A Turkish-Inspired Picnic

A Turkish-Inspired Picnic

Thereโ€™s something magical about the fusion of spices, fresh ingredients, and bold flavours that define Turkish cuisine. Whether you’re picnicking in the sun or hosting a themed meal at home, this menu will bring the colours and aromas of Turkey right to your table. Letโ€™s dive into the dishes that make up this Turkish-inspired picnicโ€ฆ

Starters/Nibbles: – Mezze Platter & Shawarma Skewers

A mezze platter is the perfect way to begin a Turkish-inspired meal. We used a selection of middle eastern inspired elements:

โ—ย ย ย ย ย  Homemade pita chips with olive oil and seasonings: – Homemade Pita Chips

โ—ย ย ย ย ย  Muhammara dip, seasoned with olive oil and crushed walnuts: – Muhamarra Dip

โ—ย ย ย ย ย  Hummus dip, seasoned with olive oil, crispy seasoned chickpeas and saffron: – Roasted Red Pepper Hummusย  ย or Garlic Paprika Hummus

โ—ย ย ย ย ย  Fresh, herby tabbouleh: – Quinoa Tabbouleh

โ—ย ย ย ย ย  Veggies – cucumbers, cherry tomatoes, radishes, crispy baked brussels sprouts, marinated artichoke hearts

To complement this, the eggplant and zucchini shawarma skewers are delicious. Pickle the vegetables, then char-grill for a salty, smoky flavour.ย 

Mains: Turkish Beef Meatballs, Cauliflower Salad & Flatbreads with Raisin, Pine Nut & Caper Pesto

For the mains, we made a Turkish beef meatball dish, with all the classic Middle Eastern spices and flavours. Warming and delicious, it’s the perfect way to serve the protein element of the main meal. ย 

You can try either of these recipes: – Tuscan Meatballs or Mozzarella Stuffed Meatballs

The cauliflower salad uses a delicious combination of ingredients: roast cauliflower florets, celery, hazelnuts, parsley with a delicious Turkish-inspired spiced dressing. We have topped it with pomegranate arils for a pop of fresh sweet flavour. It’s an all-round winner. Warm Roasted Brassica Salad

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Then for the flatbread, we did a slightly different take on pizza, using the sweet, salty, nutty flavours as the base, topped with crushed pine nuts, parmesan and greens. Serve it as individual flatbreads or serve as a tear and dip entrรฉe with olive oil.

Sweet: Traditional Baklava

Ending on a sweet note, we have done a classic Middle Eastern dessert, baklava. Nutty, flaky, sweet and rich, it is the perfect way to end a Turkish food journey!

Styling Notes

We used woods, tan and raw platters to give the setting a warm rustic effect. We have also used tea towels for added texture.

Leather woven bench, wooden stool and platters are all from Coco Unika, based in Australia, definitely worth checking out their range – Cocounika

Still hungry? Hereโ€™s more

Recipes

Courses

Appetizer

Breakfast

Brunch

Lunch

Mains

Sweet

Supper

Fast

Breafast

Lunch

Appetizer

Starter

Sides

Main

Dessert

Baking

Category

Breads, Pastry & Tarts

Condiments

Fish & Seafood

Meat

Pasta & Grains

Poultry & Game

Salad

Soup

Vegetables

Drinks

Eggs & Dairy

Sweet

Fruit

In Season

Summer

Autumn

Winter

Spring

Collections

Pizza Collection

Meat Collection

Soups Collection

Confectionary Collection

Lunch Box Collection

Salads Collection

Picnic Collection

Kids Food Collection

Honey Collection

Pulled Meats Collection

Dips Collection

Dietary Requirements

Gluten Free

Dairy Free

Vegetarian

Vegan

Plant Based