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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:

    • Butternut squash and apple soup
    • Roasted beet and butternut squash salad
    • Crab and corn chowder
    • Caprese quinoa salad
    • Salmon poke bowl
    • Neua nam tok, Thai waterfall beef salad
    • Choripán (Argentinian chorizo sandwich)
    • Halloumi and watermelon salad
    • Smoked salmon pizza
    • Steak quinoa bowl
    • Chupe de camarones (Peruvian shrimp chowder)
    • Avgolemono soup (Greek lemon chicken soup)
    • Chirashi sushi (scattered sushi)
    • Ezogelin soup, Turkish lentil and bulgur soup
    • Halloumi pomegranate salad
    • Roasted butternut squash quinoa salad
    • German potato soup (Kartoffelsuppe)
    • Endives au jambon (Belgian endive gratin with ham)
    • Avocado tartine with golden beet
    • Tuscan white bean and tuna salad
    • Caramelized onion and goat cheese tart
    • Prosciutto and goat cheese croissant sandwich
    • Chorba frik (Algerian lamb and freekeh soup)
    • Chashu chahan (Japanese fried rice with pork belly)
    • Yee sang (prosperity toss salad)
    • French chestnut soup
    • Jerusalem artichoke soup (sunchoke soup)
    • Tom kha gai (Thai coconut soup)
    • Apple kale salad
    • Pork larb
    • Tuna stuffed avocado (palta rellena de atun)
    • Strawberry asparagus salad
    • Nam khao (Lao crispy rice salad)
    • Minestrone primavera
    • Imeruli khachapuri (Georgian cheese filled bread)
    • Lablabi - Tunisian chickpea soup/stew
    • Cullen skink (smoked haddock chowder)
    • Raw beet quinoa salad
    • San choy bow - Chinese lettuce wraps
    • Tom yum soup

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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!

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