Lunch
2771 recipes found
Tuna Pasta Salad
A pasta for tuna salad lovers, this recipe combines elements of a classic deli-style tuna salad with pasta, peas and fresh green herbs. It makes for a hearty picnic side dish or lunch, and keeps well in the refrigerator for several days, making it ideal for start-of-the-week meal prep. Chopped celery and red onion add crunch and color, and the tangy Greek yogurt dressing, flavored with lemon juice, mustard and garlic, comes together right in the serving bowl. Any small pasta shape works well here; just be sure to run the cooked pasta under cold water to cool it down before tossing with the dressing.
Asparagus Gomaae With Chilled Tofu
The classic Japanese side dish gomaae typically features blanched spinach coated in a sesame dressing, but here, the nutty sauce pairs beautifully with earthy asparagus. The asparagus is seared just briefly to unlock its buttery sweetness and juiciness; make sure the pan is hot when the asparagus makes contact to ensure the outside chars, even with a short cook time. The asparagus goma-ae is served atop chilled tofu, which serves as a creamy, refreshing backdrop for the bold umami of the sesame sauce. Eat this as a light meal, or partner it with rice or noodles.
Dill Pesto Pasta With Tuna
Tuna noodle casserole went on vacation to Italy and returned as this fresh weeknight pasta. The traditional egg noodles are swapped for chewy gemelli, with ridges that capture all the bright dill pesto that replaces the classic creamy sauce. Cubes of celery bring crunch, peas impart sweetness and the tuna positively melts into the pasta, giving it deep savoriness. Cheesy, buttery and spiked with smoked paprika, the crumbled cracker topping may be the true star of this recipe — and it’s equally delicious dusted on top of other pastas, braises and salads.
Chickpea Fatteh (Crispy Pita, Chickpeas and Yogurt)
Every family has its own way of making chickpea fatteh, but the layers of toasted pita, chickpeas and yogurt sauce always deliver a contrast of creamy and crunchy, warm and cool, sharp and earthy. This version, adapted from Sawsan Daana, the Palestinian chef of Matbakhi restaurant in Kuwait City, includes a layer of hummus in addition to the whole chickpeas, as is typical in Amman as well as Jerusalem, where she was born. Lebanese and Syrian versions skip the hummus and lean more heavily on tahini in the yogurt sauce (see Tip). Whichever route you take, this impressive dish is far easier to pull off than it looks, since the steps are straightforward and many ingredients repeat. If you like, you can prep everything but the toppings one or two days in advance and assemble when ready to serve.
Eggplant Fatteh (Crispy Pita, Eggplant and Yogurt)
There’s no single way to make eggplant fatteh, a layered dish of crispy pita, tender eggplant and yogurt-tahini sauce that is beloved across the Levant. In this version, adapted from Salam Dakkak, the chef of Bait Maryam restaurant in Dubai, the eggplant is roasted instead of deep fried, a perfectly tasty compromise that requires less cleanup. The contrast of temperatures and textures — crunchy, creamy, hot and cool — makes the dish unforgettable. Fatteh is best served immediately, so the pita chips stay crisp. To make this easier, all components can be prepared ahead, with the eggplant roasted last (or simply reheated) and the dish assembled just before serving.
Kale, Couscous and Tofu Salad With Carrot-Ginger Dressing
This satisfying no-cook salad demonstrates that taking cooking shortcuts need not come with any compromise when it comes to taste. Shortcut number one: You can skip massaging the kale; tearing it vigorously softens the leaves sufficiently. Shortcut number two: Save time with store-bought baked tofu, as it has been pre-cooked, which results in a firmer texture that stands up well in salads. And, lastly, shortcut three: Rather than actively monitoring couscous on the stovetop, you can simply season it and rehydrate in boiling water (or even hot vegetable stock, for even more flavor). The punchy, golden-hued carrot and ginger dressing takes cues from the simple salads served at Japanese American restaurants. This version adds miso, which softens the heat of the ginger.
Lemon-Pepper Chicken Breasts
This beginner-friendly chicken recipe uses both store-bought lemon-pepper seasoning and fresh lemon for fast weeknight flavor. The lemon pepper does much of the work here, adding acidity, salt and mild heat to the chicken, while the fresh lemon juice adds the perfect hit of brightness to the buttery, garlicky pan sauce. Serve the chicken right out of the skillet, or transfer the breasts to a plate and drizzle every last drop of the butter-lemon sauce on top. Serve with rice and a simple green vegetable, such as roasted broccoli or sautéed green beans.
Panzerotti (Fried Tomato and Mozzarella Pockets)
Panzerotti, a fried variety of Italian street food, are often mistaken for small calzone. The name comes from the Neapolitan word “panza,” which derives from the Italian word for “belly” because their shape resembles a rounded stomach. While they are commonly filled with a simple and satisfying mixture of sweet tomato purée and melted mozzarella, you can also use cooked sausage, ham, bacon or anchovies. Remarkably crispy on the outside and soft and pillowy on the inside, panzerotti are best served freshly fried and still warm, ideally with a side of marinara for dunking.
Berbere Meatballs
These meatballs, enhanced with both Parmesan and berbere seasoning, the fenugreek-and-chile-laced spice mix at the heart of Ethiopian and Eritrean cuisines, are neither Italian nor Ethiopian, but indisputably delicious. The addition of fresh cilantro offers a unique taste that pairs well with the heat of the berbere and the umami of the Parmesan. These meatballs freeze very well, to be baked off whenever the craving hits, or they can be enjoyed right away, paired with rice and salad or vegetables.
Loose Meat Sandwich
The sandwich of choice around Sioux City, Iowa is the loose meat sandwich — think Sloppy Joes without the tomato-based sauce. Here, ground beef and onions are cooked into intensely flavorful crumbles with a few seasonings, then piled high on a hamburger bun with dill pickles and yellow mustard. Sometimes known as a Maid-Rite (named after the restaurant chain that popularized it), a “tavern” or a “canteen,” this is the nostalgic sandwich of a million Iowan childhoods. The recipe easily satisfies a crowd: Just make a double batch of the beef filling, then scoop onto buns until you run out.
French Lentil Salad
Bright with flavor, dynamic and crisp with a combination of roots and chicory, and fresh with major herb appeal, this is a hearty, friendly, anytime salad that will work well with any grocery or farmers’ market haul. It can easily become a staple in your home: You can make it on Sunday and eat it throughout the week, its flavors changing as it marinates. Because of this, it’s also a salad you can adjust as days go by, adding more lemon here and there, maybe some cheese to change up its flavors after a day or two. Sturdy enough to stand alone as a light meal in and of itself, this lentil salad also makes a fantastic side served with roasted chicken or fish. This is one special and easygoing recipe to have on hand for all occasions.
Tostadas de Tinga de Pollo (Shredded Chicken and Salsa Tostadas)
Rotisserie chicken can be a secret weapon when you’re busy. If you have a flavorful salsa on hand, just pull the meat and warm it in the salsa to make a quick tinga. A typical tinga has a guajillo salsa, but don’t let that limit you. A salsa verde, or any chipotle salsa, would be wonderful, and if you use aguacate ahumado salsa, it will create a rich, creamy sauce for the shredded chicken. Homemade bacon-y refried beans offer a comforting contrast.
Avgolemono Chicken Soup With Gnocchi
This no-fuss, one-pot recipe is inspired by avgolemono soup, a traditional Greek rice soup that is prized for its silky texture and bright flavor, thanks to egg yolks and an invigorating dose of lemon. This soup achieves similar results while replacing the rice with store-bought gnocchi for a heartier take and a texture boost. The approach is simple: Simmer rotisserie chicken with stock, lemon zest and gnocchi, then thicken the soup with egg yolks and lemon juice. To prevent the eggs from curdling in the soup, you’ll want to first temper them by whisking some of the warm stock into the egg yolks before stirring the mixture back into the soup. Finish everything with torn fresh dill, lemon zest and black pepper for the perfect spoonful.
Spicy Miso Lentil Soup
This soup is simultaneously comforting, fresh and nasal-clearing — as good for sick days as for those crisp days of spring. The key is a spicy bright-green slurry made by blending a bunch of raw spinach, miso, lime juice, fresh chiles and ginger. Because it’s poured into the soup pot of tender lentils and rice right at the end, its color and flavor stays vibrant. For pops of savory nuttiness, top your bowls with slivers of shiitake mushrooms that have been browned in sesame oil. They make this soup especially satisfying, but you could also top bowls with stir-fried or roasted vegetables like asparagus and winter squash.
Chickpea Noodle Soup
With a golden broth, creamy chickpeas and bouncy angel hair noodles, this quick vegan soup will remind you of chicken noodle soup. To create a savory broth, sizzle carrots, celery and onion with nutritional yeast, turmeric and herbs in oil. A generous amount of oil adds silkiness to the broth and helps carry the flavor of the aromatics, while nutritional yeast gives the broth the soul-satisfying properties of chicken bouillon. While you can use broken pieces of any long noodle, angel hair is especially wonderful; delicate, soft and highly slurpable, they mimic the fine egg noodles found in many delis’ chicken noodle soup.
Mini Kabob’s Chicken Lule Cutlets
Juicy, buttery and well-seasoned, the ground-chicken lule cutlets that the Armenian American chef Armen Martirosyan serves at Mini Kabob in Glendale, California are comforting, savory and incredibly versatile. After culinary school, Mr. Martirosyan learned to make chicken lule from his father at his family’s 290-square-foot restaurant. The chicken mixture is simple, with just five ingredients; fragrant white pepper adds an earthy, grassy flavor and the generous amount of onion helps the patties stay moist and light. Sometimes Mr. Martirosyan grills the lule kebab on wide metal skewers, but here they’re hand-formed into patties and seared in butter until golden brown and tender. Serve them with roasted tomatoes, hummus, rice or parsley and sumac-marinated onions.
Hangover Kimchi Soup
Garlicky, gingery and full of bright flavors, this panacea will heal you from within. The amount of spice is up to you, but know that a little red chile lends immeasurable flavor in addition to heat. If your ginger root is especially young and tender, consider peeling then cutting it into fine 1-inch matchsticks to eat in the soup for an even deeper, punchier warmth. White beans offer protein in this brothy meal, which becomes even heartier with the addition of white rice or noodles. (You can also sop it up with a slice of cornbread.) Reheat this nourishing soup throughout the week, adding more broth and various crisper-drawer vegetables you need to use up, like cabbage, kale, arugula, watercress and bean sprouts. Quick-cooking proteins like shrimp and tofu taste great in place of the beans, too.
Chickpea Picadillo
This plant-based take on a Mexican picadillo trades the traditional ground meat for a deeply savory mix of mushrooms, tofu and chickpeas, simmered with tangy tomatillos, poblano and scallions until everything melds into a rich, comforting hash. A box grater gives the tofu a ground meat-like texture that crisps beautifully in the pan, while the tomatillos add a tart freshness that keeps each bite lively and light. This weeknight-friendly dish is flavorful and deeply satisfying — especially when served alongside rice and beans or made into tacos or burritos. Make a double batch and freeze the leftovers: This is the kind of comfort food whose flavor gets better with time.
Vegetarian Pad Thai
When dining out or ordering in, a vegetarian pad Thai can be hard to come by, as fish sauce is often used to attain the signature salty, savory flavors of this popular dish. While the complex umami of fish sauce can be difficult to replicate, this combination of lime juice, soy sauce, maple syrup, miso and tamarind creates a comparable sauce that effectively delivers pad Thai’s balance of sour, sweet and salty notes. The seasoning sauce keeps well, too, so it can be made ahead and stored in the fridge for up to 3 days. Soaking the noodles in boiling water softens them quickly, just enough to make them pliable enough to stir-fry without overcooking and breaking apart. The broccoli and snow peas, sugar snap peas or green beans can easily be replaced with whatever vegetables you have on hand. To make this dish vegan, simply omit the eggs.
Ginger-Scallion Stir-Fried Shrimp
Supremely quick and easy, this is a delightful anytime recipe that enhances the flavor of shrimp with three dynamic ingredients: garlic, ginger and scallions. The shrimp gets coated with cornstarch before cooking, which keeps the shrimp tender and adds body to the pan sauce. Whipped together with little more than tomato paste and water, the pan sauce soaks up the flavors of the scallions, ginger and garlic. This dish is best enjoyed with rice or noodles.
Miso Rice Cakes With Spinach and Peas
Tteok (oval rice cakes) partner up with spring’s abundance of greens to produce an easy, lightning-fast weeknight dinner. The firm, precooked rice cakes often found in soups and stews become amazingly absorbent after a quick soak, drinking in the surrounding miso sauce, becoming glossy and rich with umami. Spring offers ample opportunity for substitutions: Fragrant green garlic can swap in for the usual garlic cloves, magenta spring onions for red onions, fresh peas instead of frozen, and twirly pea shoots for baby spinach. This dish welcomes scallions, chives, parsley or any tender herbs that may need to be used up. Quick-cooking or already-cooked proteins such as shrimp, white beans or tofu are happily accommodated here, if a protein boost is desired to top off this very vegetable-forward vegan meal.
One-Pot Sesame Salmon and Quinoa
This vibrant and satisfying one-pot meal pairs quick-cooking quinoa with rich, silky salmon. Broccoli and garlic are softened in olive oil to create a flavorful vegetable base for the quinoa, which steams in the pot until al dente. Cubed salmon is added during the last 10 minutes of cooking to ensure juicy, tender and flaky fish. The punchy dressing combines just three ingredients — ponzu (a pantry flavor bomb), tahini and lemon juice — yet creates a rich and tangy sauce that can be doubled to use later in the week on roasted chicken or leafy green salads.
Lemony Turmeric Potato Soup
This humble, bright yellow soup hails from Stone Town, Zanzibar, and is a popular street food known as Zanzibari Mix or Urojo. It’s affordable, filling, and reflective of the island's cross-cultural history. Traditionally served with various accompaniments like lentil fritters, cassava chips, chutneys, and sometimes hard-boiled eggs for protein, this dish has become synonymous with the island. This version features a classic interpretation of the simple soup base but relies on ultra-crispy, spicy jalapeno-flavored kettle-cooked potato chips for the crunch and heat usually provided by the toppings. Don’t be fooled by the modest ingredient list; this soup packs a punch.
Grilled Asparagus With Burrata and Furikake
There’s something truly special about this combination of charred asparagus and scallions, milky burrata and crunchy furikake, a Japanese condiment of seaweed, sesame seeds and fish flakes. Maybe it’s the umami of the naturally savory asparagus, which intensifies on the grill; or the nubbly seeds blanketing the soft cheese; or the ingredients so redolent of land and sea. It’s probably best to not overthink it, and just dig in. Serve it alongside lentils, grains or grilled chicken, seafood or mushrooms for a full meal.