RECIPE INSPIRATION
8 PRODUCTS YOU'LL WANT TO USE FOR QUICK, HEALTHY & TASTY LUNCH IDEAS
By Carmen | 5 August, 2021
Do you struggle when it comes to making a quick lunch that feels exciting and fuels you throughout the rest of your day?
I’ve always enjoyed taking a proper lunch break, possibly because of my French background, rather than a speedy 20-minute Dutch sandwich lunch affair. This has become even more relevant this past year. Sam and I have been exclusively working from home and need a proper break throughout the day that doesn’t necessitate too much cooking.
What I tend to prioritise is balancing speed as well as keeping my lunch healthy, and of course tasty. My aim is to have it ready in a maximum of 30 minutes and ensure that it will be satiate me until dinner whilst avoiding the dreaded post-lunch slump.
Come in these 8 hero products that I always have at hand so that I am never out of a quick & healthy lunch idea.
I’ve always enjoyed taking a proper lunch break, possibly because of my French background, rather than a speedy 20-minute Dutch sandwich lunch affair. This has become even more relevant this past year. Sam and I have been exclusively working from home and need a proper break throughout the day that doesn’t necessitate too much cooking.
What I tend to prioritise is balancing speed as well as keeping my lunch healthy, and of course tasty. My aim is to have it ready in a maximum of 30 minutes and ensure that it will be satiate me until dinner whilst avoiding the dreaded post-lunch slump.
Come in these 8 hero products that I always have at hand so that I am never out of a quick & healthy lunch idea.
1. Soba noodles
In Summer I love zaru soba, aka cold buckwheat noodle salad. The noodles take minutes to cook and are super versatile. Add a little sesame oil and miso for the dressing and any veggies you have in your fridge. My favourite combination is salmon, cucumber and edamame. Top with a little Peanut Rayu and you're really talking.
2. Lentil Pasta
This Seggiano lentil pasta box caught our eye last year and we’ve been fans ever since. The texture equals your usual wheat pasta but you get extra protein from the lentils! Brilliant no? As they cook very quickly they make a great healthy lunch when you’re still looking for something a little more substantial. And as ever, you can add anything that takes your fancy in pasta, and really switch it up according to seasonal produce.
3. Six-minute eggs
I personally love eggs in any shape or form, but 6-minute eggs are so good to have at hand to put a quick lunch together. As the name suggests, you just need to cook your egg in boiling water for 6 minutes and dunk it in cold water immediately to stop it from cooking further. The result is a foolproof egg with a fudgy centre. It is a brilliant addition to salads as well as sourdough toast. If you have a really busy week ahead of you, you can also store them in the fridge so your prep time is reduced even further!
4. Smoked & CURED fish
It may not be for everyone, but I absolutely love smoked or cured fish and rely on it heavily for quick lunches. Both smoked mackerel and hot smoked salmon have great sell-by dates which means I keep them at the ready and can have them pretty much anytime, in salads, on crispbread, on toast - you name it.
5. Chickpea Jars
This particular brand of Nacarrico chickpeas is a favourite of ours as they are beautifully soft and ready to use. Plus, we tend to keep the glass jars for storage! Keep a few in your pantry and you can whip out a delicious hummus in no time at all for a hummus bowl or wrap, or simply have them whole as a fresh salad.
6. Red Lentils
Unlike your typical puy lentils, red lentils cook in just 15 minutes making them great when you don’t want to spend an hour cooking. We love making this Sri Lankan dhal for that reason, but for lunch, we often make a Tomato and Lentil Soup when the weather is a little cooler. It is absolutely delicious and keeps you full well into dinner.
7. Corn Tortillas
Whilst we often make fresh corn tortillas for dinner, we keep these ready-made Cool Chile tortillas around for quick lunches. In Summer we bake them in the oven for a few minutes to create crab tostadas and when the temperature is a little chillier we revert to quesadillas like this one.
8. Crispbread
Due to Sam’s Swedish background, we always keep some form of crispbread in our cupboards. These large rye crispbreads are particularly handy for lunchtime. Top them up with your protein of choice such as prawns, hummus, smoked fish, or eggs, followed by salad and some pickles and lunch is served!
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