Quick Chicken and Cottage Cheese Lentil Salad Bowl
A zero-faff prep bowl featuring ready-cooked lentils, tender sliced chicken breast, creamy cottage cheese, and crunchy cucumber. Ready in just 5 minutes, it can be enjoyed cold or gently microwaved for a high-protein night shift meal.
Prep
5 min
Cook
0 min
Total
5 min
Makes
1 serving

Created together. Shared with you.
Made by Becky + Lila
Becky created this recipe with Lila and shared it with the perimenopause community.
The feel-good payoff
Why this meal can feel especially good in perimenopause
Think practical wins: steadier energy, comfortable fullness and one less food decision. Your response is personal, so use the prompts below to notice what works for you.
Perimenopause symptoms and relief · Office on Women’s HealthSteadier energy
Feel fueled, not flattened
A complete meal with protein, carbohydrates and fats is designed to offer more staying power than a quick carb-only fix.
Notice: energy 1–3 hours later
Comfortably satisfied
Fullness that has staying power
This meal is designed to feel substantial, so finishing it can feel like the meal is complete rather than the start of an evening of grazing.
Notice: fullness 2–3 hours later
Digestive comfort
A portion that works for you
Fiber and plants can support digestion, but more is not always better overnight. Start with a comfortable portion and build gradually.
Notice: comfort + portion
More staying power
Make the next few hours easier
This meal is built to be more sustaining than a snack-sized stopgap, with enough substance to carry you into the next part of the day.
Notice: energy + fullness later
Setup
Get set up
Choose your servings, gather what you need, then cook along below.
Prep
5 min
Cook
0 min
Total
5 min
How many are you cooking for?
The ingredient amounts update automatically.
Equipment
Basic kitchen utensils
Time saver
Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2 days.
Do these three things first
- 1Set out all ingredients before cooking
- 2Measure the pantry ingredients before heating the pan
- 3Read through the steps once before you begin
Ingredients
Gather as you go
Ingredients
Cook along
Instructions
0 of 6 steps complete
Next: Empty 125g (about half a standard pouch)…
- 01
Empty 125g (about half a standard pouch)…
In a sealable container or meal prep bowl, empty 125g (about half a standard pouch) of cooked green lentils.
Tap card to mark done - 02
Add 100g of diced or sliced cooked…
Add 100g of diced or sliced cooked chicken breast directly on top of the lentils.
Ready when: everything is assembled and ready to enjoy
Tap card to mark done - 03
Spoon 100g of low-fat cottage cheese alongside…
Spoon 100g of low-fat cottage cheese alongside the chicken.
Tap card to mark done - 04
Scatter 0
Scatter 0.5 pcs of diced cucumber, 1 cup of baby spinach, and 1 tbsp of pumpkin seed over the top.
Ready when: everything is assembled and ready to enjoy
Tap card to mark done - 05
Drizzle with 1 tbsp of lemon juice…
Drizzle with 1 tbsp of lemon juice and mix gently or cover and seal for work.
Tap card to mark done - 06
Serve cold straight from the fridge
Serve cold straight from the fridge, or microwave for 1 to 2 minutes until warm if preferred.
Look for: warm if preferred
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