We’ve all been there – it’s lunchtime, you’re pressed for time and want to make the most out of your lunch hour, so you nip to Tesco for a meal deal.
Although meal deals are convenient, you can end up spending over £15 per week on your lunches – and that’s just for weekdays.
Salads are a delicious and healthy lunchtime meal, and the best part is that you can prepare a good salad in a matter of minutes. You can also prepare them in advance to take as a packed lunch, allowing you to spend your lunch hour doing whatever you like.
Keep reading for some of the easiest and quickest salad recipes that are perfect for lunchtime.
Caprese Salad
Caprese salad is one of the quickest and easiest salads you can make, making it perfect for a lunch on the go.
This classic Italian salad originates in Capri and uses just a few fresh ingredients. It’s a creamy and refreshing salad that can be enjoyed all year round but is particularly refreshing in the summer months.
To make a delicious Caprese salad, all you’ll need is:
- Fresh and juicy tomatoes
- Creamy mozzarella
- Fresh basil
- Balsamic vinegar
- Olive oil
- Salt and pepper
It’s always best to opt for fresh ingredients for a juicy and refreshing taste. Slice your tomatoes and mozzarella and place them on a plate, alternating them in layers. Then add some fresh basil and place them under some of the tomato pieces. Drizzle olive oil over the salad as well as balsamic vinegar, and grind some salt and pepper on. Caprese salad can pair perfectly with a variety of wines too, which is always a bonus!
Tuna Pasta Salad
One of the tastiest salad recipes has to be the classic tuna pasta salad, combining a selection of delicious chopped vegetables with tuna, pasta, and mayonnaise.
You can include whatever veg you like in this recipe, but here is an example:
- Bell peppers
- Red onion
- Cucumber
- Celery
- Sweetcorn
Firstly, boil some pasta adhering to the instructions on the packet. You can use any pasta you like – but fusilli works especially well. Then, mix a can or two of tuna together with mayonnaise (or Greek yoghurt). Chop up all the veg into small cubes, and mix in with the tuna.
Then, mix everything in with your pasta. This salad is best served cool, so if there is time, leave your pasta to cool before mixing. You can make this in batches and store it in Tupperware in the fridge to last you the week. Add a pinch of salt and pepper and enjoy this quick and easy lunchtime salad!
Couscous Salad
This delicious salad will only take you ten minutes to prepare, and can easily be packed into your lunch box for work or lunch on the go.
To make this delicious couscous salad, you’ll need:
- Couscous
- Red bell pepper
- Half a cucumber
- 2 spring onions
- Cubed feta cheese
- 2 tbsp pine nuts
- 2 tbsp pesto
- 200ml vegetable stock
First of all, add the couscous into a bowl and add the vegetable stock. Cover the bowl and leave to sit for ten minutes until the stock is fully absorbed.
As you’re leaving the couscous to sit, prepare the veg – slicing the pepper, onions, and dicing the cucumber. Add the chopped veg, pesto, and feta to the couscous, and then sprinkle some pine nuts on. Enjoy this delicious and easy to make couscous salad!
Nicoise Salad
A Nicoise salad is one of the classics and a great way to add some protein to your diet. It only takes around 15 minutes to prepare and 10 minutes to cook, and can be prepared the night before, in the morning, or at lunchtime.
The main ingredients of the classic tuna Nicoise salad are:
- 2 eggs
- Can of tuna (drained)
- Green beans
- Romaine lettuce heart
- Cherry tomatoes
- 6 Anchovies
- Low-fat mayonnaise
- 200g of new potato
Firstly, boil the eggs and potato in one pan. Then, after seven minutes, take out the eggs and add some green beans to the pan, boiling for an additional four minutes.
Then, drain the potatoes and beans and pour cool water. Peel the eggs and cut them however you like (usually quarters). Arrange the lettuce leaves into bowls, adding the beans, cut potatoes, tomatoes and egg.
Dry the anchovies (kitchen roll should do the trick), and add to the salad. Then, add tuna flakes to the salad, and drizzle mayonnaise over the salad – and enjoy this quick and easy salad!