Lunch Recipes
Easy lunch ideas including pasta, wraps, toasties and grain-based meals.
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Browse practical lunch recipes with straightforward ingredients and clear cooking steps. Use the ingredient finder when you want to start with what is already in your kitchen.
Creamy Potato Soup
Creamy Potato Soup recipe with potatoes, onion, and garlic. A simple 35-minute lunch with clear, step-by-step instructions.
Egg Fried Rice
Egg Fried Rice recipe with rice, eggs, and peas. A simple 15-minute lunch with clear, step-by-step instructions.
Tuna Tomato Pasta
Tuna Tomato Pasta recipe with pasta, tuna, and tomatoes. A simple 20-minute lunch with clear, step-by-step instructions.
Cheesy Tuna Toasties
Cheesy Tuna Toasties recipe with bread, tuna, and mayonnaise. A simple 15-minute lunch with clear, step-by-step instructions.
Cheesy Bean Quesadillas
Cheesy Bean Quesadillas recipe with tortillas, black beans, and cheese. A simple 15-minute lunch with clear, step-by-step instructions.
Chickpea Salad Wraps
Chickpea Salad Wraps recipe with chickpeas, mayonnaise, and lemon. A simple 15-minute lunch with clear, step-by-step instructions.
Roasted Vegetable Couscous
Roasted Vegetable Couscous recipe with couscous, zucchini, and red pepper. A simple 30-minute lunch with clear, step-by-step instructions.
Pesto Mozzarella Flatbread
Pesto Mozzarella Flatbread recipe with flatbread, pesto, and mozzarella. A simple 15-minute lunch with clear, step-by-step instructions.
Tomato White Bean Soup
Tomato White Bean Soup recipe with white beans, tomatoes, and onion. A simple 30-minute lunch with clear, step-by-step instructions.
Tuna Lemon Couscous
Tuna Lemon Couscous recipe with couscous, tuna, and cucumber. A simple 15-minute lunch with clear, step-by-step instructions.
Butternut Soup
Smooth, lightly spiced butternut soup with a touch of curry and nutmeg. A comforting 40-minute vegetarian lunch for 4.
Red Lentil Tomato Soup
Hearty red lentil and tomato soup with smoked paprika and cumin. A cheap, filling 35-minute vegetarian lunch for 4.
Chicken Avocado Wraps
Fresh chicken avocado wraps with lettuce, tomato and cucumber. A no-cook 15-minute lunch for 4 using leftover chicken.
Greek Pasta Salad
Greek pasta salad with cucumber, tomatoes, olives, red onion and feta in an oregano dressing. A 20-minute vegetarian lunch for 4.
Vetkoek
Fluffy South African vetkoek: golden fried bread rolls to fill with mince, cheese or jam. Makes 12.
Peri-Peri Chicken Livers
Creamy peri-peri chicken livers with garlic and lemon. Serves 4 as a starter or light meal in 25 minutes.
Creamy Potato Salad
Classic creamy potato salad with egg and spring onion. Serves 6 as a side; make ahead for a braai.
Spinach and Feta Quiche
Spinach and feta quiche in crisp shortcrust pastry. Serves 6; about an hour, warm or cold.
Chicken Noodle Soup
Comforting chicken noodle soup with carrots and celery. Serves 6 in 45 minutes.
Split Pea Soup
Thick, warming split pea soup with optional smoked ham. Serves 6; about 1½ hours.
Minestrone Soup
Hearty Italian minestrone with vegetables, beans and pasta. Serves 6 in 45 minutes.
Roosterkoek
South African roosterkoek: braai bread rolls cooked over the coals. Makes 12; about 90 minutes including rising.
Mealie Bread
Moist South African mealie bread with creamed sweetcorn. No yeast; makes 1 loaf in an hour.
Braaibroodjies
Classic South African braaibroodjies: cheese, tomato, onion and chutney toasted sandwiches grilled over the coals. Makes 6.
Vegetable Samoosas
Crispy vegetable samoosas filled with spiced potato and peas, folded in pur pastry or spring roll sheets. Makes about 24.
Beetroot Salad
South African beetroot salad with onion in a sweet-sour vinegar dressing, the classic braai side. Serves 6.
Boerewors Rolls with Tomato Smoor
Braaied boerewors in soft rolls with a quick tomato-and-onion smoor. A South African braai classic. Makes 6.
Chicken Mayo Sandwiches
Creamy chicken mayo sandwiches with leftover or poached chicken, celery and spring onion. Makes 4.
Sousboontjies (Sweet and Sour Beans)
Sousboontjies: dried sugar beans soaked overnight (soaking not included in the time), cooked soft and finished in a sweet-sour sauce. A cheap South African side for braais and Sunday lunch. Serves 8.
Dombolo (Steamed Bread)
Dombolo, or ujeqe: soft South African steamed bread cooked in a bowl inside a pot of simmering water, or as dumplings on a stew. Includes an hour of rising. Makes 1 loaf.
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