12 must-try picky bits for summer

Welcome to the world of picky bits eating, where pastry is always welcome, crisps are non-negotiable and dips are king. Whether packing for a picnic or grabbing treats for a no-cook dinner, these are the products that will bring the most moreish flavours to your basket.

Ricotta Stuffed Cherry Peppers

These dinky little marinated peppers surround their creamy ricotta filling with just the right amount of spice. Great for adding bite to the salad section of your spread.

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Basil, Spinach & Burrata Arancini

Pasta and pizza rightly steal the headlines but never forget that Italy also gave us the joy of arancini. With their unctuous, burrata-stuffed middles, herby risotto body and crunchy breadcrumb coating, these are a masterclass in complementing taste with texture.

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No.1 Whipped Feta Dip

Delivering high-power savoury flavour in an extra-creamy format, whipped feta is the dip we fell hard for when it took the internet by storm a few years back. No need to bother your blender, either – this is a perfect example that’s dotted with sweet, rich Sunblush tomatoes for brightness and texture.

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No.1 Charred Padron Peppers with Romesco Style Sauce

Though they’re mostly mild, the odd Padron pepper may be secretly spicy. Enjoy the nutty, almost sweet romesco-style sauce as a contrast to their gentle bitterness while the threat of some serious heat looms.

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Rosales Sesame & Sea Salt Tortas

These most luxurious of crackers are so rich with olive oil and sea salt crystals that they come individually wrapped. They make the ideal crunchy vehicle for everything from dips to thick chunks of Manchego.

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No.1 Antipasto Misto

Cured meats (and especially pork) are one of Italy’s many food fortes, and this selection brings together three of the best: an exemplary prosciutto di Parma; cured pork neck seasoned with garlic that’s known as coppa; and salame Brianza, which is flavoured with wine, peppercorns and garlic. Buon appetito!

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San Nicasio Truffle Potato Chips

The very best crisps – somehow both deliciously rich with oil but also impossibly light – now come in the most luxurious of flavours. They’re fried in extra virgin olive oil and sprinkled with dried summer truffles for an incredibly premium crunch.

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Smoked Chilli Snack Mix

The slightly spicy, very smoky, extremely salty flavours on this jumble of toasted almonds, cashews and crunchy corn makes for a very modern take on the essential bowl of mixed nuts.

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Roasted Beetroot & Mint Houmous

Obviously there’s going to be houmous, but can your picky tea handle this vibrant pink tubful of treasure? Natural sweetness from the beetroot plays against a subtle mintiness, both of which add to that classic nutty houmous backdrop.

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Serrano & Ibérico Cheese Involtinis

Why choose between meat and cheese when you can enjoy both in each and every mouthful? These two-bite parcels consist of sticks of nutty Ibérico cheese wrapped in tender Spanish Serrano ham.

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Patatas Bravas & Chorizo with Aioli

Spicy discs of chorizo, soft chunks of potato, smoky tomato sauce and a dollop of aioli to bring them all together – here we have all the highlights of the tapas menu in one irresistible package. Crusty bread will be needed for mopping.

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No.1 Herby Pork & Apple Pie

An absolute classic of the British buffet is given a glow-up in this hearty pie. Its traditional hot water crust pastry is flavoured with garden herbs, the outdoor-bred pork filling gains a little sweetness from caramelised onion and the jelly gets fruity tang from the addition of apple.

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