The Mason jar is just the coolest bit of tupperware you can buy. Yes, that was the words 'cool', and 'tupperware' in the same sentence, but it's true - the photographic qualities of the Mason mean that it's all over Instagram and Pinterest as packed lunches become photo-fodder.
But bringing your lunch in a glass jar has culinary advantages too - the heavy duty seals of the jars mean that perishables will wilt less slowly, and rather than crushing a plastic tupperware among your fellow commuters, your food will stay in tact, and in the beautiful layers you built it in.
The layers have an advantage too - not just for getting you the most likes on social media, but keeping wet and dry ingredients separate and keeping everything as fresh as when you assembled it.
(words: Victoria Gray)
Mast-o-Khiar
This Persian delicacy lends itself ideally to a Mason jar, keeping the ingredients from mixing in with the yoghurt before you eat it.
Assembly time: 10 minutes
You will need:
- walnuts
- mint
- yoghurt
- raisins
- cucumber
- chickpeas
Image via betacyanin.com, find a recipe here
Courgette pasta salad
You'll need a spiralizer to make this amazing courgette substitue for pasta, but it will be worth it.
Assembly time: 10 minutes
You will need:
- Courgettes
- Celery
- Peppers
- Tomatoes
- Avocado
- Feta
Image via sugarfreemom.com, find a recipe here
Breakfast oatmeal
Mason jars are great for prepping food ahead of time - for instance, they will keep dairy and fruit products in these breakfast parfaits fresh so you can make a whole week's breakfast at once and stay in bed a little longer each morning!
Assembly time: 10 minutes (for five)
You will need:
- Oats
- Yoghurt
- Chia seeds (optional)
- Milk
- Fruit of your choice
Image via theyummylife.com, find a recipe here
Wrap free burrito bowl
Who'd have thought something as indulgent as a burrito could become healthy? Only when you enlist the help of a Mason jar...
Assembly time: 5 minutes (plus 30 minutes cooking ingredients)
You will need:
- Chicken
- Quinoa
- Bacon
- Sweet Potatoes
- Yoghurt/sour cream
Image via strictlydelicious.com, find a recipe here
Instant noodle soup
Outshining the Pot Noodle by several degrees, this recipe involves assembling dry ingredients which you can just add boiling water to at work and have a delicious healthy noodle dish instantly.
Assembly time: 15 minutes
You will need:
- Rice noodles
- Dried mushrooms
- Spinach
- Soy sauce
- Lime juice
- Stock cubes
- Ginger
- Garlic
- Shredded carrot/cabbage, or any other vegetables of your choice
Image via veggiebelly.com, find a recipe here
Crustless quiches
Because they are made of glass, you can also cook in Mason jars. These crustless quiches are a perfect recipe to cook a few at once then cool and eat cold for lunch.
Assembly time: 50 minutes (including 35 minutes cooking time)
You will need:
- Eggs
- Butter
- Filling of your choice - examples include tomatoes, cheese, broccoli, pea, leek
Image via kristaandjess.wordpress.com, find a recipe here
Mud pie
Mason jars are a fantastic way to present and preserve desserts, too. This mud pie, made with oreos, fudge and ice cream should convince you of that fact...
Assembly time: 10 minutes (plus time to freeze)
You will need:
- Oreo cookies
- Ice cream
- Milk
- Coffee
- Sugar
- Cream
- Fudge
Image via thelilypadcottage.com, find a recipe here
Skinny banana split
Beautiful homemade breakfasts always look better in a Mason jar, and stay fresh too!
Assembly time: 5 minutes
You will need:
- Honey
- Oats
- Banana
- Mixed berries
- Yoghurt
Image via simplegreenmoms.com, find a recipe here
Pasta and tomato sauce
Part of the appeal of Mason jars is being able to store all your ingredients together which you can then mix up so they haven't soaked together and become soggy. For instance, pre cooking pasta and a sauce, you can then shake them up and heat in your work microwave (make sure your jar doesn't have a rubber seal) for a hot homecooked meal instantly.
Assembly time: 20 minutes
You will need:
- Pasta
- Tomato
- Mozzarella
- Pesto
Image via Pinterest, find a tomato sauce recipe here
Vegan flower salad
Keeping vegan food - which is full of perishables fresh, is a lot easier in a Mason jar. Bonus - this salad is full of edible flowers, a delicious, and beautiful treat.
Assembly time: 10 minutes
You will need:
- Dressing
- Cucumber
- Tomato
- Spinach
- Pistachios
- Edible flowers
- Dried apricots
Image via kblog.lunchbox.com, find a recipe here
Bacon and Eggs
Cooking in a Mason jar isn't just restricted to the oven - this recipe shows you how to make delicious scrambled eggs in your microwave using just the jar, and finally top with bacon for a wonderful weekend breakfast.
Assembly time: 10 minutes (plus 5 minutes frying bacon)
You will need:
- Eggs
- Spinach
- Bacon
- Cheese
Image via masonjarbreakfast.com, find a recipe here
Antipasto salad
This rich salad benefits from the layers a Mason jar provides, keeping all the ingredients separate.
Assembly time: 5 minutes (plus 30 minutes to roast ingredients)
You will need:
- Red peppers
- Mozzarella
- Spinach
- Chicken marinated in pesto
- Pepperoni
- Red onion
- Dressing
Image via lexiscleankitchen.com, find a recipe here
Lasagne
A simple way to prepare a meal for one - cut the pasta into circle shapes and save for when you fancy an easy homemade meal.
Assembly time: 30 minutes (plus time preparing bolognase and cheese sauce)
You will need:
- Bolognase sauce
- Cheese sauce
- Pasta
- Pesto
Image via thefoodinmybeard.com, find a recipe here
BLT salad
This is a delicious way to reinvent that boring sandwich you always buy from the local cafe - mix up bacon, lettuce, tomatoes and some bread croutons in a jar for an endlessly more satisfying lunch.
Assembly time: 5 minutes (plus 10 minutes to fry bacon and roast croutons)
You will need:
- Bacon
- Bread croutons
- Tomatoes
- Lettuce
- Mayonnaise, sour cream (for optional dressing)
Image via itallstartedwithpaint.com, find a recipe here
Vegetarian Shepherd's Pie
Another prepare early, cook later dish - shepherd's pie for one. If you're lucky enough to have an oven at work you could take it in for lunch, or just have it waiting for you when you get home.
Assembly time: 30 minutes (plus 30 minutes in the oven)
You will need:
- Potatoes
- Cheese
- Leek
- Kale
- Onions, garlic, celary
- Cabbage
- Carrots
- Peas
- Vegetable stock
Image via kristandjess.wordpress.com, find a recipe here
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