Buying your lunch is an expensive exercise – if you spend $10 a day on lunch, five days a week, that’s $2,400 a year.

You’re at work to make money, so don’t spend it at work.

Planning and preparing your weekday lunches on a Sunday not only saves you money, it saves time.

Try the following brain food recipe for an easy week day lunch. Salmon is rich in omega-3 fatty acids, which are essential for brain function.

Japanese style salmon patties

Ingredients

• 2 cups cooked brown rice
• 180g can pink salmon, drained, bones removed and flaked
• 1 cup dried breadcrumbs
• 2 green onions, thinly sliced
• 1 egg, lightly beaten
• 1 tablespoon chopped pickled ginger
• 1 tablespoon soy sauce
• 1 tablespoon chopped coriander
• 1 small red chilli, seeded and chopped
• 1 tablespoon vegetable oil plus 1 tablespoon extra
• 1 bunch choy sum, trimmed
• ½ punnet cherry tomatoes, halved

Method

1. In a large bowl, combine rice, salmon, breadcrumbs, onion, egg, ginger, soy, coriander and chill. Mix well. Shape into 8 even-sized, flattened patties. Chill, covered, for 20 minutes.
2. Heat oil in a large frying pan on high. Fry patties in two batches, 3-4 minutes each side, until golden. Drain on paper towel.
3. Wipe pan clean. Heat extra oil on medium. Stir-fry choy sum and tomatoes for 1-2 minutes.
4. Serve patties with wasabi mayonnaise (see tip) and fresh vegetables.

Top tip

• To make wasabi mayonnaise, combine 1/3 cup whole egg mayonnaise with 1-2 teaspoons of wasabi paste.

Recipe courtesy of Ninemsn Food.