Picnics and outdoor eating
As the weather warms up, it's time to get into picnic season. We have collated some recipes and ideas for a gluten free picnic. Don't miss the gluten free scotch egg video for the perfect oozing picnic snack.
Scotch Eggs
Follow the video for amazingly oozy scotch eggs with a choice of potato rosti or traditional breadcrumb coating -- the results are simply divine. Find the ingredients and method on the recipe page.
Sandwich fillings
Cooked meats like ham, chicken and beef are naturally gluten free. Some marinated or coated meats will not be so check make sure you check these.
Tuna, sweetcorn and chilli – mix together half a tin of tuna, a tablespoon of sweetcorn and a teaspoon of mayonnaise*. Add a pinch of chilli powder for an extra kick.
Pepper and avocado – Mash half an avocado and mix with half a deseeded, chopped red pepper and a teaspoon of mayonnaise*. Add to your sandwich with fresh salad.
Beef and watercress – Fill a roll or sandwich with leftover sliced beef and a handful of watercress and perhaps a bit of horseradish sauce*.
Salad and dip ideas
Summer salad – all salad vegetables are naturally gluten free so you can make a colourful summer salad with lettuce and other leaves like spinach and watercress, as well as vegetables like radishes, grated carrot, cucumber and tomatoes.
Bean salad – for a more substantial salad, mix together mixed beans, sweetcorn, chopped cherry tomatoes, celery and a little vinaigrette* for a quick bean salad.
Quick pasta salad – mix together a tablespoon of mixed beans with four tablespoons of cooked gluten free pasta*, chopped tomatoes, fresh mozzarella or feta cheese and herbs. Stir in a tablespoon of your favourite dressing* and serve with salad leaves.
Potato salad – you can make potato salad quickly and easily by boiling new potatoes, allowing them to cool, and then stirring in mayonnaise* or crème fraiche with some chopped chives, salt and pepper to season.
Quick tomato salsa – cut fresh tomatoes into quarters and remove seeds, then finely chop, and mix with finely chopped red onion and fresh coriander. For a hot salsa you can add some chopped fresh chillies for an extra zing.
Serve houmous* with carrot batons or celery sticks and mini gluten free breadsticks*.
*See Food and Drink Information for suitable products
Drinks
If you are wondering which drinks to enjoy, there are plenty of both alcoholic and soft drinks which are gluten free:
- Fruit juice, flavoured waters, cordials and fizzy drinks are gluten free. Barley squashes are not suitable.
- Champagne, prosecco and Pimms are gluten free.
- Cider, wine, sherry, spirits, port and liqueurs are gluten free.
- Beer, lagers, stouts and ales contain varying amounts of gluten and are therefore not safe for people with coeliac disease. You can buy specially made gluten free beers and lagers.
We have put together some picnic perfect recipes for you to try below. Make sure you check out our Home of Gluten Free Recipes for loads more great ideas.
