Bento is a traditional Japanese packed lunch that you may find in your local Japanese restaurant. It is a popular take-out food available in railway stations and convenience stores around Japan, and it may also be enjoyed at home when packed and taken to go. Picnics under cherry blossoms, schools, and office lunch tables all include bentos. It’s popular for its practicality as well as its cuteness (the Japanese culture of cuteness). Bento is most recognized in its Japanese form, but it has existed in East Asia in many forms for many years.
Several sections in a bento box lunches are designed to hold carefully portioned rice, meat, cooked veggies, or pickles. Onigiri (Japanese rice balls), tamagoyaki (rolled Japanese omelets), sushi, karaage (fried beef), and/or katsu are common items in a Japanese bento (chicken or pork cutlets).
Deconstructing The Bento Box Lunches
Let’s dissect it and reach to the heart of the matter: the bento’s balanced, diversified, and visually pleasing composition. There are two ways to make a bento that is ultimately satisfying: having everything nutritionally balanced or focusing on the visual contrast and letting the nourishment emerge naturally.
The first strategy is to eat a well-balanced diet. A carefully planned bento should have carbs, protein, vegetables, and perhaps fruit if we generalize bento compartments. The recommended ratio of these four ingredients is 3:2:1:1, which can be tweaked to suit your needs. The bento box is ideal for portion management, and the contents may be varied based on the occasion or what you have in the refrigerator.
Here Are A Few Options To Consider:
Carbohydrates:
Grains: such as quinoa, rice, millet
Pasta: such as fusilli or penne (they are better at preserving their texture)
Others: potatoes or sweet potatoes are great options
Proteins:
Meat: such as chicken, beef, pork, meatballs, ham, and sausages
Seafood: salmon, tuna, shrimp, etc.
Others: legumes, chickpeas, nuts, eggs, and tofu
Vegetables and Fruits:
When it comes to bento vegetables and fruits, there aren’t many restrictions. Choose vegetables with a firm texture, such as asparagus, broccoli, or peas. If you like to bring fresh leafy salads, make sure they’re entirely dry before packing, or wait until the morning to fill that section.
Don’t forget to include pickles in your bento for an added pop of flavor. Kimchi, pickled cucumbers and sauerkraut are all excellent choices.
Contrast In Appearance
Because we eat with our eyes first, texture and color are just as important as the diversity of different food groups in your bento. Color has been scientifically proven to influence our impression of how a dish tastes, so thinking in terms of color is not only a fun approach to packing a bento box, but it could also result in a better-tasting one! More colors almost often equal a more varied lunch. You don’t have to go all out to make a rainbow bento every time (though it’s fun), but you should strive to include three or more hues in your box for a visually appealing result.
Orange & Red: red bell peppers, tomatoes, strawberries, carrots
Pink: ham, salmon, shrimp
Yellow: yellow bell peppers, potatoes, corn, eggs
Purple: red cabbage, eggplant, grapes, blackberries
Black: nori, black rice, black sesame seeds
Green: zucchini, asparagus, peas, spinach, broccoli,
White: tofu, rice, radishes
Adding modest ornamental elements to a box can sometimes give it a more dynamic appearance. A pickled plum (Umeboshi) is commonly placed in the middle of the rice portion in Japan. For extra color and texture in the rice, a sprinkle of black sesame seeds, furikake, shichimi, or nori could be used. Try fresh herbs, raisins, half a cherry tomato, or thinly sliced radish for a western twist—nuts or seeds might also be added.
Bento Box Lunches Tips
Meal prep is still a practical concern when it comes to bento boxes, just like it is for other types of packed lunches. Separate the wet from the dry, as well as the cold from the warm, when packing the bento box lunches. If your bento or lunch box doesn’t have split compartments, silicone (or paper) muffin liners can be used as holds. Layering lettuce under rice or meat can help to separate flavors while also being appetizing. Everything should be packed tightly to avoid shifting during transport.
Making bento may appear time-consuming, but try to adhere to simple culinary methods: prepare the rice ahead of time and cook your main meal in the interim. Fill the rest of the bento with fresh items or pickles while they cool. Make the most of leftovers and even store-bought items.
Bento Boxes For Everyone
Adults and children alike can enjoy bento boxes, but bento is especially beneficial for finicky eaters. Many Japanese mothers make kawaii kyaraben for their children, which are rice balls fashioned like animals or cartoon characters. Things like this may be a collaborative effort between parents and children and converted into a family outing. Cute lunch boxes and skewers with cartoon characters can encourage your children to eat more.
The best feature of bento boxes is that you can truly allow your imagination to run wild in order to attain a well-rounded, unique meal that caters to your needs and healthy living! For more information on bento boxes contact the experts at Kangovou today!
Free Shipping!
For all orders over $50