SAUCE-Y' PICNIC FOOD: healthy, some prep-ahead, some easy

Splendid hand-held picnic food is elevated to the sensational with well-chosen sauces and dips.  

67goingon50 loves picnic food especially when a main course or side is paired with a sassy sauce, dip or dressing. The combos usually end up as a knock-em-down hit with diners.  

67goingon50 has several favourites:

Spicy Potato Cigarillos with a vivid Coriander dipping sauce.  Skinnier Sausage Rolls with rich Maple-flavoured Mustard.  Asian Fish 'Crystal' Wraps with a punchy, fiery Vietnamese dressing.  

For the less adventurous looking for something uusual but not overly exotic, there's Poached Chicken with Ginger Scallion Oil (plus soy and Oyster sauces).  Or the ever-popular Beef Mini Koftas with a glorious Tahini Dressing.

We're about to have a spell of very hot weather and now is the time to try these fabulous, good-for-you dishes. Nearly all can be partly prepped ahead in the cool of evening.

Please note: Prices are historical and might not reflect 2023 inflation

SPICY POTATO CIGARILLOS

These vegan non-greasy frugal canapes are punchy Indian-style 'chip butties' and do a great job of soaking up alcohol.  Baked, not fried, they're crisp and crunchy; dipped into the vividly flavoured coriander sauce, they made our taster's face light up.  The cigarillos can be made ahead, use mostly standard cupboard ingredients  and are easy to put together.  They're low in fat, salt and  preservatives.  

SKINNY MUSTARD-Y SAUSAGE ROLLS

Described by tasters as good enough for Waitrose, these are non-standard sausage rolls: much lower in fat and nitrate-free.  They're neither greasy nor boring and taste better than the usual sausage roll.  But what really makes the treat special is the utterly more-ish Maple Mustard Dipping Sauce, powerful but never overwhelming.  

FISH 'CRYSTAL' RICE PAPER WRAPS, fresh & bright 

Feisty fresh & fabulous, these fish wraps are absolutely worth making at home; they're fresh, bright, crunchy and satisfying.  The combo of white fish and an extraordinarily good sauce is unbeatable.  If there are conflicting food requirements amongst guests or family, take the opportunity for a communal food prep session/bonding exercise, adding vegetarian & chicken versions.

HEALTHIEST POACHED CHICKEN WITH GINGER SCALLION OIL

Succulent, sweet, tender chicken with almost zero effort and low energy requirements would be fabulous on its own but with Ginger Spring Onion Sauce, it is stunning.  The recipe is ideal in a heatwave; most of the cooking takes place in the residual heat of the stock.  Utterly, utterly scrumptious.

BEEF MINI KOFTAS WITH TAHINI CREAM, Easy-Peasy 

These spicy little barrels of beef go down a storm when dining outdors.  They are full of intense flavours - spicy, herby and meaty - calmed, but not neutered by an unctuous tahini sauce.  Make twice the amount of sauce; it's popular and any leftovers can be used elsewhere.  Most of this recipe is prepped the night before.

Tips:

Transport dips in wide mouthed jars or microwave tops with tight fitting lids.  Cover the top with a double layer of cling film to prevent leaks before attaching lids.

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These recipes have been developed by B  Lee/ Bright Sun Enterprises and may not be reproduced, in any form, without the author's written permission.