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Original poster

What would you make for a quick lunch with a friend?

106 replies

birminghamgirls · 18/07/2026 21:45

I have a friend coming over for lunch next week. I'm not overly used to hosting, so this is a bit out of my comfort zone. What should I make for lunch? It's only the two of us and it'll be a reasonably quick catch up as we both have to go back to work afterwards. I'm not sure a "big" dish like a lasagne is appropriate and I don't want anything too complicated. What would you make in this scenario?

OP posts:
CatamaranViper · 18/07/2026 22:32

One of my favourite quick but substantial lunches is a flatbread topped with hummus, plenty of salad leaves and topped with chicken or halloumi and a drizzle of sweet chilli sauce. You could do a DIY so just put out the hummus, salad, protein and dressing and see what she wants

pizzaHeart · 18/07/2026 22:31

I would buy a mixed salad from M&S, add cherry tomatoes, baby cucumbers, avocado and a pack of cooked prawns (not king size ones), squeeze of lemon, olive oil, some seasonings. Plus nice bread. I would have a choice of non alcoholic beer, herbal teas and black tea.
I know for sure that my friend would like that lunch 🙂

RedRosie · 18/07/2026 22:28

Is probably do an omelette with salad, or a frittata. Maybe courgette fritters and chilli jam (make fritter mixture the night before). And cake or ice cream.

TulipsMakeMeHappy · 18/07/2026 22:27

Spanish omelette and some crusty brown bread!

Whowhatwerewolf · 18/07/2026 22:25

I would do a salad with burrata, cherry tomatoes, basil, avocado and a balsamic vinaigrette and would serve that with a charcuterie board with olive tapenade and sourdough toast.

A quiche and salad would also be good but in that case I'd make the quiche. I wouldn't serve store-bought to a guest nor would I eat it myself (DH does but I don't like it).

bananaapplepears · 18/07/2026 22:25

WeirdyBeardyMarrowBabyLady · 18/07/2026 22:19

I would never ever thank anyone for a quiche. Amazed to see how popular it is.

I'd be the same with cheese. Hate the stuff. Very popular with a lot of people bizarrely.

WilliamsWishWellingtons · 18/07/2026 22:22

Prawn baguette, posh crisps, salad.

thedogisfine · 18/07/2026 22:21

I’d do bruschetta with burrata

WeirdyBeardyMarrowBabyLady · 18/07/2026 22:19

I would never ever thank anyone for a quiche. Amazed to see how popular it is.

Justdontwanttodothisnomore · 18/07/2026 22:19

A few small sandwiches with different fillings such as egg mayo or cheese salad, crisps and a glass of grape juice (Shloer maybe) with ice.

5foot5 · 18/07/2026 22:17

I think I would also go with the simple saladdy bits and a cold platter idea. Maybe some charcuterie, olives, cheese, nice bread, salad.

NuffSaidSam · 18/07/2026 22:17

Mywishistoclimbthe3peaks · 18/07/2026 22:14

Ploughmans fits the summer weather and its easy to chuck everything together on the plate or pre plate in the morning and keep it in the fridge.

Ploughman's the original picky bits lunch of course!

Mywishistoclimbthe3peaks · 18/07/2026 22:14

Ploughmans fits the summer weather and its easy to chuck everything together on the plate or pre plate in the morning and keep it in the fridge.

Ilovemsrachel · 18/07/2026 22:12

Make a quiche? Supermarket ones are crap. Or if that’s too much effort do a frittata! Homemade potato salad, some green leaves, or a Greek salad to go with. Easy!

JanBlues2026 · 18/07/2026 22:08

Hot honey halloumi with salad and flatbread or bagel

Didimum · 18/07/2026 21:58

I find quiche a bit grim, but each to their own.

Chicken skewers with salads bits
Chunky soup with crusty bread and butter
Quesadillas with salsa, tortilla chips and dips
Cheese toasties with tomato soup for dipping
Brunches such as poached eggs, avocado, sourdough, feta and rocket
Charcuterie board
Chicken schnitzel and Cesar salad
Build your own tacos or fajitas

sailawayagain · 18/07/2026 21:53

Quiche and salad is perfect

Shatteredallthetimelately · 18/07/2026 21:53

A small ploughman's lunch.

Thawtfulpanda · 18/07/2026 21:52

I would cancel 😄

MauriceTheMussel · 18/07/2026 21:52

store bought quiche (Waitrose’s Lorraine is banging), then some cherry or heirloom tomatoes with some basil and oil on, maybe make it a caprese salad with avocado

fartotheleftside · 18/07/2026 21:51

I’d do baguette, butter and a couple of cheeses

then a salad (homemade)

then maybe some fancy sausage rolls (bought) or a quiche or something more protein-y

toastofthetown · 18/07/2026 21:50

I’d go to M&S (or make your own) picky bits. Quick, can be healthy for a midweek lunch and she can take the bits she wants which rules out her not liking one meal.

MrsLFii · 18/07/2026 21:50

At the moment, in this hot weather, ‘salady stuff’, so I’d make some sausage rolls, a quiche and potato salad/coleslaw and do it with a lovely colourful salad.

AlexFurbison · 18/07/2026 21:49

Maybe shakshuka with some crusty bread on the side? I’m not a great cook but this is quick and easy and something a bit different.

NuffSaidSam · 18/07/2026 21:49

I know it's Mumsnet's most hated phrase, but I'd go for 'picky bits'.

Easy to cater. Easy to eat. Easy to have as much or as little as she wants. Easy to cater for different tastes.