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    Lunch ideas

    Lunch can be a little hard to define, and can be different in different places - sometimes it's the main meal of the day, other times it's something small. It might be grab and go. If you're looking for a full meal, you might want to see my main dishes instead, but for more "classic" lunch inspiration, try some of the following.

    Popular soup recipes

    Soup makes a great lunch, especially during the colder months. Some are lighter and might need something else alongside, others are heartier meals in a bowl. Here are some reader favorites to try.

    • bowl of pea and mint soup
      Pea and mint soup
    • bowl of shrimp bisque
      Shrimp bisque
    • two bowls of broccoli and stilton soup
      Broccoli and stilton soup
    • bowl of German pancake soup from overhead
      German pancake soup (Flädlesuppe)

    Meal salads

    Som salads are very much to go on the side, but others can be a meal in themselves! Try some favorites that are packed with flavor, variety and need very little, if anything, to go with them.

    • bowl with butternut squash farro salad
      Butternut squash farro salad with apple
    • bowl of grilled chicken blueberry salad from overhead
      Grilled chicken and blueberry salad
    • Gado gado (Indonesian salad with peanut sauce) in bowl.
      Gado gado (Indonesian salad with peanut sauce)
    • plate of salade Nicoise with second plate of salad behind
      Classic Salade Niçoise

    Sandwiches and pies

    Sandwiches and savory pies can be a great option for lunch since they're often quick and/or packable. Try some favorites from around the world that are worth getting to know.

    • two halves of a braaibroodjie, S African grilled cheese close up.
      Braaibroodjie - South African grilled cheese sandwich
    • overhead view of Danish open sandwiches smorrebrod
      Smørrebrød (Danish open sandwiches)
    • slice of empanada gallega sitting on top of more of pie.
      Empanada gallega (Galician pie)
    • close view of Cornish pasty in half with one half on top of other on kitchen towel.
      Cornish pasty recipe

    Get some more lunch inspiration:

    • close view of bowl of mushroom carrot and sweet potato soup with spoon under bowl.
      Mushroom, carrot and sweet potato soup
    • plate of tacu tacu, topped with egg, plantain on side, with small dish of salsa criolla behind
      Tacu tacu (Peruvian rice and bean cake)
    • close view of bowl of beet persimmon salad drizzled with goat cheese dressing from overhead.
      Beet persimmon salad with goat cheese dressing
    • side view of bowl of butternut squash wild rice salad.
      Butternut squash wild rice salad
    • bowl of butternut squash apple soup from overhead.
      Butternut squash and apple soup
    • overhead view of a plate of roasted beet and butternut squash salad.
      Roasted beet and butternut squash salad
    • bowl of crab and corn chowder from overhead with spoon below bowl.
      Crab and corn chowder
    • bowl of caprese quinoa salad from overhead.
      Caprese quinoa salad
    • overhead view of salmon poke bowl
      Salmon poke bowl
    • plate of nam tok waterfall beef salad with herbs to front of plate.
      Neua nam tok, Thai waterfall beef salad
    • close up view of choripan, Argentine chorizo sandwich with salsa on top of chorizo.
      Choripán (Argentinian chorizo sandwich)
    • side close up view of plate of halloumi and watermelon salad.
      Halloumi and watermelon salad
    • close overhead view of smoked salmon pizza.
      Smoked salmon pizza
    • leftover steak and quinoa bowl from overhead.
      Steak quinoa bowl
    • close up of chupe de camarones, Peruvian shrimp chowder showing shrimp and corn on top.
      Chupe de camarones (Peruvian shrimp chowder)
    • side close up view of bowl of avgolemono soup.
      Avgolemono soup (Greek lemon chicken soup)
    • close up of bowl of chirashi sushi from overhead.
      Chirashi sushi (scattered sushi)
    • bowl of ezogelin soup Turkish lentil bulgur soup from overhead.
      Ezogelin soup, Turkish lentil and bulgur soup
    • bowl of halloumi pomegranate salad with fork below bowl and cloth under.
      Halloumi pomegranate salad
    • overhead view of bowl of butternut squash quinoa salad.
      Roasted butternut squash quinoa salad
    • bowl of German potato soup, kartoffelsuppe, with spoon below bowl.
      German potato soup (Kartoffelsuppe)
    • dish of endives au jambon (Belgian endive gratin) viewed from overhead.
      Endives au jambon (Belgian endive gratin with ham)
    • two slices of avocado tartine with golden beet with lemon in background behind plate.
      Avocado tartine with golden beet
    • bowl of Tuscan white bean and tuna salad with spoon in it at back.
      Tuscan white bean and tuna salad
    • caramelized onion and goat cheese tart on small plate.
      Caramelized onion and goat cheese tart
    • half of prosciutto and goat cheese croissant sandwich resting behind other half on white plate.
      Prosciutto and goat cheese croissant sandwich
    • bowl of chorba frik from overhead.
      Chorba frik (Algerian lamb and freekeh soup)
    • stach of chashu chahan, Japanese fried rice, showing pieces of chashu, egg and peas amongst rice.
      Chashu chahan (Japanese fried rice with pork belly)
    • plate of yee sang prosperity toss salad.
      Yee sang (prosperity toss salad)
    • bowl of chestnut soup
      French chestnut soup
    • close view of Jerusalem artichoke soup topped with pangrattato toasted crumbs
      Jerusalem artichoke soup (sunchoke soup)
    • overhead view of bowl of tom kha gai Thai coconut soup
      Tom kha gai (Thai coconut soup)
    • part view of bowl with apple kale salad
      Apple kale salad
    • side view of plate of pork larb
      Pork larb
    • close up view of palta rellena, tuna stuffed avocado
      Tuna stuffed avocado (palta rellena de atun)
    • side view of plate of strawberry asparagus salad with fork in front
      Strawberry asparagus salad
    • bowl of nam khao Lao crispy rice salad
      Nam khao (Lao crispy rice salad)
    • bowl of minestrone primavera with part of second bowl, vegetables and parmesan block around it
      Minestrone primavera
    • whole imeruli khachapuri on plate
      Imeruli khachapuri (Georgian cheese filled bread)
    • bowl of lablabi chickpea stew with spoon to side, lemon in corner
      Lablabi - Tunisian chickpea soup/stew

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    Caroline's Cooking

    Welcome! I'm Caroline and this is where I share recipes inspired by travels, places I want to go, or just ideas from feeding the family. Most recipes are easy to make and healthier, but there are treats too!

    Read more →

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