With busy work schedules and shuttling between home and the workplace, finding time to make elaborate meals can be extremely difficult to manage. Therefore, having a string of recipe ideas that use minimal yet interchangeable ingredients, are quick to throw together and take up very little time on the stove, are of great use. While there is nothing wrong with the usual roti-sabzi meal that is typically packed for a working lunch to enjoy from the office, adding some variety also lets you look forward to your meals more than before.
Thai Prawn Noodles
Image Credits: School Of Wok
Made with rice noodles that are simply soaked in hot water for a few minutes, these spicy and pungent Thai-style noodles need no more than a couple of tablespoons of fiery Thai curry paste and the usual suspects of soy sauce, fish sauce and a pinch of sugar to balance flavour. Add vegetables like sugar snap peas, broccoli, sliced carrots and bell peppers, before adding some juicy shrimp and tossing everything well. These prawn noodles also taste pretty brilliant when cold, making it the perfect lunchbox recipe.
Egg Parathas
Image Credits: Anto's Kitchen
Making these egg parathas is as simple and quick as making a breakfast of toast and eggs. Knead the dough one night before and refrigerate it, before rolling out into discs the next morning and pouring some whisked egg on top. Flavour the eggs with onions, green chillies and coriander for a masala omelette flavour and add some hot sauce in the middle before rolling it up and cutting into pieces. Egg parathas also keep well for a long time and manage to make for a filling meal to have while working.
Mushroom-Potato Curry
A simple vegetarian preparation, this easy curry is perfect to spoon over rice or eat with pao. Made with simple ingredients and basic spices like turmeric, red chilli powder and garam masala, this deliciously creamy potato curry has a touch of coconut milk to thicken the sauce as well as add some extra flavour. Since mushrooms and potatoes are pretty simple to cook, the curry is ready to eat in 20-25 minutes.
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One-Pot Chicken Pulao
Image Credits: My Heart Beets
What takes longer than actually cooking a meal is the clearing up after. Cut down on the time spent washing dishes by simply sticking together some whole spices, aromatics like onions and garlic, along with bone-in chicken pieces and fragrant basmati rice into a pressure cooker and let it cook for a couple of whistles, first in the juices of the chicken and then in some water that can be added halfway. Pair the chicken pulao with some yoghurt or dal on the side, for a complete, protein-loaded meal.
Pasta Salad
Image Credits: Inspired Taste
Perhaps the only recipe that screams meal-prep from start to finish, every element of the pasta salad can be prepped, cooked and chopped beforehand and assembled in your lunchbox. When ready to eat the salad, simply shake a dressing made with olive oil, lemon juice, honey, salt and pepper and pour onto the salad and mix well. Depending on your dietary needs, swap the vegetables for meat or fish, if necessary or make it gluten-free with a pasta option that fits the bill. You could also add some cheese, if you need a little extra treat in your salad lunchbox.
Tofu Scramble
Image Credits: A Plantiful Path
With its vegan breakfast energy, a tofu scramble is practically the most versatile recipe that can be adapted to suit your respective tastes. Go for this plant-based option as a meal for at least one of the working days and douse it in plenty of hot sauce, chopped avocado, feta cheese, chopped cilantro and enjoy with crusty, toasted bread. Alternatively, stuff the scramble into warm tortillas and top off with salsa, for a makeshift taco experience at lunch.