Just Bento

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Hi everyone!

I'm a bit new here. :) just wondering if any of you have authentic kamameshi rice recipes? Cooked in a rice cooker preferably :) thanks in advance! Been wanting to make this recipe for so long!

I know that not everyone who follows JustBento follows my other food site, JustHungry. I put my ‘foundation’ type Japanese recipes over there more often than not, while I have especially bento-friendly recipes here on JustBento. Today though, there’s a recipe and how-to for making Japanese style rice (the method should be adaptable to other types of rice) in a frying pan. I know that the subject of whether or not a rice cooker is needed for bento-making comes up quite a lot in the forums, so if you’re looking for an alternative to getting a rice cooker, or just another backup rice-making method, give the good old frying pan a try! continue reading...

• How to cook perfect rice in a frying pan

Healthy and filling, this brown rice kayu or rice porridge is perfect for thermal lunch jars. continue reading...

Three bento-friendly recipes made with negimiso, or onion-miso sauce. continue reading...

Bento contents:

• Chicken with peppers and sesame oil, 240 calories
• Broccoli with wasabi sauce, using stevia as the sweetener instead of sugar and halving the sake, 20 calories
• 1/2 cup (120ml) rice , 120 calories

Total calories (approx): 380 (how calories are calculated)

Time needed: 5 to 10 minutes prep time, plus 20-30 minutes of cooking time

Type: Japanese, made in a rice cooker continue reading...

This week’s great bento idea from the bento community at large is from Mils of Not Another Brown Bag Lunch - it’s an ochazuke bento!

What is an ochazuke? As I explained some years ago, ochazuke is basically rice with various savory bits on it, over which hot green tea is poured. You mix up the rice, tea and bits, and slurp. Ochazuke is often served as the last course in a formal meal, or eaten simply as a quick late-night snack. It’s a great way to use up leftover rice for one thing. continue reading...

A quick and easy trick for keeping the ‘bun’ part of a rice burger from falling apart. continue reading...