Shinji's Bento 進児の弁当

We have gotten into a routine for Shinji's bento. Originally I was making four side dishes of mostly vegetables from land and sea. Shinji said asked for one more dish, ideally protein based. As the size of the bento is limited I started adding a protein over the rice and it seems to be just right. :-)

Over the rice is teriyaki pork. The side dishes are:

hard-boiled egg
pickled cucumbers with green shiso
steamed broccoli with mayonnaise
simmered nagahijiki (long hijiki) with carrots and green beans

Hijiki Nimono

Shiso Leaves

Bento Box

Shinji's Bento 進児の弁当

Thin sliced beef in a teriyaki sauce over rice with some dashimaki tamagoyaki (Japanese omelet).

Side dishes:
toasted mentaiko (spicy cod or pollack roe)
gyoza (pot stickers)
steamed green beans with mayonnaise
kinpira gobo (burdock root and carrots sauteed w. soy sauce and sesame oil)

Gyoza

Burdock Kinpira (Gobo)

Shinji's Bento 進児の弁当

At the Korean supermarket, H Mart, we find thin slices of meat for many dishes like bibimpap, yakiniku, or sukiyaki. In Shinji's bento the thin slices of beef are cooked in a sweet soy teriyaki sauce. Other osouzai (side dishes) are:

toasted mentaiko (spciy cod or pollack roe)
tuna, cucumber, and wakame salad (recipe below)
green beans with a walnut dressing (recipe below)
kinpira gobo (burdock root and carrots sauteed in soy and sesame oil)


* The toasted mentaiko is a great side dish to a cool glass of sake or shochu.



Mentaiko

Tuna Cucumber Wakame Salad

This quick and simple salad is a great addition to Shinji's bento or to any meal. Canned tuna, sliced cucumbers, and wakame seasoned with sesame oil, rice wine vinegar, and soy sauce. The tart rice wine vinegar is a nice contrast to the roasted sesame oil.

Sesame Oil

Walnut Dressing for Vegetables

I often make a dressing for vegetables using toasted sesame seeds, sugar, and soy sauce. Toasted walnuts also work very well.

Toast some walnuts in a dry pan.

Put into a mortar and pestle and crush.

Add a bit of soy sauce and sugar to taste.

To the dressing add some vegetables like steamed green beans, broccoli, spinach, or carrots.

Shinji's Bento 進児の弁当

In this bento on top of the rice is thick slices of pork cooked in a teriyaki sauce. The side dishes are:

sauteed eggplant with a dengaku (sweet miso) sauce
namasu (pickled daikon and carrot)
dashimaki tamagoyaki (Japanese omelet)
ohitashi (steamed spinach with soy sauce and sesame oil)

Eggplant With Miso

Tamagoyaki

Shinji's Bento 進児の弁当

Shinji brought home some tuna from work and we enjoyed it the first two days as sashimi and zuke (marinated in soy sauce and mirin). On day three he made tuna burgers. Leftover tuna burgers went into his bento the next day, on top of rice. Other side dishes in this bento are:

namasu (pickled daikon and carrot)
dashimaki tamagoyaki (Japanese omelet)
steamed broccoli with mayonnaise
harumaki (ground pork and vegetables spring rolls)

Tuna Burger

Fried Spring Rolls

Bento Lunch with a Friend 弁当

This bento was made for a lunch date with a dear friend. The lacquer layered round box is wrapped up with a colorful furoshiki and is easy to carry.

The rice is a takikomigohan. Rice is steamed with hijiki, carrots, and abura-age (deep-fried tofu). The broth is water, soy sauce, mirin, and sake. The rice is then topped with thin layers of sweetened omelet that is julienned.

On the right is a variety of osouzai (side dishes):
salted and grilled salmon
broccoli with a nerigoma (toasted sesame paste) and shiro miso (sweet, white miso) dressing
harumaki (spring rolls)
bacon wrapped around enoki mushrooms
kohaku namasu (pickled daikon and carrots)
cucumbers in a umeboshi (pickled apricots) dressing topped with dried chirimen (anchovies)

Takikomigohan

Japanese Pickles

Kohaku Namasu