To me, summer food should be fresh, light, and easy. Different types of salads, charcuterie style meals, and grilled foods are the highlights of my summer menus. In addition to traditional sandwiches and green salads, here are some ideas for grill-free dinners that are easy to pack and take:
1. A pasta salad is very versatile. You can toss whatever you have in your produce drawer or bowl in it. I love Italian- or Greek-style salads, so I tend to include artichokes, spinach, tomatoes, cucumbers, olives, cheese, and fresh herbs from the garden. The best part is that it can be made ahead of time, in large batches, and it tastes even better after a while!
2. A meal of cheese quesadillas, corn-black bean-tomato salad, sour cream & avocados can also be made ahead of time and is easy to pack for the pool or an evening picnic.
3. Chicken (or tuna) salad wraps are a tasty and easy way to change up a typical sandwich. You can use lettuce to wrap if you're trying to stay away from bread. My favorite way to make these salads is with ripe avocado as the creamy binder. I like to add chopped celery, some chopped grapes or raisins, and toasted seeds or chopped nuts.
4. Growing up, we had some very simple charcuterie style meals. They looked way fancier than they actually were. These would be great alfresco as well. Think deli meats (prosciutto wrapped melon pieces or asparagus spears are favorites!), cheeses, crackers/french bread slices, olives, caper berries (another favorite for my kids), and tomatoes and cucumbers drizzled with balsamic vinegar.
5. Similarly, pack some boiled eggs, crackers or pita bread, tomatoes, cucumbers, and cheddar cheese, and you have an easy meal!
6. Grilled salads. Yes, you read that right. A couple of food bloggers I follow posted these incredible grilled salads (here too) last year, and they are delicious! They are easy to make ahead of time, and easy to pack!
And last but not least, a nice juicy watermelon to end a summer meal is a necessity for alfresco dining!
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