of our selected picnic menus designed to keep you satisfied at the seaside and prevent ramblers' tummies rumbling.

• Greek salad on bruschetta by Lesley Waters
• Roasted red pepper bruschetta by Gino D'Acampo
• Charentais melon, prosciutto, wild rocket and pecornio salad by James Martin
• Broad bean and flamed pepper salad by The Vegetarian Society
• Salmon, orange and walnut pâté by Burrastow House Hotel
• Fig and pancetta tart with dolcelatte by James Martin
• Olive and pepper tart by Ursula Ferrigno

• Halloumi cheese, mint and sun-dried tomato sandwich by The Vegetarian Society
• Tomato, cucumber and onion relish by The Vegetarian Society
• Butter bean pâté by The Vegetarian Society
• Port and stilton pâté by The Vegetarian Society
• Salad of bitter leaves with candied walnuts, gorgonzola and pear by Antony Worrall Thompson
• Marinated mushroom and cheese salad by The Mushroom Bureau

• Couscous salad by Holly Jones
• Tunisian pepper sauce by Dave Dewitt and Nancy Gerlach
• Marinated olives by Rick Stein

• Chicken wraps by Good Food magazine
• Raised pork pie by Rick Stein
• Carrot cake by Paul and Jeanne Rankin
• Country ham pie by Emma Crowhurst
• Hard boiled eggs with mustard mayonnaise by Rick Stein
• Fish pasties with french tarragon by Rick Stein
• Decadent chocolate brownies by Paul and Jeanne Rankin
• Lemon drizzle muffins by James Martin