Picky Tea Season: Food Experts Share the Secret to a Perfect Picky Tea

With summer in full swing and temperatures climbing, as the Met Office forecasts highs of 28°C in some areas this week, Brits are craving quick, no-fuss meals more than ever.

Food box delivery service HelloFresh has revealed a surge in demand, with Google searches for “easy mid week dinner” skyrocketing by over 5,000% in the past month alone.

Enter Britain’s answer to a charcuterie board: the famous “picky tea”. The ideal solution for those mid week meals when it’s just too hot to cook outside.

HelloFresh’s Senior Recipe Development Manager, Mimi Morley comments,

“A picky tea is a British staple, especially during the summer. When it’s simply too hot to stand over a hot stove, pulling together a dinner of a variety of different bites such as cheese, salads, sausage rolls and fresh vegetables, can be both easy to make and tasty to eat.

“When it comes to crafting the perfect picky tea, I recommend focusing on balance and ease. Start with a good mix of textures and flavours including something savoury, something crunchy, and something fresh. Cold meats like roast chicken or slices of ham are perfect when paired with cheese or scotch eggs. Add in some crisp and nutritious elements like cucumber and carrot sticks, cherry tomatoes, or pickled onions for added tangy taste. Fill the gaps with cupboard staples like crisps and crackers and pair with dips from the fridge like hummus or garlic mayo.

“The key is simplicity, with no cooking and certainly no fuss. Just open the fridge, raid the snack drawer, and build a plate that’ll keep you full and cool during the hot weather.”

Quick and easy recipes

Mimi and the team at HelloFresh have shared some quick and easy recipes for those days where it’s simply too hot to stand over the cooker for a long time,, but you’re looking for something substantial for dinner.

Thai Style Peanut Chicken Noodles

Looking for a quick and tasty midweek dinner option? Try this delicious Thai Style Peanut Chicken Noodles, ready in just 20 minutes and a perfect delicious and speedy meal.

Super Quick Serrano, Harissa and Parma Ham Pasta

This Super Quick Serrano, Harissa and Parma Ham Pasta is ready to eat in just 15 minutes and takes just four simple steps to prepare.

Easy Peasy Harissa Chicken Breast Spaghetti

This Easy Peasy Harissa Chicken Breast Spaghetti takes only 15 minutes to make at home and is a perfect summer flavour to enjoy during the hot weather.

For more recipe inspiration, visit the HelloFresh website.