Out of all the things I miss from corporate America, there are days when I have to say that I miss our company’s deli the most. It didn’t have particularly good food and I only ate a handful of the menu items, but I loved having a back-up for a lunch. Now that I am working from home, I am on my own for three meals a day. With that in mind, I have decided to start including quick lunch ideas on a regular basis because I imagine I am not the only one who struggles to find a quick, healthy lunch in the middle of a crazy-I-don’t-have-time-to-go-to-bathroom kind of day.

I am going to kick off the series with my current favorite combination. Bottled peanut sauce + steamed broccoli + crispy tofu = a welcome respite from a hectic day. This is a great go-to meal when you don’t have a lot of time but can’t bear the thought of eating another sandwich or salad.

Last Friday was one of those crazy hectic days for me. As you may know, I am working with a Madison institution, Lombardino’s, on writing a cookbook. As part of the project, I am testing all of the recipes. Last Friday was Day 1 of recipe testing. After three trips to the grocery store, a self-taught lesson on Italian pasta (contrary to my popular belief, bucatini does not equal shells), and two recipes started, I was faced with a dirty kitchen and an empty stomach. I didn’t have much time but needed something (other than pasta) to eat.

Tofu and Broccoli Dippers

1/2 block of tofu, pressed and cut into 2 x 1 x 1/2 inch rectangles
1 tablespoon of grape seed oil
1/2 teaspoon of sesame oil
1 bunch of broccoli, cut into bite-sized pieces
2 tablespoons of water
2 tablespoons of bottled peanut sauce

  1. Heat oils in a medium-sized frying pan until the oil runs like water.
  2. Add tofu. Let it cook for 5 minutes.
    This is a great time to run to the bathroom if you have not yet had time to do this. I may know this from experience.
  3. Flip the tofu and as it cooks, put the water and broccoli into a small bowl. Cover the bowl with a small plate and microwave for 2-3 minutes.
  4. Cook tofu for another 5 minutes or until it has reached the desired consistency (I like it crispy!). Put on a small plate.
  5. Drain the broccoli and place on plate with the tofu.
  6. Pour the peanut sauce in a small bowl.
  7. Dip the tofu and broccoli in the peanut sauce and enjoy!
Recipe Review:

Yum. This was a great, light lunch. Crisp tender broccoli, crispy tofu, and spicy peanut sauce. It was a respite in an otherwise crazy day. With the protein from the tofu and the peanut sauce, I had enough energy to finish the recipe testing and clean the kitchen.

What is your favorite go-to lunch?

 

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