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Remote work: it’s one of the biggest trends to rise these past few years and for good reason. Many employees prefer remote work due to the flexibility that it provides, plus the ability to work from anywhere. But what if your job stretches you too thin – to the point that it interferes with your daily tasks, like preparing your lunch? The answer is simple: look for quick and easy lunch recipes! Whether you’re a stay-at-home worker or a remote employee who works while travelling locally and internationally, these quick (and delicious) lunch ideas can help you power through a long, busy day at work.
1. Cucumber Salad
When looking for quick and easy recipes, you’re bound to encounter multiple salad recipes. That’s because salads are so easy to make – some recipes only require 15 minutes of your time! On a hot summer’s day, eating some cucumber salad can be refreshing and provide you with the nutrients to get you through the day.
It’s quite simple to prepare. You’ll need a cucumber, turnips (peeled and cut into matchsticks), lemons, lemon juice, and quartered white cherry tomatoes. Peel the cucumber and thinly slice it. Afterward, mix all the ingredients in a salad bowl until everything is evenly mixed. That’s it – a quick, easy, and healthy dish that’s perfect for lunch! You can choose to eat it on its own or as a side dish with a classic corned beef sandwich for a balanced and satisfying meal.
2. Chicken Sandwich
If you’re tired of that same old chicken sandwich you buy from drive-thrus, then it’s time to make your own chicken sandwich! This recipe can be quick if you have some leftover chicken in the fridge, preferably in the form of chicken breasts.
Making this sandwich won’t take too long. Preheat your oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C) and then melt butter with garlic in a microwave. Place hoagie rolls in the oven and brush them with the garlic butter mixture, and add the chicken breasts to the bottom part of the hoagie roll. Add some cheese on top and wait for it to melt – this step could take up to 20 minutes. Simple, isn’t it?
3. Quesadillas
A favourite Mexican staple, quesadillas are an excellent choice for your next lunch. Ingredients you’ll need include corn tortillas, mozzarella cheese, black olives, avocados, and some hot pepper sauce for that slight kick. Preparing this dish requires the use of a frying pan. Place the tortilla on the pad and add these ingredients in the following order – cheese, olives, avocado, and hot pepper sauce. Cover the pan and flip it after a minute or so. You’ll know that you’ve cooked it correctly once the cheese inside has melted. You can cut it into triangles before serving – making it a perfect meal for you to share (or keep for yourself, you choose).
4. Shrimp and Peanut Butter Noodles
Let’s take this recipe to Asia with some seafood noodles! While quick to make, you’ll need a bunch of ingredients: peanut butter, light soy sauce, Chinese black vinegar, white sugar, sesame oil, dried Japanese udon noodles, shrimp, and broccoli florets. Take note that if you don’t have some of these ingredients listed, you’ll want to go to your nearest Asian food store. You can choose to buy pre-cut and pre-washed broccoli to further cut down prep time.
Mix the oil, soy sauce, vinegar, and peanut butter in a small bowl. Separately, prepare a large pot of water where you can boil the udon noodles. Add the shrimp to the pot and wait until it turns pink. Then, you can turn off the stove. But take note that you shouldn’t take it away from the heat. Stir the broccoli and let it stand. Drain the noodle mixture and in a large bowl, toss the noodles with the peanut butter sauce you prepared earlier. For added flavor, you can garnish it with chopped peanuts.
5. Pita Pizza
The idea of using pita bread as pizza dough sounds crazy, but it’s a crazy idea that’ll knock your socks off. First, you need to preheat your oven to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C). In a microwave, warm the pitas until they’re soft. Spread some tomato sauce on the bread and add olives, pimiento peppers, mozzarella, tomatoes, basil, oregano, and coriander. You may choose to add some blue cheese to elevate the taste of your pizza. Place the pitas in the preheated oven and heat until crispy. This shouldn’t take more than 15 minutes – including both prep and cooking time. It’s the perfect dish for a light lunch.
6. Avocado Toast
Okay, hear us out – avocado toast may be one of the most popular dishes that you can create, but there’s a good reason why it’s included in this list. While there are many basic avocado toast recipes out there, trying out this one might just make you the biggest fan of avocado toast.
First, cut the bread and toast it. Cut, pit, and peel the avocado. Then mash it with some lemon juice – the perfect ingredient to give that citrusy taste. Add it to the slices of toast and season with salt. For some added spice, sprinkle some red pepper flakes. You can add some poached eggs if you want to take this recipe further, because who doesn’t like eggs? While avocado is generally a breakfast meal, it’s also perfect for brunch – the late risers would love to have this as a starter for the day.
7. Fried Rice
This dish makes it to the list because fried rice is so easy to make. In a pan, heat some oil. When hot, add some packaged Chinese-style frozen vegetables. Add some leftover rice from the fridge and stir. Take note that it’s best to use leftover rice for fried rice because of its texture. Then it’s time to add the egg and stir it before it solidifies. Season it with soy sauce and add some cilantro, scallions, or sesame seeds. It’s the perfect side dish for lunch – pair it with chicken teriyaki or dumplings.
All images sourced from Unsplash and Wix.
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