proms picnic

A jar of this fresh-tasting smoked mackerel pâté is great to serve as a starter or to pack for a picnic. This no-cook starter is unbelievably easy to whizz up and costs very little. 

Smoked mackerel pâté

mackerel

tsp horseradish (or 2 tsp horseradish sauce)

Dijon mustard

black pepper

tbsp crème fraîche

½ lemon, juice only

grams/2½oz unsalted butter, chopped

spring onions, chopped

sourdough bread,

Filled with colourful chunky vegetables and large enough to serve a crowd, this would make a decorative addition to an Easter feast. Roasting the vegetables, and including Gruyère with its distinctive flavour, ensures that it is very moreish too.

For this recipe you will need a 28cm/11in loose-bottomed  fluted tart tin and some baking beans.

Roasted vegetable quiche

225 grams/8 ounces plain flour,

butter,

egg,

onions, quartered, then halve each quarter lenghtways

baby courgettes, halved lengthways

spinach

olive oil

300 milliliters/10fl oz double cream

free-range eggs

180 grams/6½oz gruyère cheese (or vegetarian alternative), grated

salt and black pepper

Cheese straws are in my top ten all-time favourite recipes and are easy to make. For a little extra spice, sprinkle on some paprika or cayenne. 

Bacon and cheese straws

puff pastry

flour,

tbsp English mustard

grams/3½oz mature cheddar, grated

bacon

Turn up to a picnic or party with these and you are sure to impress your friends and family. 

Black pudding sausage rolls

plain flour

salt

300 grams/10½oz butter, 100 grams/3½oz

300 grams/10½oz chestnut mushrooms, trimmed

thyme leaves

sunflower oil

unsalted butter

red onions, thinly sliced

brown sugar

tbsp sherry vinegar

300 grams/10½oz good-quality sausage meat

grams/3½oz black pudding,

free-range egg, beaten, to glaze

sesame seeds

For James Martin’s easy quiche Lorraine, choose between making your own proper homemade pastry or a taking the shortcut with a quick shop-bought version.

Each serving provides 698 kcal, 27g protein, 25g carbohydrates (of which 3g sugars), 54g fat (of which 30g saturates), 2g fibre and 2.2g salt.

Quiche Lorraine

175 grams/6 ounces plain flour,

250 grams/9 ounces cheddar, grated

tomatoes, sliced (optional)

streaky bacon, chopped

eggs,

100 milliliters/3½fl oz milk

200 milliliters/7fl oz double cream

thyme

Fragrant strawberries plus tangy homemade lemonade, topped up with sparkling water, make this strawberry lemonade a super refreshing summer drink.


Strawberry lemonade

450 grams/1lb ripe strawberries, plus extra to serve

lemons

caster sugar

litre/1¾ pints sparkling water

lemons, sliced

mint leaves

Muhammara is a vibrant Levantine dip that's sweet, nutty and tangy. it's really quick to whip up with roasted peppers from a jar, but tastes absolutely amazing if you roast fresh peppers on a barbecue or even a gas hob. Serve as part of a mezze with bread or as a sauce for kebabs, grilled meats and fish. Best eaten at room temperature. 

Muhammara (roasted red pepper dip)

grams/2½oz walnuts

red peppers (jarred is fine)

grams/2½oz white breadcrumbs

tbsp tahini

pomegranate molasses

tbsp extra virgin olive oil

mint

These tarts make a beautiful vegetarian starter when served aside some simple salad leaves. They are also perfect for a picnic.


Equipment and preparation: For this recipe you will need two four-hole Yorkshire pudding tins.

Goats' cheese and shallot tarts

grams/3½oz butter,

grams/1 ounces walnuts, roughly chopped

tbsp oil

banana shallots, thinly sliced

tbsp balsamic vinegar

tbsp light muscovado sugar

300 grams/10½oz soft goats' cheese

parsley

A bread loaf is packed with sweet roasted vegetables, mozzarella and fresh basil to make a delicious addition to a picnic, or serve in slices at home with crisp croutons for contrast.

Roasted vegetable picnic loaf

red peppers, seeds removed,

yellow peppers, seeds removed,

courgettes, sliced lengthways

aubergine, sliced lengthways

tbsp olive oil,

day-old crusty loaf of bread

1½ tsp sherry vinegar

garlic clove, crushed

x 125 grams/4½oz buffalo mozzarella

basil leaves

tbsp ready-made pesto

A light tart that melts in the mouth, this feels like a real treat and it’s a cinch to make. There’s not even any rolling involved. If you like, leave asparagus out of the filling mixture or add extra ingredients of your own. Sautéed mushrooms, blanched broccoli and roasted peppers all work well. 
245 calories per portion

Top 10 proms picnic recipes from across the web

The most viewed proms picnic recipes by Recipe Cart users, saved from over 6,000 sites. Or, go to our Recipe Search Engine

Top Tags

Smoked mackerel pâté

Roasted vegetable quiche

Bacon and cheese straws

Black pudding sausage rolls

Quiche Lorraine

Strawberry lemonade

Muhammara (roasted red pepper dip)

Goats' cheese and shallot tarts

Roasted vegetable picnic loaf

Bacon and asparagus flan

Top 10 proms picnic recipes from across the web

The most viewed proms picnic recipes by Recipe Cart users, saved from over 6,000 sites. Or, go to our Recipe Search Engineic_arrow_forward_48px

Top Tags

Smoked mackerel pâté

Roasted vegetable quiche

Bacon and cheese straws

Black pudding sausage rolls

Quiche Lorraine

Strawberry lemonade

Muhammara (roasted red pepper dip)

Goats' cheese and shallot tarts

Roasted vegetable picnic loaf

Bacon and asparagus flan

The most viewed proms picnic recipes by Recipe Cart users, saved from over 6,000 sites. Or, go to our Recipe Search Engine