When it’s time for work and you have to rush, preparing something delicious and wholesome for lunch can be difficult. Again, eating out all the time cannot be a solution, so you’ll have to look for recipes that are easy and fill your stomach. From hostel kids to working professionals, instant noodles are a saviour in times of need. Since noodles are such an intrinsic part of many lives, you can spruce them up for lunch too.
By adding finely sliced vegetables, noodles can be made into a wholesome meal. Even meats like chicken can be added to the noodles to make them more filling. Spruced up with a variety of sauces, the noodles are quick to make and perfect for a lunchbox. Here are a few recipes to try.
1. Tofu Basil Veg Noodles
You can’t be eating plain boiled noodles all the time, for sure. The best way to make them appetising is by adding some flavour. This could be in the form of protein like tofu. Tofu is the perfect source of nutrition for vegans. Take some juliennes of carrot, broccoli and baby corn and throw them in too. With the addition of soy sauce, chilli sauce and tomato sauce, the noodles become saucy and tasty. Finally, garnish with peanuts and give your noodles a crunchy edge.
2. Sesame Chicken Noodles
This one is a delicious combination of vegetables and meat. It isn’t too saucy and spicy but light and quick. The noodles are stir-fried in sesame oil and then loaded with vegetables. Carrot juliennes, garlic cloves and green onions are added to the ramen noodles and tossed together. Cooked in a light teriyaki sauce and white wine, the noodles are moist yet non-greasy. The flavour of sesame oil adds to the taste of the noodles.
3. Thai Noodle Salad
A refreshing and tasty treat during summers, a noodle salad is a great option for your lunchbox. This Thai noodle salad is a classic. Made with flat rice noodles, the noodles are quite delicate and soft. To this, the Thai basil adds a strong flavour and aroma. Chopped red onions, bean sprouts and carrots are added to the bowl of boiled noodles and sesame oil is drizzled on top. Loaded with scrambled tofu, the noodle salad is garnished with maple-flavoured cashews.
4. Chilli Garlic Noodles
If you’re bored of a bland lunch, these chilli garlic noodles will up your game. Hot and spicy and full of flavour, the noodles are tossed in a spicy chilli paste. Made with chopped garlic, chilli oil and schezwan sauce, the chilli garlic touch is ready to be added to boiled noodles. Once the noodles are mixed with this sauce, chopped spring onions are sprinkled to finish the dish. Pack in your lunch box and enjoy.
5. Fried Egg Noodles
This recipe is super easy and requires minimum ingredients. All you need are your favourite vegetables and some eggs and noodles and your lunch will be ready in minutes. On one side, you can boil your noodles while the sliced veggies like carrots, capsicum, and onions, all sautéed in another pan. Then, the vegetables are added to the noodles and stir-fried. Eggs are prepared by making a plain omelet. The omelet can then be cut into smaller pieces and topped on the noodles.