Ferragosto: a Mediterranean picnic “English style”

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

Ferragosto is a traditional Mediterranean 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.

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

For this Mediterranean 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.

For cheese and meat I bought:

• buffalo’s milk Mozzarella
• dolcelatte
• Italian mozzarella
• Parmigiano Reggiano cheese
• Prosciutto Cotto
• Porchetta

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

For drinks and dessert’s:

• Sanpellegrino limonata
• Italian tiramisu

I added from the local farmer’s market:

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

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

The Mediterranean 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:

Sandwich number 1

• buffalo’s milk Mozzarella
• Prosciutto Cotto
• tomato and basil

Sandwich number 2

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

Sandwich number 3

• porchetta
• sun-dried tomatoes
• wild rocket
• Parmigiano Reggiano cheese

Sandwich number 4 Vegetarian:

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

Sandwich number 5 Vegetarian:

• Italian chargrilled artichokes in a herb dressing
• Parmigiano Reggiano cheese
• 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”

We packed our picnic and headed for our adventure.

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

Mediterranean picnic

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

Prep Time 15 minutes

Total Time 15 minutes

Servings: 5 people

Print Pin Rate

Author: Laura Tobin

Ingredients

Meat and cheese

• 1 pkg buffalo's milk Mozzarella
• 1 pkg dolcelatte cheese
• 1 pkg Italian mozzarella
• 1 pkg 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
• 1/2 cup Greek mixed olives in a herb dressing
• 4 fresh tomatoes
• 10 leaves fresh basil leaves
• 1 non treated lemon
• 1/4 cup Pistachios from Bronte
• 4 pears
• 2 cup wild berries

Bread

• 1 large loaf of rustic bread

US Customary - Metric

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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.
  

Sandwich number 1:

• Buffalo's milk mozzarella, prosciutto cotto, tomato and basil
  

Sandwich number 2:

• Italian mozzarella, prosciutto cotto, wild rocket, fresh tomatoes
  

Sandwich number 3:

• porchetta, sun-dried tomatoes, wild rocket, Parmigiano Reggiano cheese
  

Sandwich number 4 Vegetarian:

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

Sandwich number 5 Vegetarian:

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

As an aperitif

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

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Notes

Nutrition

Calories: 838kcal | Carbohydrates: 55g | Protein: 48g | Fat: 49g | Saturated Fat: 22g | Cholesterol: 135mg | Sodium: 2232mg | Potassium: 1536mg | Fiber: 13g | Sugar: 30g | Vitamin A: 1805IU | Vitamin C: 44.1mg | Calcium: 706mg | Iron: 4.5mg

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