Renewing lunches: The art of variation

Spring often inspires us to renew our daily lives. Why not take advantage of it to breathe a breath of fresh air into our lunches? Transform a simple Asian chicken salad into an Asian chicken wrap the next day, and an Asian chicken bowl after that. All this without having to cook anything again. Or even turn your succulent chicken Caesar salad into a wrap or a chicken Caesar pasta salad. All this without having to consult a recipe book. This daily routine can quickly become monotonous, both for the parent who prepares and for the child who eats. What if the solution lay in the art of variation? By learning to transform a basic ingredient or adapt a culinary concept, we can create a surprising variety of meals, without complicating our planning. A ramen soup can be adapted with different broths and toppings, a sandwich can travel through the cuisines of the world by simply changing its bread and sauce, and a simple bowl can be reinvented endlessly by varying its components. Part 1: One ingredient, a thousand possibilities Bread: more than just a sandwich The traditional sandwich is easily reinvented by simply changing its container. Each type of bread brings its unique texture and can inspire different fillings. Here are the options to explore: Traditional bread Submarine Bread Tortilla Burger bun Hot dog bun Pita Tacos Croissant Bagel The sauce: transform your salads and sandwiches A simple chicken salad, sandwich or pasta salad can travel through the cuisines of the world by changing only its sauce. Each sauce has its ideal accompaniments: Classic Mayonnaise Perfect with celery and apples Ranch Add bacon and corn Pesto Complete with sundried tomatoes and pine nuts Mexican sauce Stir in corn, black beans and avocado Chipotle Serve with grilled peppers and red onions Curry sauce Add apples, raisins and cashews Season with green onions and mango Tzatziki Perfect with grilled vegetables, chicken or falafels Ideal in a wrap or a Mediterranean-style bowl Pairs well with tomatoes, cucumbers and red onions Pizza bases A pizza can take many forms depending on its base. Each one offers a different experience and adapts to different types of toppings: Naan bread Tortilla Pita Bagel Burger bun Ramen Soup Variations Ramen soup is a great example of a versatile dish. By varying the broth and toppings, you can create a completely different taste experience: Broths: Huế (spicy, lemongrass) Chicken (light, ginger) Beef (rich, star anise) Wonton (sesame flavors) Miso (tasty, umami) Tom Yum (hot and sour, lemongrass) Coconut curry (creamy, spicy) Tonkinese (fragrant, star anise, ginger, cinnamon) Tonkotsu (rich, pork) Protein toppings: Pork Beef Shrimp Chicken Meatballs Egg Tofu Bowl bases Choosing a bowl base can completely transform the dining experience. But that’s just the beginning – each component can be customized to create endless combinations. The basics: White or brown rice Quinoa Couscous Pearl couscous Orzo Bulgur Cauliflower rice Rice vermicelli Soba noodles Farro Millet Lentils Spiralized zucchini Rice noodles Udon noodles Proteins: Grilled chicken Marinated Tofu Tuna Salmon Hard-boiled eggs Roasted Chickpeas Tempeh Edamame Marinated beef Shrimp Falafel Lentils Black beans Pulled pork Turkey Vegetables (raw or cooked): Grated carrots Cucumber Peppers But Lawyer Mushrooms Grilled vegetables Spinach Red cabbage Edamame Broccoli Snow peas Green beans Beets Sweet potatoes Zucchini Grilled eggplants Cherry tomatoes Red onions Young shoots Sauces: Soy sauce Asian vinaigrette Tahini sauce Teriyaki sauce Peanut sauce Balsamic vinaigrette Sesame sauce Pesto Ranch dressing Greek Vinaigrette Sriracha mayo sauce Chipotle sauce Curry sauce Lime-cilantro vinaigrette Tzatziki Crunchy toppings: Cashew nuts Slivered almonds Pumpkin seeds Sunflower seeds Pine nuts Croutons Wonton chips Crispy tortillas Fried noodles Crispy Chickpeas Sesame seeds Peanuts Macadamia nuts Crumbled Nori Fresh toppings: Fresh herbs (coriander, basil, mint) Green onions Germs Bamboo shoots Pickled Ginger Kimchi Chutney Pickles Algae Lemon/lime Part 2: One concept, several interpretations The Caesar concept This iconic salad becomes an endless culinary playground. Traditional chicken can be replaced with grilled beef, shrimp or tofu. Croutons can be replaced with popcorn chicken or crispy chickpeas. The concept can even be adapted into: Chicken Caesar Wrap Caesar Pasta Salad Grilled Caesar Sandwich Caesar style pizza Caesar Style Quinoa Bowl The Mediterranean concept Classic Greek flavors (cucumber, tomatoes, olives, feta) adapt wonderfully to different presentations: Mediterranean wrap Bowl of Greek Couscous Mediterranean style pita bread Greek pizza Mediterranean Pasta Salad Asian Concept The flavors of soy and sesame, combined with crunchy vegetables, can be declined in: Traditional stir fry Asian Rice Bowl Spring roll Banh mi style sandwich Asian Noodle Salad The Buffalo Concept The iconic buffalo sauce lends itself to many interpretations: Buffalo Chicken Wrap Buffalo salad Buffalo style pizza Buffalo Quinoa Bowl Buffalo Grilled Sandwich The Mexican concept Tex-Mex flavors adapt to all formats: Traditional tacos Burrito bowl Taco salad Mexican wrap Quesadilla This approach to meal preparation offers several advantages: It allows you to use the same basic ingredients in different ways. It reduces the feeling of repetition in meals It easily adapts to everyone's tastes and preferences. It simplifies planning while providing variety It allows to maximize the use of leftovers by transforming them It encourages creativity and culinary exploration By adopting this method of variations, preparing lunches becomes a creative exercise rather than a repetitive chore. The important thing is to start with a few simple variations and gradually explore new possibilities according to the family's tastes. Don't hesitate to involve the children in choosing the variations - they will be more likely to enjoy their meal if they participated in its design! Need inspiration? Discover all our lunch recipes right here ! 🚀 Find this article and much more in the Octave app : shared calendar, collaborative task list, meal planner, centralization of family information and autonomy monitoring - your number 1 ally for an organized family life! 📱✨

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Renewing lunches: The art of variation

16 March, 2025