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

[birminghamgirls]

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?

Homemade quiche, salad,

Avocado and toast with a side of hallomi cheese

I am very shy of my culinary abilities and always worried I will f-up when I cook, so when non-family members come, I always opt for shop-bought anything. I would buy a tray of sandwiches for lunch and make tea, that is what I would do.

Making sandwiches isn’t exactly cooking!

Sorry, I would not even make them, as I said, I would buy them, but I see what you mean!

Is she 5?

I would just do some nice chicken wraps with sweet potatoes fries. Easy to marinade the chicken the night before and 10min to airfry. Chop some salad stuff and a nice dip. The fries can go in the Airfryer too. Easy done in 15-20 mins and delicious

Exactly, people either don’t know what’s nice food or think the op is 5!

I'd probably offer humous, flatbreads, salad, olives, crisps. Maybe cheese and sourdough crackers in case they don't like humous. The kind of things you can put back in the fridge and have for lunch later in the week if they don't get eaten.

Or quiche and salad, maybe berries for dessert.

But it's a quick catch up when they both have to get back to work, so waiting 20 mins for the airfryer would eat into their time. On hot days, I'd definitely keep it very simple. Bag of mixed salad leves in a bowl with some mixed baby tomatoes and a dressing on the side if wanted, good bread, good cheese, good crisps, good olives, berries for desssert. And some nice soft drinks. All take seconds to put out, so you can focus on catching up.

But you’re not doing anything in the 20min so why can’t you catch up in that time? It’s all going in the Airfryer? Assemble in 2 mins? Hardly affects the catching up time.

I am more confused by the people who are so fussy and miffed at the idea of something "they wouldn't like". So what? They are not 5 either, unless it's a genuine food allergy or real food intolerance, just eat it anyway with a smile?

It's not even lack of resilience at this stage, it's being so ridiculously fussy and precious😂Some things you like more than others, so what?

I’d make a savoury galette and a salad or two. New potatoes if you think you need more heft.

You do realise adults eat jacket potatoes too?

Most of these suggestions sound awful to me, but then I can't stand quiche or "salady stuff", lol.

Last time i did lunch for someone else I bought M&S sandwiches and a big bag of crisps to share. How about cheese and biscuits, its quick and you can self serve, so eat as much or as little as you want.

Had this recently.

home made potato salad with new potatoes. Add hot smoked salmon on top.

green bean and pea salad from Ottolenghi with roast hazelnuts.

both can be fully prepared in the morning and go in the fridge. Then just take them out at lunch time. No time wasted on food prep when your friend is there.

Shove a quiche in the oven and eat with some baby potatoes and salad.

I find most of these posts a bit confusing 😂(lighthearted!)

nothing wrong with "chicken wraps" for example but that's the staple kids meal in most houses and play dates I know, never seen jacket potatoes offered to group of kids? It's always pizza or chicken wraps and tomato/cucumber stick and carrot sticks.

Again nothing wrong with the food, but who offers jacket potato at kids gathering? 😂

I always think Caesar salad is a relatively simple crowd pleaser. You can make all the ingredients ahead and just whack it together when she’s there.

If you can pop out I’d get a hot rotisserie chicken, fresh french baguette and nice salad bits, plus some dressing or mayo and good quality butter. Assuming not veggie of course. I find it a real winner for a quick lunch and puts people at ease as you can say “oh it was no effort” whereas if you roast your own etc people stress about the time you’ve put in. Nice cold soft drink (luscombe is great) and some fresh fruit skewers for pudding.

That's a bit much for lunch for me.

Hot honey halloumi flatbreads with a salad

stuffed pitta and fruit salad

Urgh same, congealed set wobbly egg gives me the absolute heebie jeebies 😂
a very very slim slice of a home made quiche I could force down but otherwise it’s a definite no thanks!

Greek salad , flat breads and humous plus either some grilled halloumi or lamb koftas

or a Caprese salad with bread.

Smoked salmon and cream cheese bagels are a regular offering at my house when people come for lunch.

The idea was to pick one.