Tasty Lunch Recipes for a Busy Work Day
Lunch time can be repetitive. Either you’ve found a few simple recipes that you use on rotation or you end up scooping up last nights left overs. But if you’re lucky enough to work somewhere with a full kitchen (like your own house or, I don’t know, The Racquets Court), why not take full advantage of the facilities and elevate your lunch at the same time?
Since we are located just a few minutes away from a Tesco Extra, a Sainsbury’s Local and M&S Food Hall, it’s easy to grab some ingredients and whip up some delicious meals in your lunch break.
Here are some of our favourite lunch recipes submitted by our customers. Click on the title of each entry to see the full recipe, we’ve just summarised or added our suggestions for adaptations on here.
1. Halloumi Wrap
With this you can’t go wrong. It’s light, it’s veggie, it’s quick and it’s tasty! Plus…cheese.
Lightly cook some halloumi strips (fry or grill), heat your tortilla wrap, spread hummus on the wrap, top with salad and halloumi, add a sauce of your choice, roll up and it’s ready! Takes just a few minutes to cook and you can customise it however you like.
2. Pesto Pasta Salad
While this recipe does call for homemade pesto (which really does elevate the whole dish), if you don’t have time to make this from scratch, you can use shop bought pesto. Homemade pesto doesn’t take long to make, it’s basically toasted pine nuts with garlic, basil, parmesan, lemon and salt all mixed together. It does require using a food processor to get the consistency right. Regardless, whether you make the pesto from scratch or use a nice shop bought one, it’s down to personal preference.
Simply cook your pasta, add in pesto and whatever other veggies you like. I’ve made this with tomatoes and lettuce but, hey, it’s your lunch!
3. Stuffed Peppers
Okay, here me out. Stuffed peppers do take a canny while to cook, but you can prep them before you come in and just remember to pop them in the oven so they’re ready when your ready.
Think of the pepper as an edible bowl. Add rice or couscous, whatever toppings you like and a sprinkle of cheese and you’re good to go. It takes around half an hour to cook in the oven so just make sure you get them in the oven before you start your break.
4. Spinach and Sun Dried Tomato Slice
I don’t have a proper recipe for this one as it’s something I made by accident. I was trying to make a Spanakopita but I accidentally bought puff pastry instead of filo so I had to improvise.
Spanakopita is a Greek Pie and is delicious. I basically followed this recipe but had to make some changes. I unrolled my puff pasty, put on a baking tray and slice 6 even rectangles. I brushed the whole thing with the sun-dried tomato oil and added the spinach mixture in the middle of each rectangle leaving a small edge free as a crust. Bake in the oven for around 20-30 minutes until golden then dish up. It’s really easy to eat on the go, at your desk or enjoy leisurely while pretending you’re actually in Greece. The whole thing takes just 10 minutes to prep so you could do it at home before you come in and finish in the oven.
5. Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad
You can’t go wrong with a Caesar salad. You can keep this one simple or embellish it however you like, but it’s quick and easy and, most importantly, tasty. Scale it up if you’re cooking for the team or scale down if you’re cooking for you. Sometimes I make extra so I’ve got lunch sorted for the next day.
Cook your pasta, cook your seasoned chicken, add both in a bowl with all your salady bits, add your Caesar dressing. I add my croutons on the top as I like the super crunch but you do you.
6. Burrito Bowl
So this recipe is a no-cook version which is handy if you’re tight on time, but if you do have the time, you can marinade and cook your chicken to your own liking. If you don’t have time, the whole thing takes about 10 minutes to make and less to eat (because it’s so tasty).
You need microwave rice (okay so it needs a little bit of cooking), tinned sweetcorn, tinned black beans, chicken (pre-cooked), avocado, salsa and limes. Heat your rice, drain the sweetcorn and beans and assemble everything in a bowl, topping it off with a squeeze of lime. Again, you can customise this dish however you like, omit or add bits and pieces, make it your own.
7. Ham & Cheese Toastie
Yes that’s right, the famous Costa Ham & Cheese Toastie can be made at home (or in the office). Brilliant for colder days when you really don’t want to bundle up and head out. Warm your hands and your tummy.
Grab 2 slices of bread, smear both with melted butter, cover the top of one slice with grated cheese, assemble sandwich (cheesy bread on top), whack in the oven for about 10 minutes and enjoy! Top tip, let it sit for a minute or 2 once you bring it out the oven otherwise you’ll have hot melty cheese on your chin on your first bite.
8. Pita Bread Pizza
It’s like pizza on the go. And, just like pizza, you can add pretty much any topping you like. Use whatever veg you have left in the fridge and whatever meat you have to hand. It’s so simple and takes around 8 minutes to make. Great for warming you up on a cold day or eating cold on a hot day.
Spread tomato puree on top of your pita bread, add whatever toppings you have in whatever order you like. Sprinkle cheese on top and whack in the oven. Wait until the cheese is all melty and golden. Once eaten, go back and make another, then you might be asked to make one for your colleagues and before you know it, you’ve got a good side hustle.
9. Fish Finger Sandwich
I know, I know, what sort of monster cooks fish at work, but hear me out. This works here because our kitchen is completely separate from the main coworking space meaning those cooking smells don’t waft over everyone. Plus we have doors in the kitchen leading to our outside space which we leave open on nice sunny days.
So, go and buy fish fingers of your choice. Go fancy or simple. Cook in the oven until golden brown. Butter your bread, add a layer of tartare sauce, add lettuce, parsley and your fish fingers. Add more tartare sauce and some chopped up gherkins and finally the top slice of bread.
10. Tortellini
Funny story, my son when he was about 2 tried tortellini and absolutely loved it, but he misheard (or made up) the name and now it will forever be known as Dalia in my house.
Anyways, this dish is deal for quick and easy office lunch. Add shop bought tortellini to boiling water and cook for about 2 minutes. In another pan, add oil and cook the tomatoes. When pasta is cooked, save a bit of the water and add both to the tomatoes. Add some parmesan and parsley, season and you’re good to go. Another dish that can be customised to your taste and can use up whatever you have left in the fridge.
To be honest, when you’ve got access to an oven and hob, you can really expand your lunch repertoire . Long gone are the days of soggy salads or room temperature sarnies. And best of all, when the shops are just around the corner you really can make just about anything. We will often all chip money in together to buy ingredients and take turns at making lunch for the team. It’s a fun and inexpensive way to do some team building. Fun fact, when we first got the keys to our building, the directors cooked a full Christmas dinner for us!
It is said that the kitchen is the heart of the home, and for a very good reason. It’s the place the family come to cook, to make a brew, to eat. It’s a place to share recipes and ideas, be creative and make something everyone can enjoy. The kitchen here is just one of the brilliant features that stands us apart from the market.