Making Lunch

Switch up your working-from-home lunch with our quick and easy ideas. For something more substantial, fill your freezer with batch-cooked portions for a hearty meal in minutes

The ultimate jacket potato

A crisp-skinned, fluffy baked potato is hard to beat for a working-from-home lunch. Our experts share tips for getting the crunchiest skin, and reveal their favourite fillings. Plus 30 instant topping ideas

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Batch-cooked lunches

Spend a Sunday afternoon in the kitchen (glass of wine optional) and fill your freezer with handy lunches ready to heat up

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HEALTHY LUNCH IDEAS

These recipes all come stamped with our Good Health logo, so you know you’re adding a nutrition boost at lunchtime

Tomato, red pepper & sweet potato soup with harissa yogurt

Each bowl of this hearty soup contains two of your five a day. Make a big batch and freeze it in portions for another day

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Vietnamese-style chicken noodle salad

The fragrant dressing adds bags of flavour to this zingy salad which is low in saturated fat and well worth the effort

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Baked pea ‘falafel’ with tomato herb salad

Adding frozen peas to your falafel mix is a great way to bump up the veg and add a lovely sweetness. Serve in pittas with a few green leaves

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Crab on toast with braised leeks

A low fat lunch for two – flavoursome crab is paired with tender baby leeks and a perky sauce of crème fraîche, gherkin and dill

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Sweet potato & spring green hash

Pepped up with fragrant rose harissa, this easy, satisfying lunch is low in saturated fat

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Mushroom & onion pâté on rye

Rich with flavour from dried porcini and fresh chestnut mushrooms, this recipe is simple to make and a great source of fibre

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Satisfying soups

From hearty vegetable to aromatic noodle, a bowl of steaming soup is a fine lunch. Make a batch and freeze for later

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SANDWICHES AND FLATBREADS

Who doesn’t love things on toast or in a wrap? These recipes make a delicious change from your standard cheese and pickle or ham salad sandwich

Ultimate salt beef sandwiches

Mexican bean quesadillas

Scampi po boys with cajun mayonnaise

Blackened salmon wraps with cucumber & yogurt

Teriyaki chicken sandwiches with sesame slaw

Peperonata bruschetta with white anchovies

Chorizo & red pepper ciabatta rolls

Lamb flatbreads with garlic yogurt dressing

SOMETHING DIFFERENT

Got a little more time on your hands? Treat yourself to something a little different. These recipes are ideal for a weekend lunch

Hot smoked salmon tart with lemon & watercress

This looks special but is actually very simple to make. Top crisp puff pastry with a creamy mascarpone sauce and layer over salmon and watercress

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Lamb and harissa sausage rolls

Few things compare with a homemade sausage roll still warm and crisp from the oven. For a twist on the classic, these are flavoured with lamb and aromatic herbs and spices

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Easy home lunches

Food editor Silvana shows you how to make three quick lunches: a chilli cheese toastie, kimchi fried rice and a simple squash soup

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Vietnamese spring rolls

These are delicious with a dipping sauce for a light lunch. You can add all sorts of ingredients to the filling, including tofu, cooked prawns or chicken

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Poke-style prawn and avocado bowls

This traditional Hawaiian way of preparing seafood is all the rage right now. You’ll usually find raw tuna tossed in the soy dressing, but we think prawns work just as well

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image of Poke-style prawn and avocado bowls

QUICK & EASY LUNCH RECIPES

Perfect for busy days, these lovely lunches are ready in 20 minutes or under

Chilli mint halloumi with lentils fennel & lime

Mackerel, bean and beetroot salad

Quick prawn yu fung omelette

Chicken & broad bean caesar

Harissa chickpeas, courgettes, preserved lemon & parsley

Smoked salmon, dill & lemon linguine

Turkish eggs with flatbreads

Grilled Greek pittas

SATISFYING SALADS

Use these recipes more as a guide, swapping out the ingredients you don't have to something similar you do

Poached salmon, watercress, avocado & lime salad

This no-cook lunch is perfect as it is, though you could serve with some boiled new potatoes

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Warm chicken & preserved lemon salad

A warm, tangy salad that features all the sunshine flavours of the Mediterranean

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Roasted sweet potato and goats’ cheese salad

A satisfying vegetarian salad that's lovely served warm

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Chargrilled vegetable & asparagus salad

We've used some speedy shortcuts but you could roast your favourite vegetables and cook your preferred grain

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Potato salad with peas and pecorino

A wonderfully fresh-tasting potato salad with pops of salty cheese and subtly sweet peas

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Chicken with fennel, chicory & orange

Ideal for days when you're craving something light and refreshing

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Waste not...

Salad leaves or celery looking a little sad? Try plunging into ice-cold water for 15-20 minutes, before draining to bring back to life. Later, wilt the last of your salad greens in a little olive oil or butter with garlic to have as a side dish.