The recent gorgeous weather has got me barbequeing and I’ve discovered that BBQ’d meat makes an excellent packed lunch the next day. Cold, sliced, garlicky beefsteak in a huge soft roll with mustard mayo and a bit of peppery greenery, perhaps rocket. Mmmmm! Hold the garlic if your co-workers will object or you have a one-on-one meeting in the afternoon. 

Incidentally, on the subject of mayo – when you order a Middle Eastern takeaway (mostly Lebanese/Iranian/Persian round my way), get extra garlic mayo – it goes with everything and is SOOOOOOO moreish. I am on a mission to find who manufactures it and get a load in, to feed my whole family’s addiction. Anyone know?

Recently, I’ve also been making saucepans-full of ratatouille (olive oil, onion, garlic, courgette, peppers, aubergine, a tin of chopped tomatoes or passata, tomato puree, chopped black olives, mixed dried herbs, salt and pepper, simmered gently) – this makes an excellent lunch in a sealable tub with Feta crumbled on the top, or a tin of tuna, or grated cheese, or snipped ham/chorizo… use your imagination. Ratatouille is also cheap as chips because it is all veg – no wonder it is a Provencal peasant dish.

Sandwiches: Have you tried my patented crisp sandwich? Put a couple of slices of ham on wholemeal bread, add a slice of cheese and a dollop of mayo. Separately take a handful of potato crisps to add at the last minute. The salty crunch of the crisps is lovely with the sweetness of the ham and the creamy-eggy-vinegary hit of mayo.

Personally I don’t like to eat sandwiches for lunch because I find the bread really weighs me down in the afternoon but maybe you are a lumberjack/construction worker/Olympic athlete and need more calories than me? In that case here are some satisfying sarnies, perfect for packed lunches: 

Tuna, salad cream + sweetcorn on rye

You’ll figure out the quantities yourself. Add salt and pepper, and chopped fresh parsley, maybe some finely chopped celery too. Especially good on rye bread.

Avocado + Feta + sundried tomatoes

I’m not saying avocadoes and sundried tomatoes are cheap items, but a homemade sandwich is a cheap meal, overall. Plus freshly ground black pepper (no salt because the Feta is salty) and some basil if you’ve got it. No butter needed as the avo is oily (it’s healthy oil though).

Coronation chicken 

Chopped cooked chicken (if you haven’t got some roast left over, put a seasoned frozen breast straight in the microwave, cover and cook 3-4 minutes on high until no longer raw in the middle). Add sultanas, mayo, a scant 1/2 teaspoon curry powder, salt and pepper. And some salad.

Sardines in Tomato Sauce

With ketchup and malt vinegar – a retro 1970s treat! Allow one tin (100g) each and mash – INCLUDING the bones (good for calcium and you don’t taste them as they’re very soft). Spread on crusty or sourdough bread and splash over a little vinegar, and ketchup. No need for butter as the fish is oily. 

Hummus

Veggie things are always cheap, compared to meat, so slather on some hummus, plus chopped veg (peppers, cucumber, gherkins) and if you crave meat, a bit of garlic sausage or salami is nice, plus sundried tomatoes too. And some pine nuts sprinkled over.

Sausage Sarnie

Fry 4 sausages in a little olive oil slowly (20 minutes minimum) till done and covered with that sticky brown savoury goo that seems to come out of them. Lay on bread (buttered if you like), slather with ketchup/Daddies sauce and wrap up. Eat with lots of napkins. Mmmm. 

Cheese

I’ve said it before but I’ll say it again – always buy mature cheese because you get more flavour for less amount. So you need to use less – therefore it’s cheaper. Try some mature cheddar in a sandwich with any salad and perhaps some of your homemade crab apple jelly or chutney?

Peanut butter and jam

Organic and natural peanut butter (£2.23/340g jar) is about 50% protein – so it’ll keep you feeling satisfied, combined with the bread. Buy the sort without added sugar though. Team with a little of your homemade jam (from your blackberry-foraging or trip to the PYO Farm?). I’ve really embraced this American practice as peanut butter on its own is a bit claggy. Ditto marmalade with cheese.

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Sarah Lockett’s new book “The Dish” (described by MSN as ‘witty, intelligent and well thought out – excellent’) is out now (£9.95, Troubador).