Summer Recipes: A Guide To The Perfect Vegan Picnic Spread

This 2020 summer is unlike anything we ever imagined. With limited options for going out and traveling, many of us are settling for a staycation. Travel addicts will have to wait this summer out! Social distancing might also mean missing out on your favorite crazy summer parties and beach outings. Most of us probably didn’t think of working at home, watching Netflix and going on masked walks around the block as their ideal vacation program! 

But For Goodness Seyks is all about hope, and there’s no way we’d let unplanned circumstances get in the way of enjoying the last rays of sunshine! So what can we do to make this strange summer feel more, well, summery?

The Perfect Vegan Picnic

For me, few things scream summer as much as a good picnic. Wherever you are in the world, there will always be a park, a garden or a patch of grass where you’ll be able to lay a blanket and chill with your favorite people. Open spaces also make social distancing considerably easier! This can make picnics one of the safest summer activities to partake in nowadays. You might need to keep your guest list shorter than usual, but it will be a small price to pay. If you’re tempted to complain, just think of all the deliciousness and fun ahead of you!

The star of any picnic has to be the food. And there’s no reason this should be any different if you’re a vegan! Having a fun time talking and laughing with your loved ones around a gorgeous spread of cruelty free yumminess sounds like a great way to spend a sunny day.

Of course, many questions remain. What should you bring? Should everything be homemade? How should you store your salad? Where does your trademark summer fruit salad recipe fit here? A vegan picnic has room for many things, but anxiety isn’t one of them. That’s what we’re here to help with! Read on for our favorite tried and tested summer recipes and some exclusive vegan picnic food tips. 

A word of warning

What you’ll be able to bring to your vegan picnic will depend on a few different factors. Ideally, you should have a basket with a few ice packs to keep your dips, dressings and drinks fresh. No need to worry if you only have a regular bag! Sandwiches and most treats are still safe bets. As long as you don’t mind warm water, you should be fine.

Each person you invite will most likely bring something with them. If you’re not much of a cook, there’s no shame in going for store bought options! All will depend on the situation. If you’re only responsible for one dip, making it from scratch is worth considering to show your appreciation (a basic vegan pesto only requires fresh herbs, nuts and a few pantry staples!). On the other hand, if you have to bring this dip on top of two different salads and three desserts, there’s nothing wrong with getting a little help from the convenience store. This is a fun occasion: don’t overload yourself with work! Just make sure you know what you’re capable of, and you’ll do just fine.

Now that you know what to expect, it’s time to dive in. Take a look at our favorite vegan picnic recipes!

Appetizers

Your best choice to please at your vegan picnic is to go with a series of dips. As long as you store them well, hummus, guacamole, and many other vegan classics are perfectly safe to bring. These recipes are usually pretty easy to make yourself (check out Seyka’s garlicky guacamole!), but there’s no shame in getting the store bought version either.

In need of some more colorful ideas? Try blending one cooked beetroot, 1 tbsp of cumin, a handful of walnuts, a half cup of red beans, a half cup of plant milk and another half cup of red wine vinegar for a delicious oil free spiced pink dip. I also like blending cooked cauliflower with turmeric, nutritional yeast, lemon juice, tahini, mustard and just a hint of apple cider vinegar for a gorgeous golden color. This will catch the eyes of your vegan picnic companions immediately! You can also easily jazz up classics by adding curry powder, sun dried tomatoes or peppers, avocado or nuts to your favorite basic hummus or pesto recipe. 

What to dip?

Of course, there’s no dips without things to dip in! The options here are endless. If you’re brave enough to turn on the oven, you could try your hand at making your own crackers or potato and tortilla chips. You’ll be able to adjust the seasonings in whichever way you like, which is always a big plus!

If you’re aiming for a more lowkey vegan picnic, there’s no shame in buying those. Just make sure there’s no sneaky ingredient like milk powder in your choice! Other great options are bread, pretzels, pita chips or seasonal raw veggies. This month, your best bets for maximum flavor would be cucumbers, carrots and tomatoes. Yum!

Not into dips? Try these crunchy chickpeas for a fun crispy snack!

Sandwiches & wraps

Anything that can be eaten without cutlery is a solid choice as far as vegan picnics come. Just pick your favorite bread (baguette, sourdough, tortilla wraps or lettuce leaves for a low-carb alternative) and fillings, and sandwich away! The only real problem comes with storage. Some condiments or juicy vegetables like tomatoes can make your bread soggy. No one wants a watery sandwich, so if you’re unsure of your fillings, store them separately from your bread. If you have enough space in your vegan picnic basket, you can even prepare your own mini sandwich bar so everyone can get exactly what they want in theirs!

If you’re lacking inspiration, there’s no better place to start than with a classic, like Seyka’s Famous Vegan BLT.

Salads

Salads have a strange reputation. In diet culture, they’re synonymous with “being good” – which not so secretly means boring. The image of a young woman forcing down a plate of raw lettuce and tomato to lose two extra pounds is far from appealing. 

Fortunately, more and more people are realizing that salads do not have to be bland weight loss meals! Under the summer heat, salads are perfect to get some nutrients in even when your appetite may not be at its highest. It’s like they were made for vegan picnics!

The secret to a great salad

With the rise of intuitive eating, salads have slowly been able to detach themselves from their dark past. The secret to a great salad is the secret to any great meal: you have to put things you like in it! Your base will most likely be some type of leafy green, but if you want to include potato or pasta salad in this category, go for it. Then go crazy with vegetables! In August, things like green beans, mushrooms, tomatoes, peas or radishes will be your best choice.

So far, we’re not doing much to disprove the image of salads as huge piles of vegetables. That’s where the rest of this post comes in! Try to add a source of protein like tofu, seitan or legumes. Then to keep you full, some healthy fat like avocado, nuts or a tahini dressing are your best bet. But that’s definitely not where you need to stop if you don’t feel like it! 

The whole fun of a great salad is in the extras. So, go crazy! Add fresh or dried fruit (grilled peaches and raisins are my favorites), vegan cheeses or nutritional yeast, quinoa, tortilla chips… Your only limit will be your imagination! 

The dressing problem

The dressing is less of a problem than the solution to a perfect vegan salad. A classic oil and vinegar based dressing will always do the trick, but don’t be afraid to step outside of your comfort zone. Some of my favorites include:

• Tahini-pesto dressing (mix 1 tbsp of chopped basil with 3 tbsp of tahini, 1 tbsp of balsamic vinegar and 3 tbsp of water)
• Wasabi or sriracha “mayo” (I like this homemade mayo and adding 1 tsp of wasabi or sriracha to it – but feel free to use store bought vegan mayo too)
• Nut butter based dressing like this Vegan Chipotle Ranch or this Thai peanut dressing.
• You can also try Seyka’s almond butter-orange dressing or her ranch! 

For a perfect vegan picnic salad, make sure to store your dressing separately from the rest of your ingredients. Just add it at the last moment so it doesn’t have time to get soggy! Also make sure to bring some cutlery and plates to avoid things getting messy. 

Want to bring a salad to your vegan picnic but lacking inspiration? Why not start with Seyka’s Mexi-Cali Salad, her Asian Orange Peanut Salad or her High Protein Bowl! 

Sweets & treats

Of course, a vegan picnic should be an occasion to catch up with your favorite people and have a great time with them. What better way to sign off such a fun get-together than with a couple of sweets? Here, again, convenience is key. Baked goods like these cranberry cookies are a great choice! Muffins, banana bread, homemade biscuits or even pastries are also safe bets. Just hold off on the chocolate chips unless you want it to melt everywhere!

If you’re not much of a baker, there’s still plenty of options for you! Fresh fruit can be incredibly refreshing in the heat. Apples, peaches, nectarines or oranges are all safe choices as they are in season and easy to eat by hand. Berries are also delicious in the summer but can easily get squashed in your bag, so only bring them if you’re confident about how to store them. For another convenient vegan picnic treat, you can also get your favorite accidentally vegan snack at your local store. Whether you’re team Oreo or Biscoff, there will be something for everyone!

What is your secret to the best vegan picnic?

Food is only one part of a vegan picnic. The company you choose and the way you fill the time are just as important! So tell us: are you more of a romantic picnic with your partner person, or do you need to send invitations to your entire Facebook friend list to have fun? Are you comfortable simply laying down on the blanket and letting the conversation guide the afternoon, or are board games and carefully planned activities more your style? There’s no wrong answer here, so let us know what’s fun to you! 

We hope this guide to vegan picnic food was helpful to you and will brighten up your summer. Feel free to share your own favorite recipes and tips in the comments too! And if you don’t feel like going outside and enjoying the sun right now, you’re more than welcome to stick around for a little longer to check out these posts:

• Want to bulk up your favorite vegan picnic snack? Add one of Seyka’s Favorite Protein Powders to the batter! 
• In need of a bigger getaway than your local park? Check out how veganism goes down in other countries in Vegan Voyage Egypt.
• Picnics aren’t for everyone. If you’re looking for a place to dine in, Piante Pizzeria might just become your next favorite spot! 

Have fun and enjoy your summer!

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Callie is a Belgian writer and editor currently living in Dublin to study New Media at the Dun Laoghaire Institute of Art, Design and Technology. She frequently writes about films, mental health and is very passionate about mixing tahini with a hint of maple syrup. On top of her For Goodness Seyks contributions, she’s also a reader for Teen Belle, an assistant film editor for Haloscope, a frequent Screen Queens contributor, and has recently launched her own culture online magazine at Cloverleaf. When she’s not busy writing, you can find her screaming about Taylor Swift’s latest album on Twitter or pretending to have a social life on Instagram.