With the hustle and bustle of the day, lunch can be a hard meal to focus on. However, having an afternoon meal is important to get the required energy and nutrients to keep you going. Without your midday meal, you'll feel fatigued pretty soon, which can severely affect your productivity.
It doesn't matter if you're looking to have a meal at home or take something to the office; you can find some delicious recipes that will surely brighten up your day below:
This flavorful Mediterranean dish is simple and easy to make while being full of nutritional value, providing a quick fix on a busy day.
Ingredients:
- 3 tbsp. red wine vinegar
- 2 tbsp. olive oil
- 2 tsp. confectioners' sugar
- Kosher salt and pepper
- 2 tbsp. capers drained and roughly chopped
- 1 tsp. chopped fresh oregano
- 1 lb. mixed cherry, grape, and Campari tomatoes (halved or cut into wedges)
- 8 oz. Persian cucumbers, cut into ¼-inch. -thick rounds
- 1/2 very small red onion, thinly sliced
- 1/3 c. pitted Kalamata olives, halved
- Feta cheese, cut into small cubes, for serving
Instructions:
In a bowl, add vinegar, oil, sugar, salt, and pepper, and whisk the dressing together. Next, stir in the oregano and capers. Take a serving platter and arrange some tomatoes and cucumbers on it, then scatter the onions and olives on top. Add the previously made dressing on top and serve it with some feta cheese.
Short Ribs can make the most flavorful, tender, soft sauce stew. They do take quite a lot of time, but they're easy to make and very hard to mess up. They can be paired up with so many delicious things, like a short rib ragu or creamy polenta, or served with sides like roasted root vegetables, cauliflower pot gratin, and garlic herb risotto. Try this simple and easy recipe to make mouthwatering short rib ragu:
Ingredients:
- 2 lb bone-in beef short rib, cut into 2-inch (5-cm) pieces
- 3 teaspoons kosher salt, divided, plus more to taste
- 3 teaspoons freshly ground black pepper, divided, plus more to taste
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 cup yellow onion, diced
- 1 shallot, diced
- 1 ½ cups carrot, diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 2 cups port or red wine
- 28 oz crushed tomato, 1 can
- 3 ½ cups beef stock
- 2 bay leaves
- 5 sprigs of fresh thyme
- 2 sprigs fresh rosemary
- 2 lb pappardelle pasta (or 1 batch of homemade pappardelle pasta recipe)
- fresh parsley, finely chopped, for garnish
- freshly grated parmesan cheese, for garnish
Instructions:
Begin by patting the short ribs dry to remove any excess moisture, and generously season them with 2 teaspoons of kosher salt. In a heavy-bottomed pot or Dutch oven, heat olive oil until it simmers on high heat, then sear the short ribs on medium-high heat until they achieve a rich brown color. This searing step enhances the flavor. Set the ribs aside.
In the same pot, cook carrots, celery, and onions with salt and pepper until they brown and soften slightly, releasing their flavors. Add tomato paste and sauté until it darkens and thickens. Deglaze with red wine, simmer for about fifteen minutes to reduce the liquid by half, then introduce crushed tomatoes, beef stock, and a blend of bay leaves, rosemary, and thyme. Add the short ribs with the braising liquid, ensuring they're submerged. Bring to a boil, then let it simmer for 3 ½ to 4 hours, stirring occasionally and skimming excess fat as needed. When the short ribs are tender and easily fall apart, remove bones and herbs, shred the meat, and return it to the pot. Season to taste and simmer for an additional 15 minutes over low heat.
While the ragu simmers, prepare pasta as per package instructions, strain, and add it to the sauce. Finish by garnishing with finely chopped parsley and freshly grated Parmigiano cheese.
A tuna melt is the ultimate classic American sandwich. A hot sandwich with oozing cheese is a feast for the taste buds, and this recipe is one fit for a king.
Ingredients
- 1 5-ounce can of no-salt-added water-packed tuna, drained
- 1 small celery stalk, chopped
- 2 tablespoons chopped jarred roasted red pepper
- 1 scallion, minced
- 3 tablespoons low-fat plain Greek yogurt
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- ¼ teaspoon ground pepper
- 4 teaspoons mayonnaise or softened butter
- 4 slices whole-grain bread
- 2 slices sharp Cheddar cheese
Instructions:
In a bowl, add tuna, scallions, chopped celery, roasted bell peppers, yogurt, mustard, and pepper. Mix them until they are combined. On the slices of bread, spread a layer of mayonnaise or butter on one side. Flip two of the bread slices and add some of the tuna mixed up, add a slice of cheese, and top with another slice of bread with the mayonnaise side up. Heat a skillet on medium-high heat, place the sandwiches in the pan, and cook until they are golden and the cheese has melted.
4. Sheet Pan Indian-Spiced Chicken:
If you enjoy spicy South Asian food, this recipe is quick to whip up and requires minimal effort.
Ingredients
- 1 red onion, sliced
- 5 limes
- 3¼ pounds potatoes, peeled and chopped into 1-inch pieces
- 2 teaspoons cumin seeds
- 2 teaspoons fennel seeds
- 2 teaspoons yellow mustard seeds
- 2 teaspoons nigella seeds
- ½ teaspoon ground turmeric
- 4 garlic cloves, peeled and minced
- 3 teaspoons kosher salt, divided
- 12 skin-on, bone-in chicken thighs
- 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
- Cilantro, for serving
Instructions:
Set the oven to preheat at 425°F. Take a bowl, add the sliced onion, squeeze lime juice over it, and set it aside. Next, on a baking sheet with edges, add potatoes, ground turmeric, cumin seeds, fennel seeds, yellow mustard seeds, nigella seeds, the zest and juice of 2 limes, garlic, and 2 teaspoons of salt. Toss and mix all the ingredients. Next, add the chicken thighs along with ¼ cup of cold water. Toss everything together again. Then, set the chicken on top of the potatoes, skin side up, and drizzle olive oil and salt on top. Place the baking sheet in the oven and roast for about an hour until the chicken is golden brown, the skin is crispy, and the potatoes are tender. Serve it topped with chopped cilantro and pickled onions prepared earlier.
This recipe requires a minimal amount of ingredients and can be quick and easy to whip up to cure your mid-day blues.
Ingredients
- 3 tbsp. Greek yogurt
- 1/2 tsp. grated lemon zest plus
- 1 Tbsp lemon juice Kosher salt and pepper
- 4 large hard-boiled eggs, peeled and roughly chopped
- 1/4 small red onion, finely chopped
- 1 heaping Tbsp capers, chopped
- 1 tbsp. chopped dill
- 4 slices pumpernickel bread, toasted
Instructions:
Whisk the yogurt, lemon zest juice, salt, and pepper together in a bowl. Add the chopped eggs to the mixture and combine. Add the onions, dill, and capers and gently fold them in. Lay your toasted bread and divide the mixture among the slices. You can serve it with additional dill and cracked pepper as per your taste.
The Last Word
Hopefully, these delicious and easy-to-make recipes have inspired you to make something amazing for yourself. With a little preparation and planning, you can easily make your afternoon meal something to look forward to.