The long-awaited summer weather has finally arrived! What better excuse for an alfresco party? Invite friends over and toast the new season with refreshing sangria, then serve up a variety of Spanish-inspired pizzas and flatbread. Read on for recipes and entertaining tips, and enjoy an afternoon of casual, delicious food in the fresh air.
Put a new spin on a pizza party with creative and unexpected flavors. This flatbread stars Spanish Serrano ham, Petit Basque (a hard, mild cheese) and peppery arugula leaves. Skip pepperoni in favor of a pizza with chorizo and Manchego cheese, topped with olives and roasted peppers. Vegetarians and meat eaters alike will love a white pizza with potatoes and asparagus, which really lets the vegetables shine.
A big salad is a refreshing accompaniment to a pizza menu, and our pick is full of bright flavors: young greens, radishes, oranges and avocado. For sipping, try this unique sangria, made with fruity white wine, passion fruit juice, grapes, pears and litchis. Finish the meal with something equally light and colorful, a parfait of blackberry granita and sweet cream.
- 1 to 2 days ahead: Make the granita and the cream and refrigerate separately.
- Day of: Make the dough for the pizzas and let rise. Make the sangria and refrigerate. Prep the toppings for the pizzas.
- Just before serving: Assemble the granita. Make the salad. Finish the pizza toppings and cook the pizzas.
The fun of a pizza party is all about the pace. Have the salad and sangria ready to go when everyone arrives, and you can cook one pizza at a time if you want guests to mingle and eat as they please. For a big crowd, start with one of each pizza and then make the rest as needed.
Serve the sangria in a beautiful beverage dispenser and give each guest a durable stemless wineglasses garnished with extra fruit or a sprig of herbs. Find tips on making your best-ever sangria here.
Set out a few snacks in wooden bowls to encourage a casual vibe, such as Marcona almonds and mixed marinated olives. Tie the look together by slicing and serving the pizzas on vintage wooden boards. For decor, you don’t need a huge bouquet of flowers — a few simple succulents scattered across the table are fresh and natural for an outdoor party.