Recipes | Mason Jar Picnic Veggies
Mason Jar Picnic Veggies
We’re deep into picnic season. The weather is glorious, so it’s no wonder people are abandoning their dining rooms for the great outdoors. But planning a picnic can be rife with logistical brainteasers. The outdoors is, after all, not climate controlled. So to help you navigate this often humid terrain, here are our best tips for prepping, packing, and enjoying the most vulnerable occupant of any picnic basket – the veggies. Featuring gorgeous and travel-friendly produce from Ontario Greenhouse Vegetable Growers.
Ingredients
Servings
Instructions
Step 1
Start with the best. Look for peppers and cucumbers with no blemishes, wrinkles, or signs of damage. These imperfections are not only unappetizing they also accelerate spoilage. But make sure you don’t buy them too far in advance. The average cucumber and pepper can last one-week uncut in the crisper drawer of your fridge.Step 2
If you’re looking to slice and prep your veggies the night before, do not store them in a plastic bag. The best way to store cut veggies overnight in the fridge is to wrap them in a damp paper towel and place them in an airtight container. Make sure you consume them within 5 days, but 48 hours is better.Step 3
To make your veggies picnic basket and snack ready reach for a small mason jar. These make for great handheld personal servings. To make a crudité jar, place a little hummus, tzatziki, or ranch in the bottom of the jar. Stick your vegetable spears into the dressing and seal the jar. This more or less keeps the dressing separate from the veggies, so the dressing doesn’t dilute and the veggies don’t get too soggy. Plus, having your own jar allows for double if not triple dipping. It’s your jar, you make the rules.Step 4
The same principle can be applied to salads. Start by placing the dressing at the bottom of the jar. Next add any ingredient that won’t sog out, like noodles, pasta, or chickpeas. Then layer your remaining veg from the heartiest to the most fragile. Leafy greens go at the tippy top and any crunchy component is added at the end.Step 5
Pack all your jars snuggly with an ice pack or two to avoid spoilage. This is especially helpful if you have a little hike before arriving at your picnic zone.
Tips from our friend Susan at Rhub and Cod