Pack up a picnic

Think beyond the sandwich for your next picnic! These easy, family-friendly salads are brilliant for packing up in a container and will still be at their best when you reach your patch of green.

Green potato salad with chicken (pictured right)
Boil new potatoes, adding green beans, and then peas for the last few minutes of cooking; drain. Chop lots of fresh herbs (such as parsley, mint or basil) and mix with yogurt and lemon zest. Stir through the potato and beans along with some shredded cooked chicken, and top with some extra chopped herbs, to finish.

Halloumi and chickpea salad
Griddle slices of halloumi in a hot pan until charred and soft. Combine chopped tomatoes and cucumber with black olives and parsley, plus some drained cooked chickpeas. Chop the halloumi into strips and use to top the salad. Dress with a little lemon and oil.

Sweet chilli salmon and broccoli couscous (pictured left)
Drizzle salmon fillets with sweet chilli sauce then roast in the oven along with some broccoli. Cook couscous according to pack instructions and then stir in a squeeze of orange juice and some chopped spinach. Flake the cooked salmon and chop the broccoli and stir into the couscous.

Cheesy pasta salad with apple and raisins
Cook pasta in boiling water. Drain, then stir in cream cheese, grated Cheddar, chopped apple, raisins and chopped herbs. Finish with some grated lemon zest.