Lunch to Go: this five-minute noodle salad is my go-to office food 

Plus an easy Irish-made protein shake to keep you full on days when life doesn't allow leisurely break time

Easy noodle salad dressed up with pre-chopped veg and a spicy salad. Anjali Vishwakarma/Pexels

When I am considering packed lunches, I need the meal to achieve three goals. It must taste at its best when at room temperature, it must travel well and it must keep me feeling satisfied until home or snack time – whichever comes first. This noodle salad hits all the flavour profiles that I need in a meal – it is sweet, salty, spicy and sour, and when sprinkled with peanuts or pumpkin seeds, gives me just enough energy to get me through to the dreaded 3 pm slump, when I pep myself up with some fruit and a flapjack brought from home. 

Easy Peanut Noodle Salad

Quick, easy - and suitable for vegetarians (with honey) and vegans (with maple syrup)

Servings

1

Preparation Time

 10 mins

Cooking Time

 10 mins

Total Time

 20 mins

Course

 Main

Cuisine

 Asian

Ingredients

• 1 nest of rice or egg noodles

• 1 tsp peanut butter (crunchy or smooth, according to your preference)

• Juice of ½ lime

• ¼ tsp sriracha

• ¼ tsp soy sauce

• ¼ tsp maple syrup or honey

• Peanuts or toasted pumpkin seeds (optional)

• ½ bag of shop-bought stir fry vegetables or 1 scallion, finely chopped

Method

1. Cook the noodles according to the packet instructions, drain and refresh immediately in cold water to stop the cooking process.

2. While the noodles are cooking, stir together the peanut butter, lime juice, sriracha, soy sauce and maple syrup or honey. If the sauce is very thick, loosen with a few drops of cold water until it is thin enough to drop off the spoon.

3. Stir the sauce through the noodles and the vegetables, adding peanuts or pumpkin seeds if using.

4. Note: Peanuts or seeds will add protein to this lunch so if you are not using them, consider shredding in some leftover roast chicken or cooked tofu to your salad to keep you sated for longer.

Filthy Rich drinks are full of pea protein and available in Centra and Supervalu

Shelf life 

Loaded with plant protein and available in both cacao and vanilla flavours, the protein and vitamin shakes from Irish brand Filthy Rich are ideal for those of us who need to achieve optimum nutrition in the middle of a busy day. Each shake has 20g of vegan pea protein, 100% of your recommended daily allowance of vitamin C, and 30% of your recommended daily magnesium and calcium, making it the perfect addition to lunch on the go. 

Founder Conor Palmer worked with a team at Teagasc in Cork to develop the products over two years, aimed at those who were finding it difficult to source nutrient-dense products tailored for people who are following a plant-based diet. With a coconut milk base, these are not your average protein shakes – no dusty aftertaste here. 

• €3.30, available from Centra and Supervalu stores nationwide and at getfilthyrich.com