Confession: I am a professional recipe developer, and yet every single day I stand in front of the morass of my refrigerator and wonder, What’s for lunch…again?? Figuring out what to make for weekday lunch, especially, can feel about as inspiring as washing the sheets. Once I started paying attention to the lunch foods that made me feel the best for the rest of the day, however, I came up with a handful of guidelines I try to hew to no matter what I have in the fridge and pantry. These days, my work-from-home lunches (or lunch al desko) meet the following parameters: 1. Exciting enough to eat that I’m not tempted to order a mediocre salad instead 2. Made with ingredients already in the house 3. Filling and fueling, can’t immediately induce a post-meal nap 4. Requires no more than 5-10 minutes to put together 5. More about assembly/throwing things together than actual cooking
Below, I share three easy lunches I love that are on heavy rotation in my household.
Upgraded Tuna Salad
The “upgrade” in question is a handful of chopped peperoncini and a splash of the pickling brine, though any chopped pickle + brine combo (Dill pickles! Kimchi! Sauerkraut!) adds transformative verve and brightness to familiar tuna salad.
Dress some lettuce (Bibb, romaine, or iceberg are all good options) with lemon, extra-virgin olive oil, and salt and pepper in a mixing bowl. Arrange lettuce on a plate or shallow bowl and top with some sliced avocado. Drain two 5-oz. cans of tuna and dump into the same mixing bowl. Add the saucy stuff: a big spoonful of mayonnaise (or extra-virgin olive oil if you don’t do mayo), a small spoonful of Dijon mustard, a couple dashes of hot sauce, and a squeeze of lemon juice or splash of your favorite vinegar. Now add any number of optional crunchies: 2 chopped celery stalks, ¼ diced red onion or some shallot or scallions, a small handful of chopped herbs (dill or parsley are my favorites), and, critically, 2-3 chopped peperoncini with a splash of their pickling brine. Season with salt and pepper. Mix, mix, mix until everything is combined. Place a big scoop on top of the salad and enjoy.
Other ideas with tuna salad: Smash a little avocado on toasted grainy bread and pile tuna salad on top for an open-faced tartine, or eat with hearty crackers like Wasa or seed-packed Norwegian crispbreads.
Dressed-Up Lentils with a Fried Egg
I often make a pot of lentils and a sheet pan of roasted vegetables to eat with various meals throughout the week. Realizing I only love eating lentils warm was a game changer and made them a lot more appealing to me as a go-to lunch option.
Dress some arugula or other peppery salad greens with lemon, extra-virgin olive oil, and salt and pepper in a mixing bowl. Arrange greens on a plate or shallow bowl. Reheat 1 cup cooked lentils (French, brown, or green) and toss with 1 cup of leftover roasted vegetables in the same bowl. Season with a tiny splash of red wine vinegar or squeeze of lemon juice, extra-virgin olive oil, salt and pepper. Add a few shavings of Parmesan and/or some thinly sliced scallions if you’d like. Spoon the warm lentils on top of the greens and top with a runny fried egg.
Kitchen Sink Sandwich
Whenever I have a whole-grain, seeded sandwich loaf (Lost Bread Co. sells an incredible loaf at my local farmers market in Brooklyn), these towering kitchen sink sandwiches — inspired by classic hippie fare — inevitably find their way into my lunch rotation. Think of these as a salad sandwiched between two slices of bread.
And like any good salad, a kitchen sink sandwich comprises multiple flavors and textures. Spread one slice of grainy bread with mashed avocado or hummus. Spread a second slice of bread with a thick layer of herby goat cheese (also good: a plank of feta, fresh mozzarella sliced off the ball, sharp cheddar, or even cream cheese). Fill the sandwich with any/all of the following:
- Something crunchy: Cucumber, tomato, lettuce, apples, thinly sliced radishes or fennel, shredded carrots
- Something hearty: Baked tofu, sliced hard-boiled egg, sliced leftover roasted vegetables (beets, squash, sweet potato, or carrots are especially good)
- Something pickle-y: Pickled beets, pickled carrots, sauerkraut, chopped kimchi, pickled onions
- Sprouts and herbs: Alfalfa, broccoli, whatever you fancy — but an inch-high tuft of sprouts is a must for proper hippie sandwich vibes
These three easy weekday lunches are perfect for busy professionals like myself who need a quick, delicious, and filling meal to keep them going throughout the day. Whether you’re a fan of tuna salad, lentils, or kitchen sink sandwiches, these recipes are sure to become staples in your household.
Why These Lunches Work
Developers must have a fridge and pantry stocked with ingredients to whip up a quick and easy lunch. Five to ten minutes of preparation time is required, but the payoff is worth it. Lunch options should be filling and fueling, and these recipes deliver. Professional recipe developers may struggle with deciding what to make for lunch, but with these guidelines, you’ll be well on your way to creating simple and delicious lunches.
To ensure you’re making the most of your lunch break, try these three easy weekday lunches:
- Upgraded Tuna Salad: Add a handful of chopped peperoncini and a splash of the pickling brine to your tuna salad for a transformative boost of flavor.
- Dressed-Up Lentils with a Fried Egg: Reheat cooked lentils and toss with leftover roasted vegetables, then top with a runny fried egg for a satisfying and filling meal.
- Kitchen Sink Sandwich: Spread mashed avocado or hummus on one slice of bread, then fill with a variety of crunchy, hearty, and pickle-y ingredients for a salad sandwiched between two slices of bread.
By following these guidelines and recipes, you’ll be well on your way to creating simple and delicious lunches that will fuel your productivity and keep you going throughout the day.
Tips for Making These Lunches Easier
- Always keep a well-stocked fridge and pantry with ingredients for quick and easy meals.
- Prep ingredients in advance to save time during the week.
- Experiment with different combinations of ingredients to keep things interesting and prevent boredom.
- Don’t be afraid to get creative and add your own favorite ingredients to these recipes.
By following these tips and incorporating these three easy weekday lunches into your routine, you’ll be well on your way to a more productive and delicious lunch break.
