Keep the safety, ease and temperature of your dishes in mind when going to the beach

Spending the day at the beach is the summer plan par excellence. The combination of sunshine and salt water in unrivalled locations is very appealing, and we continue to do it over and over again. It is essential to plan and organize the details of the excursion, especially regarding food.

Not all recipes are suitable for bringing to the beach. Above all, it is important to bear in mind three things:

1. Ease: select easy-to-eat products. It’s best to bring chopped and ready-to-eat food, either eaten with cutlery or your hands. Avoid stews or meat and fish in sauce.

2. Temperature: very hot or very cold dishes are not advisable, as they require cumbersome or heavy devices, which would add to an already very long beach list.

3. Food safety: there are certain foods that can become problematic under a scorching sun. Some examples that are best avoided: dairy (yoghurt or raw-milk cheese), uncooked egg (in a runny tortilla or homemade mayonnaise), raw or semi-raw fish.

Beach-friendly recipes

You can prepare a number of recipes to bring with you. Here are four simple, delicious and healthy ideas:

1. Pasta salad with spinach, avocado and strawberries: cook 225 g of pasta and drain. Once cooled, add the spinach leaves, strawberries and avocado to the pasta. Put the salad in a container. In another, mix oil, vinegar, basil, salt and pepper. When you are about to eat it, stir the salad and pour on the dressing.

2. Spiced chicken strips with hummus: cut three chicken breasts into strips. Rub them with a garlic clove cut in half, salt them and sprinkle them with spices (let them marinate). Dip them in egg and breadcrumbs mixed with chopped basil, then fry. Serve with hummus.

3. Sandwich with rocket and bacon: toast two slices of bread with a little butter. Spread some more butter on one. Place washed and dried rocket on the butter. Add clean cherry tomato slices. Take bacon slices and cut them in half. Grill over high heat until golden brown on both sides. Place them on the tomatoes and cover with the other slice of bread.

4. Fruit skewers: wash your favourite fruits. We recommend fruits like apple, strawberry, kiwi, banana, mango and oranges. Dice them and alternate on skewer sticks.

The most important thing is making life easier for yourself when you go to the beach— you will enjoy your summer day out much more.

This post is also available in: Portuguese (Portugal)