Beach meals: some fresh ideas for take-outs
When summer begins, we're already looking forward to vacation: family, friends, beach, pool, and, of course, fresh and light recipes to beat the heat. One of the most significant pleasures of summer is diving into the sea or pool and enjoying a good swim.
For those who spend the whole day at the beach, we bring you some refreshing and delicious beach meal ideas. Perfect recipes to take along and enjoy under your umbrella!
Summer Vacation and Beach Meals
In the Iberian Peninsula, we're fortunate to be surrounded by the sea: the Mediterranean, the Cantabrian Sea, the Alboran Sea, and the Atlantic Ocean. Spending an entire day by the sea, with family or friends and a cooler full of food and drinks, is a common occurrence in our country.
In reality, it's one of those scenes that are part of the most cherished memories of our youth: sun, sandcastles, ocean waves, and a meal that tastes like heaven after a morning of swimming. In this post, we're going to reminisce about those simple delights that satisfy our appetite after long swims and sandcastle building. These are simple recipes, perfect to carry along, fresh and light to endure the heat.
5 Fresh and Light Beach Recipes
Serrano Ham and Brie Cheese Sandwich
While the classic ham sandwich is delicious, we want to introduce you to an equally appealing recipe that's a bit more unique and features more ingredients. A perfect option to take to the beach and enjoy: the serrano ham, brie cheese, and arugula sandwich.
It's a popular choice for a great appetizer or quick, high-quality meal. Additionally, it can be eaten both cold and warm, making it perfect to take to the office, for picnics, or to the beach, as in this case.
A combination of ingredients that provides an explosion of flavors in your mouth. Of course, our star ingredient can't be missing: the Gran Reserva ham from Enrique Tomás, commonly known as serrano ham.
- Discover how to prepare this delicious sandwich
Serrano Ham and Brie Cheese Sandwich
Melon and Ham Skewers
If there's a perfect dish for summer, it's melon and ham. A perfect harmony due to the combination of the sweetness of melon with the intense and salty flavor of serrano ham.
But do you know the trick to preparing this beach-friendly recipe? Make it into skewers! Skewers make it easy to eat with minimal utensils and are ideal for the "beach" moment. Refreshing and delicious!
Healthy Recipes for Summer
Light Salads
Summer is the season for salads, and they have a great advantage: they can be eaten cold and are ideal for taking along.
If you're a fan of light salads, we recommend:
- Summer Fruit and Ham Salad
- Lentil and Vegetable Salad
- Enrique Tomás Summer Salad.
Lentil and Ham Salad
Spinach, Zucchini, Ricotta, and Ham Salad
Cold Gazpachos or Soups for Your Beach Meals
In the heat, it's also great to have cold soups or creams like salmorejo, gazpacho, or melon soup. All of these recipes provide hydration and are delicious. Plus, if you prepare them to take along, you can put them in a glass jar with a lid and just open and enjoy.
Cold Melon Soup with Ham
Melon Gazpacho with Ham
Enrique Tomás Spring Rolls
Spring rolls are a typical dish in Chinese cuisine, but at Enrique Tomás, we've given them a twist. We've created a culinary proposal adapted to Mediterranean cuisine and aligned with a healthier and balanced diet, all without sacrificing flavor. The result: a dish that's perfect for your everyday meals, featuring originality and a blend of flavors.
We've decided to replace the traditional wrapper with blanched cauliflower leaves and fill the roll with seasonal vegetables like carrots, onions, or leeks, accompanied by a handful of mushrooms and, of course, bits of iberian ham. You can prepare them the day before hitting the beach and enjoy them cold the next day!
- We'll show you how to prepare these spring rolls
Spring Rolls with Ham
5 Tips for Beach Meals
After introducing these recipes, it's important to remember these 5 tips about taking meals to the beach. Actually, they're more of a reminder because most of you probably already know them, but it's essential to keep them in mind when preparing meals to take along.
- Include foods that can be eaten cold.
- Avoid sauces like mayonnaise, "aioli," and tomato-based sauces. If you have to bring them, do so separately, keep them in the fridge, and use them right when you're about to eat to prevent foodborne illnesses.
- All foods containing egg like mayonnaise, aioli, omelets, etc., should be consumed quickly once taken out of the fridge.
- Avoid using aluminum foil, plastic wrap, plastic bottles, and plastic bags, and use paper and glass instead. It's better to skip these wrappers as they can transfer to the food. Moreover, if you use any of them, it's crucial not to leave them on the beach. Deposit them in the nearest recycling point. And help protect and conserve the environment!
- Don't forget to bring plenty of water and stay hydrated. Consuming foods with a high water content, like summer fruits such as watermelon or melon, is also beneficial.
Enjoy your summer and the beach! Most importantly, enjoy it with good company while following a healthy and balanced diet with these beach meals. We recommend taking a look at our recipes and choosing the ones you like the most to prepare at home.
Bon appétit!
You might also be interested in:
- How to Preserve Ham During Summer
