*These Prosciutto Picnic Sandwiches are an easy and delicious European-style lunch. Fresh baguette is topped with salty prosciutto, creamy brie, fresh and peppery arugula, and sweet fig compote.*

Imagine this: you’re sitting on a soft, cotton blanket in the middle of a beautiful park. Looking around you, everything is green: the bright, fresh grass that stretches beyond your blanket, the canopy of leaves floating above you. Pops of color appear here and there in the form of the most lovely wildflowers: light blush pink, bright coral, and pastel yellow. Off in the distance, you see a gaggle of young kids running around in the wind, laughing and playing tag. In front of you lies the most amazing assortment of fresh produce, cheese, and baguette, along with a couple bottles of fresh lemonade.

Ahhhh, to be enjoying a simple picnic in the park 🙂 Certainly one of my most favorite ways to pass a lazy Saturday afternoon. When I studied in France, this was a regular occurrence, as you might imagine. But two particular picnics stand out in my mind as the quintessential European experience. The first was on a bluff of rocks overlooking the sea in Marseille. We had little more than a hunk of bread, a round of cheese, and a bar of chocolate, but with the sun shining and the salty wind whipping through our hair, it was the most magical experience. The second was right plop in the middle of the Jardin du Luxembourg, in Paris. One of my best friends visited for the weekend, and we scouted out all sorts of delicious snacks on the Rue de Mouffetard: a beautiful basket of fresh red strawberries; a couple of the ripest, juiciest figs; rich, creamy brie. Then we headed for the park and feasted, sitting among stylish French couples and young families.

This sandwich aspires to distill all of my most favorite memories of picnicking in Europe into one easy, transportable dish. All of the key players are here: fresh, yeasty baguette; plenty of brie, bien sur; flavorful, salty prosciutto, for a bit of staying power; fresh, peppery arugula; and a generous smear of fig compote for a touch of sweetness. This sandwich is easy to assemble, and can be thrown together ahead of time. Simply wrap it up, grab yourself a fruity drink or bottle of wine, and head out on your adventure. When hunger hits, find yourself a nice, comfortable spot and indulge in this most delicious picnic sandwich – bonus points if you close your eyes for a minute and imagine yourself in Paris, or Marseille!