Picnics are a beautiful way to experience the outdoors while indulging in great food. Indian cuisine lends itself perfectly to picnicking due to its diverse flavor arrangements and ingredients, which will satisfy and thrill you.
Whether you’re picnicking with your family or as part of any other large group, including Indian dishes makes all the difference for a memorable event. Here are 20 Indian picnic food ideas that will fascinate every visitor to your picnic spot.
Simple Indian picnic food ideas
1. Aloo paratha
This is essentially a staple in North Indian households. Aloo Paratha is definitely the mouthwatering and filling paratha which represents satiety and portability—thereby, making it perfect for picnics.
- Ingredients: Whole wheat flour for the dough, boiled and mashed potatoes, spices—cumin, garam masala, and amchur—herbs—cilantro—and a bit of salt.
- Preparation: Mix the spice and herb ingredients with the mashed potatoes for the filling. Roll out the dough, place some of this filling in the middle, and seal it off by pinching the edges. Then just flatten a bit and roll out again for a stuffed flatbread.
- Cooking: Cook on a hot griddle with a little bit of butter or ghee till it is golden brown on both sides. Serve hot or at room temperature; these parathas taste great even when cold.
- Serving suggestion: Accompany with yogurt, pickle, or simply with an Onion-Tomato salad. These are not only filling but also carry well without much mess, making them perfect picnic food.
2. Chicken tikka skewers
Marinated in a rich mix of spices and then grilled to perfection, Chicken Tikka Skewers are flavorful and an easy way to eat during any outdoor meal.
- Ingredients: Chicken boneless pieces, yogurt, lemon juice, turmeric, chili powder, garam masala, ginger-garlic paste.
- Preparation: Marinate the chicken with yogurt, spices, and lemon juice. Rub the chicken pieces in the marinade and set to marinate, at least a few hours or even better, overnight, in the refrigerator for flavors to develop.
- Cooking: Skewer marinated chicken and grilled it over medium flame until it is well charred and cooked through.
- Serving suggestion: Serve with mint chutney and sliced onions. These skewers are easy to make and eat without necessary utensils, and hold their flavor even in the cold.
3. Paneer kathi rolls
This is a dish that brings together the juiciness of fresh paneer and the crunch of stir-fried vegetables, all wrapped in with a soft roti to make it a whole meal and easy to carry.
- Ingredients: Paneer, the so-called Indian cottage cheese, fresh roti or whole wheat flatbread, onions, capsicums, carrots, spices, and some sauce like tamarind or mint chutney are some of the ingredients that go into its making.
- Preparation: Sauté the vegetables and paneer with spices until the mixture is lightly caramelized. Spread on a warm roti, add a spoonful of chutney, and roll up firmly.
- Serving suggestion: Wrap in aluminum foil for easy handling. Kathi rolls are a meal within themselves that allow a well-balanced mix of flavors and nutrition, easily manageable at a picnic.
4. Masala corn
This is tangy and spicy stuff. Masala Corn is a no-brainer—an easy dish wherein boiled corn kernels get a gentle toss with butter and a mix of spices for a quick snack to crunch on as one picnics.
- Ingredients: Kernels of sweet corn, butter, lime juice, salt, chili powder, and chaat masala.
- Cooking: Boil the corn till tender, then sauté in butter with the spices for a few minutes until the flavors meld.
- Serving suggestion: Serve in cups or on skewer sticks, easy to enjoy. This masala corn serves the dual purpose of being both delicious and convenient for picnics—children and adults alike love it. Therefore, it is one of the best picnic Indian food ideas for large groups.
5. Bhel puri
A light, crunchy street food snack made of puffed rice mixed with vegetables and tangy tamarind sauce that is perfect for refreshing picnics.
- Ingredients: Puffed rice, sev, onions chopped, tomatoes, potatoes boiled, green chilies, cilantro, tamarind chutney and green.
- Preparation: In a large bowl, mix all ingredients just before serving so that puffed rice and sev stay crisp.
- Serving suggestion: Serve immediately in paper cups or small plates. Bhel puri tastes best when it is fresh—the dynamism of the various textures and boldness of flavors refresh the senses and make it an excellent ready-to-eat snack for any outdoor function.
Indian vegetarian picnic food ideas
6. Samosas
One of the favorite treats at any Indian gathering is samosas, crispy tarts filled with a spicy mixture of potatoes and peas. This makes them an irresistible snack, perfect for a picnic.
- Ingredients: Flour to make the dough, potatoes, peas, spices like garam masala, cumin seeds, and amchur or dry mango powder, oil to fry.
- Cooking: Mix flour, water, and a little oil to form a dough. Cook the filling by sautéing boiled potatoes and peas with spices. Stuff the dough with this filling, fold into a triangle, and deep fry until golden.
- Serving suggestion: Serve with mint or tamarind chutney. Samosas may be served hot or at room temperature and thus easily portable for picnics.
7. Chickpea salad
A refreshing mix of protein-rich chickpeas and crunchy veggies in an enlivening lemon-herb dressing for a light, healthy picnic option.
- Ingredients: Chickpeas, diced cucumbers, tomatoes, onions, lemon juice, olive oil, herbs like parsley or cilantro, and spices.
- Cooking: In a bowl, mix the chickpeas with diced vegetables. In another bowl, whisk together lemon juice, olive oil, salt, pepper, and finely chopped herbs to make a dressing. Toss the salad well after dressing.
- Serving suggestion: Serve chilled so that all the flavors get infused. It’s healthy and filling; that’s a healthy criterion for a vegetarian and a health conscious picnicker.
8. Vegetable pulao
Vegetable pulao is aromatic rice cooked with a variety of vegetables and spices. It provides a full meal that is hearty and satisfying yet easily packable for picnics.
- Ingredients: Basmati rice, mixed vegetables such as carrots, peas, beans, and cauliflower; onions; spices like cardamom, cloves, and cinnamon; a hint of saffron.
- Cooking: This is done by sautéing the onions and spices in a pot, then adding the vegetables and rice and finally topping it up with water to cook until the rice is fluffy.
- Serving suggestion: Serve it hot or at room temperature with raita or pickle.
9. Mango cucumber salad
Sweetness from the ripe mango and crispiness of the cucumber make this salad, which is dressed with a tangy lime chili dressing, cool and refreshing for a picnic.
- Ingredients: Ripe, sweet mangos, cucumber, and red onion with lime juice and chili powder, topped off with mint leaves.
- Cooking: Dice mangoes and cucumbers. Slice onions thinly. Toss all into a bowl and mix with lime juice, a pinch of chile powder, and chopped mint.
- Serving suggestions: Chills best, and it makes a nice palate cleanser between heavier items. Also, it gives the picnic a tropical touch.
10. Stuffed capsicum
It is a very colorful and nourishing meal wherein the bell peppers are stuffed with a savory mixture of spiced potatoes and peas, often enhanced by nuts for some crispiness.
- Ingredients: Bell peppers, boiled and mashed potatoes, peas, spices like turmeric and garam masala, cashews or peanuts, and cheese, if desired.
- Preparation: Core the peppers. Mix well-cooked, mashed potatoes with peas, chopped nuts, spices, and if so desired, grated cheese. Stuff into peppers.
- Cooking: This can be baked in a preheated oven until the peppers are tender.
- Serving suggestion: Serve warm or at room temperature. These stuffed peppers are a feast for the eyes and full of flavors, which stand out even amidst a variety of picnic dishes.
Drinks
11. Mango lassi
A favorite traditional drink, mango lassi is made by blending sweet mangoes until very ripe with creamy yogurt, which gives it a calming and cooling effect. It is one of the simplest picnic food ideas for a family Indian.
- Ingredients: Two ripe mangoes, plain yoghurt, milk, sugar, a dash of cardamom.
- Preparation: Blend together chopped mangoes, yogurt, cream, milk, sugar, and cardamom. Chill and serve.
- Serving suggestion: It is also wonderful served cold with a sprinkle of ground cardamom or a few strands of saffron over the top before serving for added flavor and sophistication. Mango lassi is not only driving the taste but is also considered with something eminent in digestive properties for soothing the digestive tract when taken with hot food.
12. Masala chai
Served piping hot, the spiced and sweetened Masala Chai may also be enjoyed as a chilled drink, which brings this versatile and aromatic addition into play for any picnic.
- Ingredients: Black tea leaves, milk, water, sugar, and spice mix—cardamom, cloves, cinnamon, and ginger.
- Preparation: Boil water with spices and tea leaves, add milk and sugar, then simmer until they all come together. Cool and refrigerate.
- Serving suggestion: Serve well-chilled either in thermoses or bottles. The strong spices of Masala Chai will give you a warming sensation, which provides a nice contrast with its cold temperature to make it a refreshing pick-me-up.
13. Nimbu pani (Lemonade)
Nimbu pani, which literally means lemon water and is the Indian version of lemonade, is an easy and reinvigorating beverage made with freshly squeezed lemon juice and a touch of spices like roasted cumin and fresh mint for rejuvenation.
- Ingredients: Lemon juice, water, sugar, roasted cumin powder, salt, and mint leaves.
- Preparation: Mix lemon juice with water and sugar to taste. Add a pinch of salt and some roasted cumin powder in it. Keep it in the refrigerator to cool.
- Serving suggestion: Serve cold with ice cubes and mint leaves for garnish. Nimbu Pani is an excellent thirst quencher and also helps with rehydration and rejuvenation during outdoor activities.
14. Coconut Water
Coconut water is a naturally refreshing drink with a sweet, nutty flavor, full of electrolytes and minerals, making it the ultimate drink for replenishing fluids during your picnic.
- Ingredients: Fresh coconuts, preferably young green ones.
- Preparation: Refrigerate whole coconuts, then crack them open with a cleaver when ready.
- Serving suggestion: Serve directly from the coconut with a straw for a fun and topical picnic experience. Coconut water is also low in calories and goes really well with spicy and rich foods, not to mention its hydration properties.
15. Rose sherbet
This is a fragrant and attractive beverage; the rose syrup mixed with water or milk provides a refreshing flowery flavor to drink, perfect for elegant picnics.
- Ingredients: Rose syrup, cold water or milk, and lemon juice.
- Preparation: Mix rose syrup with cold water or milk to taste. Add a few drops of lemon juice for extra flavor.
- Serving suggestion: Pour over the ice in glasses; then, garnish with rose petals or lemon slices. The drink will not only cool you down but also please your senses with the unique floral flavor and smell.
Desserts
16. Gulab jamun
Gulab Jamun is a classical dessert where deep-fried balls of dough made from milk solids are immersed in a sweet, aromatic syrup flavored with rosewater and cardamom.
- Ingredients: Milk powder, flour, baking powder, ghee—clarified butter, milk, sugar, water, rose water, cardamom.
- Preparation: Mixing milk powder, flour, and baking powder in milk to a dough, make small balls and deep fry them till golden brown in color. Make a syrup of sugar, water, rose water, and cardamom. Dip the fried balls in it.
- Serving suggestion: Serve warm or at room temperature. These indulgent syrupy sweets are a decadent affair, so in keeping with the way to round off a celebratory picnic meal.
17. Mango kulfi
Mango Kulfi is a denser, creamier form of ice cream laced with mango pulp and accented with cardamom. Thus, it has become a hot favorite for picnics.
- Ingredients: Mango pulp, condensed milk, cream, sugar, and cardamom.
- Preparation: Combine the mango pulp with condensed milk, cream, sugar, and cardamom. Pour the mixture into molds and freeze until set.
- Serving suggestion: Serve well chilled – in or out of kulfi moulds or even small cups. This iced dessert is incredibly not only refreshing but also incorporates the feeling of ripe mangoes into a creamy frozen form.
18. Barfi
Barfi is a firm, fudge-like sweet made with condensed milk, cooked with sugar, flavored usually with fruits and nuts, and spices, so it’s not messy, but perfect to be carried to picnics.
- Ingredients: Condensed milk, sugar, ghee, and flavourings like coconut, pistachio, or almond.
- Preparation: In a thick-bottomed pan, cook condensed milk with sugar and ghee until it thickens. Add flavorings and spread on a greased plate to set. When it cools, cut it into pieces.
- Serving suggestions: Allow it to reach room temperature and sprinkle chopped nuts on top. The firm texture and rich flavor make Barfi excellent picnic food.
19. Jalebi
Jalebi is an Indian popular sweet made of a fermented batter deep-fried. The stuff looks very much like pretzels soaked in syrup, which gives the sweet a bright orange color and a sticky, chewy texture.
- Ingredients: Flour, curd, sugar, saffron, cardamom, and food color.
- Preparation: Mix flour with yogurt to form batter and set it in a ferment. Pipe it in hot oil in spiral shapes and fry till crisp. Soak in a flavored mix of sugar syrup, cardamom, and saffron.
- Serving suggestion: Enjoy it at room temperature or chilled; jalebi is a crunchy, syrupy indulgence that will make just about any pudding picnic feel like a celebration.
20. Coconut ladoo
Coconut Ladoo is a basic and beautiful sweet, prepared with fresh grated coconut and condensed milk, shaped into balls, then garnished with cardamom or saffron.
- Ingredients: Freshly grated coconut, condensed milk, cardamom powder, and a pinch of saffron—optional.
- Preparation: Grated coconut is sautéed with condensed milk and cardamom in a pan until the mixture thickens. Let cool, then form into small balls.
- Serving suggestion: Sprinkle a few strands of saffron on top and serve chilled or at room temperature. Coconut ladoos are not only delicious but also easy to make and carry, thus quite perfect for picnics.
Conclusion
Whether you want something very basic and quick or a bit more elaborate, these 20 picnic indian food ideas are sure to give you the perfect day out. So get ready with your picnic basket and your loved ones to indulge in a feast that’s as colorful and diverse as the landscapes you’ll be enjoying it in. Whether you’re off to a park, beach, or just your backyard, these quick picnic food ideas Indian will ensure your picnic is one to remember.
