 Breadcrumbs

  



   ![Alexandra Dudley’s Working Lunch](https://media.sheerluxe.com/gMqtyu_m3FCGkP9bb-UvU7YA9Oc=/800x0/smart/https%3A%2F%2Fsheerluxe.com%2Fsites%2Fsheerluxe%2Ffiles%2Farticles%2F2025%2F01%2Fsl-site-assets-210125-hero-alex-d-working-lunch.jpg?itok=lxCifZ_G)

  

 

 ![Alexandra Dudley’s Working Lunch](https://media.sheerluxe.com/7PQQVyY93ZnSPj-4yQ-HqDPyIBo=/400x0/smart/https%3A%2F%2Fsheerluxe.com%2Fsites%2Fsheerluxe%2Ffiles%2Farticles%2F2025%2F01%2Fsl-site-assets-210125-thumb-alex-d-working-lunch.jpg?itok=E6ixXMMw)

 

 

 



 

 

[Lunch](/life/food/recipes/lunch)

 /  21 January 2025  

#  Alexandra Dudley’s Working Lunch  


We’ve all been there – stuck for weekday lunch inspiration the moment Monday morning arrives. In this monthly column, SheerLuxe contributor Alexandra Dudley serves up fresh, easy ideas – whether you work from home, like to take a lunchbox into the office or are hoping to head out for a meal. For her first instalment of the year, she’s sharing a simple DIY option and has the lowdown on a low-key sister to one of London’s favourite restaurants…  


By[Alexandra Dudley](/contributors/alexandra-dudley)

  /  

[ Save To My Favourites ](/user/login?destination=/markdownify/node/44684)

 

 



 

 

 

 

 

## STAYING IN 



  

 

 

 ![](https://media.sheerluxe.com/D2K1AAZpCemEqdGjw56Qww3OUPo=/800x0/smart/https%3A%2F%2Fsheerluxe.com%2Fsites%2Fsheerluxe%2Ffiles%2Farticles%2F2025%2F01%2Fsl-210125-alexandra-dudley-working-lunch-curried-chickpeas.jpg?itok=_8IEA5tT)

 

 

 

 

 

 

### **Curried Butterbeans**

*Beans remain firmly on the ‘in’ list for 2025 and this is a speedy low-faff lunch that delivers on flavour and comfort in under 10 minutes.*



Serves

 2 

 



 

 

Ingredients

    Neutral oil such as sunflower oil  

   1 small shallot or ¼ of a white onion, finely diced  

   Thumb-sized piece of ginger, finely grated  

   1 garlic clove, finely grated  

   2 tsp of ground turmeric  

   ½ tsp of garam masala  

   ½ tsp of ground cumin  

   ½ tsp of ground coriander  

   2 tbsp of tomato purée  

   100ml of water  

   700g of jarred butterbeans with their bean stock (I love Bold Bean Co)  

   Salt  

   100g of thick Greek yogurt  

   Juice of 1 lime  

   Coriander &amp; more yogurt to serve  

 



  

 



Method

 Step 1 

Heat the oil, shallot, ginger, garlic and spices in a frying pan over a medium heat for about 3 minutes, until the spices begin to smell fragrant, and the shallot and garlic has softened.



 Step 2 

Add the tomato purée and water to the pan, and cook off the purée for about five minutes until you have a slightly gloopy paste.



 Step 3 

Add the beans with their bean stock from the jar and stir everything to combine. Reduce the heat slightly and allow the beans to cook for about 5 minutes until hot and bubbling.



 Step 4 

Stir through a pinch of salt followed by the yogurt. Switch off the heat, add the lime juice, and taste to check seasoning.



 Step 5 

Ladle into bowls and serve with more yogurt and fresh coriander if you like.



 



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 [ ![](https://media.sheerluxe.com/KJTFweMagdquviCGWNcXjQ5JcJs=/800x0/smart/https%3A%2F%2Fsheerluxe.com%2Fsites%2Fsheerluxe%2Ffiles%2Farticles%2F2025%2F01%2Fsl-210125-alexandra-dudley-working-lunch-the-river-cafe-2.jpg?itok=86JbhNEc)

 

 ](https://www.rivercafe.co.uk/#Restaurant) 

 

 

 

 

 

 

## GOING OUT 



### The River Café Café 



  

With a longstanding reputation as one of the best places to eat in London, [The River Café](https://www.rivercafe.co.uk/) is renowned for its effortlessly perfect plates of Italian cooking and for being one of the hardest places in town to secure a reservation. People moan that the prices have risen over recent years, which is undeniably true, yet the place remains packed, usually with at least one film star somewhere in the dining room. Anyone who has been lucky enough to eat here will know that it is indeed worth it, but the bill is heavy and so for most of us it’s a place bookmarked for special occasions only.

Enter [The River Café Café,](https://www.sevenrooms.com/explore/therivercafecafe/reservations/create/search/) a more laid-back and affordable little sister to the main restaurant. A hop and a skip away from the original, The River Café Café is open from 9am to 10pm offering cakes and pastries in the morning before an all-day menu of bruschetta, primi, and salumi e formaggi from lunchtime onwards. You can book – or you can just show up and, even if there is a short wait, chances are you’ll be able to snag a table. The menu is shorter than the main restaurant’s and the format is different, with plates arriving as and when they are ready – and usually all at once, which can be useful if you’ve got an afternoon of work to return to.

The dishes are cooked by The River Café chefs but come in at around half the price. Depending on the season, expect the likes of spinach and ricotta rotolo, rich risottos and perfect blobs of mozzarella with new-season olive oil and other wonderful ingredients cooked simply and confidently. The new site has an elevated canteen feel to it, echoing the bold charm of the original with a stainless-steel bar, hot pink wall and a vast Damien Hirst cherry blossom painting overlooking the dining room.

*Visit* [RIVERCAFE.CO.UK](http://RIVERCAFE.CO.UK)

 

 

 

*For more from Alexandra, follow* [@ALEXANDRADUDLEY](https://www.instagram.com/alexandradudley/?hl=en) *&amp; visit* [ALEXANDRADUDLEY.COM](https://www.alexandradudley.com/)

 

 

 

 

  

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[Lunch](/life/food/recipes/lunch)

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