Just Bento

The Guy Does Bento is back, with a bento featuring his favorite way of eating chicken. continue reading...

A classic Japanese vegetable side dish made with a very European vegetable. continue reading...

A delicious fall-like walnut-miso paste that makes any bland cooked vegetables taste great. It’s easy to make and stash in your refrigerator. continue reading...

Here is a bento assembled mainly with leftovers and stocked items from my mother’s Japanese kitchen. continue reading...

I am calling this colorful dish confetti, because it’s not quite assertively flavored enough to call it furikake. It is sort of a no-sugar (low-carb) and much lower calorie variation of Cooked to Death Hot and Sweet Peppers, though I have made the hot peppers optional. Even with no added sugar or sweetener, I think the natural sweetness of the vegetables comes through nicely. It’s a really useful vegetable side dish, to just pack on the side or sprinkle on top of rice or other things. You could also fold in a spoonful into tamagoyaki to make it really colorful. It can be kept in the refrigerator for a few days, or frozen. continue reading...

Here’s a easy and pretty bento decorating idea from around the bento community - decorated muffins by Emily. continue reading...

Bento contents:

• Quinoa with green peas and dried sausage, 1/3rd of the recipe (about 1 1/3 cups), 340 calories
• Raw asparagus, radish and Parmesan salad, 1/2 of the recipe (about 1 1/4 cups), 100 calories
• Fresh strawberries, about 1 cup, 50 calories Total calories (approx): 490 (how calories are calculated)

(1 cup = 240ml (US measurements))

Time needed: 25-30 minutes the night before; 10-15 minutes in the morning

Type: Not Japanese, alternative grains, gluten-free (note: please make sure the sausage you use is wheat-free if you are gluten intolerent.) continue reading...

Bento contents:

• 1 US cup (240ml) steamed brown rice with 2 tsp. rice vinegar, 220 cal
• 1/2 portion of Tuna Soboro with Ginger, 175 cal
• 2 Tbs. Homemade Sakura Denbu, 50 cal
• Usuyaki Tamago (very thin omelette or egg crêpe) shredded finely (kinshi tamago), from 1 egg, 100 cal
• 1 cup 3 Color Spring Vegetable Namul with Crabstick with “Instant” radish pickles, 90 cal

Total calories (approx): 635 (how calories are calculated)

Time needed: 15 minutes the night before; 15 minutes in the morning

Type: Traditional Japanese with a twist continue reading...