A robust, protein-packed classic that finishes cooking in your thermos and still steams when the lunch bell rings.
📋 Ingredients
For a 12 oz (0.36 L) Zojirushi Stainless Steel Food Jar
- ¼ cup mixed dried beans
- 2 Tbsp onion, minced
- 1 Roma tomato, diced small
- 45 g smoked sausage, cut into 5 cm batons
- ⅛ tsp chilli powder
- 180 ml water
- ¼ tsp garlic powder
- ½ tsp red-wine vinegar
- Sea salt & cracked black pepper, to taste
For a 17 oz (0.5 L) Zojirushi Stainless Steel Food Jar
- ⅓ cup mixed dried beans
- 3 Tbsp onion, minced
- 1½ Roma tomatoes, diced
- 60 g smoked sausage, cut into 8 cm batons
- ¼ tsp chilli powder
- 320 ml water
- ⅓ tsp garlic powder
- ⅔ tsp red-wine vinegar
- Salt & pepper, to taste
🍲 Instructions — healthy lunch recipe for thermos fans
1
Wake up the beans
For maximum flavour I soak mine overnight in plenty of water. In a pinch, do the “speed soak”: boil for 2 minutes, then leave in the hot liquid inside the jar for an hour.
2
Drain & pre-heat
Rinse the beans, drain well and pop them into a saucepan. Meanwhile, fill your jar with boiling water and close the lid to pre-heat — the secret behind truly leak-proof lunch jar recipes.
3
Build the broth
Add onion, tomato, sausage, chilli, water, garlic powder and vinegar to the pan. Bring to a gentle boil, skim if you spot foam, then simmer for 15 minutes so the beans start to soften and the tomatoes collapse.
4
Jar the goodness
Tip out the warming water. Ladle the stew into the jar until it sits 1 cm below the inner ridge, then seal tightly.
5
Let time do the cooking
Tuck the jar into your backpack. Over the next 3–6 hours the vacuum insulation finishes the job, turning the mixture into a silky, smoky stew — one of my favourite Zojirushi lunch jar meals.
6
Serve & savour
Season boldly just before eating. It’s a belly-warming pick-me-up and ranks high among my hot food ideas for kids’ school lunch when winter sets in. Consume within six hours for peak freshness.
💡 Tip or Advice
- Heat dial: Prefer a milder bowl? Swap chilli powder for sweet paprika.
- Veg boost: Stir in a handful of sweetcorn or diced courgette during step 3.
- Plant-based twist: Use a vegan smoked sausage — the beans supply complete protein on their own.
📦 Best used with
- Zojirushi Stainless Steel Food Jar 17 oz — generous for hearty appetites.
Their wide mouths make it easy to fish out every last bean, while the tight silicone gasket guarantees no leaks.
🔗 Linked collection
Browse the Lunch Jar Collection for matching folding spoons and check out the Thermos-Safe Recipe Hub for more pulse-powered ideas.
