searching for a cheap lunch

[to_love_a_rose]

I'm trying to bring my lunch to work every day, to save money. I'm looking for recipe ideas that

a) can be served cold since I don't have access to a way to heat up my food.
b) don't have processed meats in them. (Ideas for how to use left over chicken, pork, etc. would be great, but I don't eat commercial lunch meat.)
c) are quick to prepare.
d) have veggies in them.
e) can be transported easily. (I take public transit to work, so things that pack light and small are important.)

I like healthy foods, and love tofu, and I try to avoid processed foods when I can.

Ideas? As a thank you, I offer up one idea that I came up with the other day.



Ingredients:
- large tortillas
- hummus
- assorted veggies (lettuce, shredded carrots, diced tomatoes, shredded cabbage, cucumber slices, bean sprouts, etc.)

Toss the tortilla onto a large cast iron skillet or microwave it for about 10 seconds to soften it up. Spread some hummus onto the wrap. Add your veggies. Wrap it up. Enjoy.

Comments

[pennyplainknits]

How about Sesame Peanut Noodles, from Nigella Express? This makes 8 servings, but you can reduce as needed.

125g mangetout
150g beansprouts
1 red pepper, cut into strips
2 spring onions, sliced
550g cooked egg noodles

For the dressing
15ml (1 tbsp) sesame oil
15ml garlic-infused oil
15ml soy sauce
30ml sweet chilli sauce
100g peanut butter
30ml lime juice.

Whisk together the dressing and pour it over the veggies and noodles, using your hands to combine. Scatter with sesame seeds and chopped coriander


You say you can't heat things up, but could you invest in a vacuum flask? You could heat up soup at home and it might be nice for winter.

[tapas]

I was going to suggest something similar to this with soba noodles, tofu, shredded carrot, and diced cucumber. It keeps well and is good cold or room temp.

I also make a lima bean casserole that's good at room temp. A pound of frozen lima beans (no need to thaw), 1 biggish or 2 smallish red potatoes (halved or quartered and thinly sliced), 6 cloves garlic (peeled and halved or quartered if they're big), 1/2 C sliced green olives, 3 Tbsp olive oil, 1 tsp dried sage, 1 tsp dried savory (or thyme), salt and pepper to taste. Coat baking dish with half of the olive oil, combine everything in dish, cover tightly, bake at 375 for 50 minutes or until potatoes are done. Add more olive oil if it seems dry. (Adapted from Mollie Katzen's Vegetable Heaven.)