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    Home » Recipes » Sandwich

    Ferragosto: an Italian picnic “English style”

    Published: Jul 13, 2018 · Modified: Feb 16, 2025. This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy.

    Recipe
    A Mediterrenean Picnic with Italian cheese and ham and fresh produce from the region. #yourguardianchef #sandwichs #picnic #Italianfood

    Packing only local products, here are some ideas to enjoy a Ferragosto Italian picnic “English style”, with horses, dog and picnic basket.

    Sicily strait
    Jump to:
    • The Italian picnic
    • More recipes from a Vet's cottage
    • Italian picnic

    Ferragosto is a traditional holiday in Italy, France and Spain, celebrating the Assumption of Mary.

    Typically most people are on vacation, and many prepare a picnic spending the day outdoors.

    Unfortunately, it is also a time of the year when it is difficult to escape the traffic and queues everywhere.

    To enjoy nature at it is best; we went to visit my sister, the Vet, to her mountain cabin in the Natural Park in Sila.

    We planned to take my sister and her husband’s two horses, the Jeep, their dog Lina (a pregnant schnauzer) and venture into the Natural Park.

    Mediterranean picnic “English style”

    Packing only typical Italian products, we had a Ferragosto Italian picnic “English style”, with horses, dog and picnic basket.

    For this Italian picnic, I am choosing some typical Italian products.

    Buy some fresh rustic bread loaf to make sandwiches, and complete the meal with some local seasonal fruits and vegetables.

    Mediterranean picnic with horses

    For cheese and meat I bought:

    • buffalo's milk Mozzarella
    • dolcelatte
    • Italian mozzarella
    • Parmigiano Reggiano cheese
    • Prosciutto Cotto
    • Porchetta
    Mediterranean Picnic

    For vegetables I selected:

    • sundried tomatoes
    • sliced artichoke hearts
    • Italian chargrilled artichokes in a herb dressing
    • wild rocket
    • Greek mixed olives in a herb dressing
    Cheese and ham for a Panino picnic

    For drinks and dessert’s:

    • Sanpellegrino limonata
    • Italian tiramisu
    Mediterranean Picnic basket

    I added from the local farmer’s market:

    • A large loaf of local bread
    • Tomatoes
    • Basil
    • Lemons
    • Pistachios from Bronte
    • Pears
    • Wild Berries
    Mediterranean Picnic loaf

    While my brother in law was preparing the horse, I was busy organizing the Italian picnic.

    Picnic with horses
    Mediterranean Picnic loaf

    The Italian picnic

    I cut the bread into 5 sections, seasoning the bread with the juice from the tomato salad we made the night before.

    It is a natural fresh summer seasoning, the mix of the sweet tomatoes juices, salt and good quality virgin olive oil.

    I then prepared 5 different types of sandwich:

    Mediterranean Picnic loaf panini

    Sandwich number 1

    • buffalo's milk Mozzarella
    • Prosciutto Cotto
    • tomato and basil
    Panino buffalo Mozzarella Prosciutto Cotto tomato basil

    Sandwich number 2

    • Italian mozzarella
    • Prosciutto Cotto
    • wild rocket
    • fresh tomatoes
    panino mozzarella Prosciutto Cotto wild rocket fresh tomatoes

    Sandwich number 3

    • porchetta
    • sun-dried tomatoes
    • wild rocket
    • Parmigiano Reggiano cheese
    Panino Porchetta Romana sun kissed tomatoes wild rocket Parmigiano Reggiano

    Sandwich number 4 Vegetarian:

    • dolcelatte cheese
    • sliced artichoke hearts
    • sun-dried tomatoes
    • basil, pistachios
    Mid summer picnic 30_1_1

    Sandwich number 5 Vegetarian:

    • Italian chargrilled artichokes in a herb dressing
    • Parmigiano Reggiano cheese
    • wild rocket
    • lemon zest and pistachios
    Vegeterian Panino chargrilled artichokes Parmigiano Reggiano wild rocket lemon zest and pistachios

    As an aperitif, we nibbled on

    • Greek mixed olives in a herb dressing
    • Parmigiano Reggiano cheese
    • and sliced pear.

    An old Italian riddle says: “Don’t make the farmer aware, how good is cheese with pear”

    Parmesan cheese and pears

    We packed our picnic and headed for our adventure.

    mediterranean picnic panino

    However, as with any good English picnic, our day was interrupted by the rain!

    More than rain, a heavy Mediterranean summer storm!

    Luckily enough, as we arrived back home, the dog Lina started her labour and gave birth to 4 puppies.

    As a special treat, my son Francesco feed her a Plateau de Fromage made of parmesan crusts.

    What an exciting day!

    The Calm After the Storm

    schnauzer puppies

    More recipes from a Vet's cottage

    • Easy Chanterelle Recipe With Potato
    • Baked Frittata with Wild Mushrooms
    • How To Make Gnocchi

    Homemade liquors on the category: Liquors

    For more sandwiches and picnic ideas you can check the recipes:

    • Pan Bagnat
    • Sausage rolls
    • Beef sausage hand pies
    Picking wild strawberries
    wild mushrooms
    wild strawberries
    Wild mushrooms

    If you are making this Italian picnic, leave your comment below I would like to hear from you. You can find more delicious ideas if you FOLLOW ME on Facebook, YouTube, Pinterest and Instagram or sign up to my newsletter.

    Mediterranean Picnic loaf panini

    Italian picnic

    5 from 9 votes
    Laura Tobin
    Servings 5 people
    Prep Time 15 minutes mins
    Total Time 15 minutes mins
    Print Recipe Save Saved! Pin Recipe
    An Italian Picnic with Italian cheese and ham and fresh produce from the region.
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Ingredients
     

    Meat and cheese

    • 1 pkg buffalo's milk Mozzarella
    • 1 pkg dolcelatte cheese
    • 1 pkg Italian mozzarella
    • 1 pkg freshly grated Parmesan
    • 6 slices Prosciutto Cotto
    • 6 slices Porchetta

    Vegetables

    • 1 cup sun dried tomatoes
    • 1 cup sliced artichoke hearts
    • 1 cup Italian chargrilled artichokes in a herb dressing
    • 1 cup wild rocket - arugola salad
    • ½ cup Greek mixed olives in a herb dressing
    • 4 fresh tomatoes
    • 10 leaves fresh basil leaves
    • 1 non treated lemon
    • ¼ cup Pistachios from Bronte
    • 4 pears
    • 2 cup wild berries

    Bread

    • 1 large rustic bread

    Instructions
     

    • I cut the bread into 5 sections, seasoning the bread with the juice from the tomato salad, salt and good quality virgin olive oil.
      Mediterranean Picnic loaf

    Sandwich number 1:

    • Buffalo's milk mozzarella, prosciutto cotto, tomato and basil
      Panino buffalo Mozzarella Prosciutto Cotto tomato basil

    Sandwich number 2:

    • Italian mozzarella, prosciutto cotto, wild rocket, fresh tomatoes
      panino mozzarella Prosciutto Cotto wild rocket fresh tomatoes

    Sandwich number 3:

    • porchetta, sun-dried tomatoes, wild rocket, Parmigiano Reggiano cheese
      Panino Porchetta Romana sun kissed tomatoes wild rocket Parmigiano Reggiano

    Sandwich number 4 Vegetarian:

    • dolcelatte cheese, sliced artichoke hearts, sun-dried tomatoes, basil, pistachios
      Vegeterian Panino dolcelatte sliced artichoke hearts sun kissed tomatoes basil pistachios

    Sandwich number 5 Vegetarian:

    • Italian chargrilled artichokes in a herb dressing, Parmigiano Reggiano cheese, wild rocket, lemon zest and pistachios
      Vegeterian Panino chargrilled artichokes Parmigiano Reggiano wild rocket lemon zest and pistachios

    As an aperitif

    • Greek mixed olives in a herb dressing, Parmigiano Reggiano cheese, and sliced pear.
      Mediterranean Picnic basket with marinated artichokes, olives and sun-dried tomatoes

    Notes

    Nutrition

    Calories: 838kcalCarbohydrates: 55gProtein: 48gFat: 49gSaturated Fat: 22gCholesterol: 135mgSodium: 2232mgPotassium: 1536mgFiber: 13gSugar: 30gVitamin A: 1805IUVitamin C: 44.1mgCalcium: 706mgIron: 4.5mg
    Tried this recipe?Please consider Leaving a Review!
    important notes on ingredients

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Tinkara

      March 25, 2017 at 8:52 am

      5 stars
      This place looks so beautiful! Maybe I'll go for a trip some day 🙂

      Reply
      • Laura

        March 31, 2017 at 3:40 am

        Thank you, I would highly recommend

        Reply
    2. Catherine Roberts

      March 25, 2017 at 9:10 am

      5 stars
      Wow this is a lovely idea & fab photos! Many Thanks, Cat

      Reply
      • Laura

        March 31, 2017 at 3:40 am

        Thank you Cat

        Reply
    3. Rabz Haq

      March 25, 2017 at 9:45 am

      5 stars
      great post. Book marking!

      Reply
      • Laura

        March 31, 2017 at 3:39 am

        Thank you Rabz

        Reply
    4. Phaytea

      March 25, 2017 at 10:06 am

      5 stars
      Lovely spread and presentation...will definitely get you eating

      Reply
      • Laura

        March 31, 2017 at 3:37 am

        Thanks

        Reply
    5. Veera

      March 25, 2017 at 12:00 pm

      5 stars
      I love horses and outdoors 🙂 great post, here in Finland it's still a bit too cold to go out, but hopefully soon!

      Reply
      • Laura

        March 31, 2017 at 3:37 am

        Thank you, the puppies were a nice closing

        Reply
    6. Jenni Petrey

      March 25, 2017 at 12:03 pm

      5 stars
      It sounds as though you had a wonderful day out and I love your choice of food. It sounds delicious.

      Reply
    7. Dusica

      March 25, 2017 at 1:12 pm

      5 stars
      I'm already hungry...yummy, i like them all 🙂

      Reply
      • Laura

        March 31, 2017 at 3:36 am

        Thanks

        Reply
    8. Neha kumari

      March 25, 2017 at 5:05 pm

      5 stars
      Looks like a fun filled picnic trip. And some wonderful food to make it more funful

      Reply
      • Laura

        March 31, 2017 at 3:36 am

        Thank you, Mediterranean mountain at its best

        Reply
    9. Jerry

      March 26, 2017 at 6:50 pm

      5 stars
      Horses, trees and food. What more could you possibly want?

      Reply
      • Laura

        March 31, 2017 at 3:35 am

        Thanks, all about nature

        Reply
    5 from 9 votes

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    Laura Giunta Tobin

    Hi, I’m Laura. Welcome to my blog! While many talk about Italian food, I’ve lived it firsthand. Here, I share real Italian home cooking, just as it’s made in Italy. Won’t you join me?

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