This noodle packed lunch salad in a jar is the perfect healthy meal-on-the-go.
It’s so much nicer to take a packed lunch than rely on a less than inspiring floppy sandwich accompanied by a rather heavy so-called muffin. There are many forms of packed lunch, from flasks of soup to sausages wrapped in foil (a family tradition) via buns and sandwiches. The mason jar salad is something that I’ve only really come across recently, but there are many advantages to this form of portable meal.
By using a jar, you get a leak-proof container and eating receptacle all in one, perfect to take to work, Just pop the lid off come lunchtime and dive in.
The bottom layer of this salad is made up of Baxters Red Slaw Deli Toppers, a new addition to their range of pickles. It’s a coleslaw made of red cabbage, white cabbage, onions, and carrots.
The real secret to these jar salads is firstly, to use a wide mouth jar with a rubber seal (check that the lid seals well) so that you can eat straight from the jar, and add the dressing first, which keeps everything crispy until you’re ready to eat.
Layer up the salad, and have a second, small jar for some crispy toppings: nuts, seeds, croutons or similar. If you add some frozen frozen chickpeas to the salad they’ll keep everything cool until lunchtime.
Just before eating, shake the jar to distribute the dressing through the salad, and squeeze over the lemon for a hint of acidity.
- ½ nest of noodles cooked as per packet instructions
- ½ handful of beansprouts
- 1 tsp dark soy sauce
- 1 tsp sesame oil
- 1/2 jar Baxters Deli Toppers Red Slaw - drained
- 1 sprig of coriander
- ¼ red pepper cut into strips
- ½ handful cooked and frozen or tinned chickpeas
- leaves A few salad
- ½ sliced spring onion
- 1 wedge of lime
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Once you have cooked the noodles, plunge them into cold water to chill them.
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In a bowl, mix the noodles, the beansprouts, soy sauce and sesame oil.
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Drain the Baxters Deli Toppers Red Slaw and layer the bottom of a mason jar.
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Layer the noodles, the coriander, the red peppers on top.
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Top with spring onion and a wedge of lime.
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Before eating, shake the jar so that the salad self-dresses with the vinegar from the Baxters Deli Toppers Red Slaw and the oil and soy sauce on the noodles.
Other items in the Baxters Deli Toppers range of pickles include Red Onion, Spicy Slaw, Jalapeños as well as the Red Slaw we used here . RRP is £1.49 from the major supermarkets. They are perfect to keep in the store cupboard and to use to add flavour and crunch to your dishes.
To use up the rest of that jar of red slaw why not try
- Katie’s Halloumi and Three Bean Tacos
- Jac’s Vegan Mushroom Tarts with Pickled Slaw
- Sarah’s Spicy Roast Cauliflower with Red Slaw
Find out more about Baxters Deli Toppers on their microsite and enter their draw to win a jar.
Follow the conversation on social media with #GetTopping
Recipe for layered Mason jar salad with slaw commissioned by Baxters, all opinions our own.
What a good idea – I always think these jars look so pretty. Hadn’t thought of the Red Slaw with noodles but must give it a try.
I just loved the colour contrast between red slaw and the noodles.
I love salads in jars… possibly because i’m completely obsessed with jars in general, but also because it makes a lovely change from a boring sandwich! I couldn’t send the boys with jars to school, but I could pack up their thermos flasks with something similar to this. I think they’d particularly enjoy the noodles. That red slaw really is wonderful stuff….
I do like an interesting twist for a packed lunch, it gets so boring otherwise.
What a novel idea! My kids are going to love this lunch for school. I’m love it because it’s so easy. Thanks.
I hope they enjoy them! Everything you ned for lunch in that jar!
I’ve always wanted to try these salads in a jar. Yours looks so good!
they are the perfect packed lunch.
This salad is so colorful and yummy looking! It would make a great fresh lunch! Thanks for posting!
Perfect for a work, or travel lunch!
What a great little lunch. Cute and full of flavour. Perfect for work or school.
Absolutely perfect – and with a good few of your daily veggies.
I’ve never made salad in a jar, but I can see they’re a great option for taking lunch to work or school. Adding frozen beans to keep everything chilled is brilliant!
Thanks Andrea. I’ve been adding frozen beans to my salads for years. A really simple, but effective hack.
A fresh take on lunch and I like you added a bit of pickled flavour with the red slaw. I do like the tang of pickles and these are particularly good.
I think pickles give such a good wake up to your taste buds, and the rest of you at the same time.