washoku

Bento staple: All-purpose winter vegetable mix for rice and more

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This is a very versatile vegetable-only or vegetable and chicken mix that can be kept in the refrigerator for up to a week, or for a month in the freezer. As long as you use a vegetarian/vegan protein it will be vegan/vegetarian, but if you are an omnivore you can use chicken. Let me give you the recipe first, and then show you a couple of ways to use it.

Classic cold-weather mixed vegetable rice bento

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A classic Japanese style bento using winter vegetables (since it's still pretty cold here) made by my mom from bento stash ingredients.

Smoked salmon chirashizushi plus sushi rice how-to on JustHungry

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Learn how to make sushi rice, plus tips for sushi as bento.

Beef and vegetable rolls (Yasai no nikumaki)

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Yasai no nikumaki, or vegetables wrapped in thinly sliced meat, (niku means meat and maki means wrap or roll) is a colorful and delicious standby item for bentos in Japan. This recipe uses a typical American cut of beef, very thinly sliced sirloin or 'cheesesteak beef'.

Guy Does Bento no. 1: Salmon furikake sushi bento

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The Guy makes his first foray into the world of bento making.

A very Japanese spring vegetable bento

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Here's a very Japanese, vegetable based spring bento from a few weeks ago.

Brown rice porridge with azuki beans (azuki iri genmai gayu)

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

Two-color namasu, a make-ahead daikon radish and carrot salad

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Here's a recipe for a classic vegetable dish that is served at New Year's in Japan. It actually gets better after some time in the refrigerator, and is a great bento side dish that may even bring you some luck!

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