It’s mid-August, and one other college 12 months is about to start out for my children. Again-to-school this 12 months is bittersweet for me, as my son is now a highschool senior (my daughter is already in school). I’ve been making bento field lunches for my children nearly every single day since they had been in preschool, regardless that college cafeterias at all times had choices. They each most popular bringing a do-it-yourself bento lunch to high school.
As you might know, Noriko and I wrote and printed a bento recipe e book, Merely Bento, that includes wholesome and scrumptious do-it-yourself bentos. With correct planning and preparation—like setting the rice cooker timer the evening earlier than or saving leftovers from dinner—making bento from scratch just isn’t as exhausting as you would possibly suppose.
That mentioned, I proudly admit that not all of the lunches I’ve packed had been excellent or made fully from scratch. I’ve usually reduce corners, counting on ready or frozen meals to save lots of effort and time—or just packed a sandwich with snacks from a field. Nobody has the time or vitality each single day to plan forward or get up early to make bento. And that’s fully OK!
On this new Simple Bento Field Concepts sequence, I’m going to share my ideas and tips to make bento-making as straightforward as attainable for busy mother and father. By adjusting portion sizes or the variety of objects, these lunches can work for everybody—from elementary college youngsters to adults.
Dealer Joe’s Lunch Choices
Dealer Joe’s, a preferred grocery retailer in California, gives a wide range of objects which are excellent for packing in bento bins. I really like that they carry many Asian meals choices, together with Chinese language, Korean, and Japanese dishes.
Listed below are the objects I used for at this time’s bento lunch field:
- Frozen Hen Shu Mai: TJ’s gives two sorts of frozen Shu Mai—hen and pork. All you have to do is microwave them for a couple of minutes, they usually’re able to eat. The hen shu mai comes with dipping sauce, which you’ll be able to pack in a small container contained in the bento field. Or, you may make your personal sauce by mixing equal elements soy sauce and vinegar.
- Potato Salad: We love TJ’s potato salad! It’s nice as is, however I like so as to add extra greens or protein. In at this time’s bento, I combined in ready-to-eat edamame for added protein and fiber.
- Small Greens: I prefer to inventory my fridge with small, contemporary greens like child carrots, mini cucumbers, sugar snap peas, and cherry or plum tomatoes. They’re wholesome, nutritious, and require no slicing or cooking. Simply add just a few completely different colours for additional vitamins and a visually interesting lunch field.
- Steamed Rice: Rice is at all times a necessary merchandise in a Japanese bento, and it’s straightforward to organize forward of time when you have a rice cooker. Simply set the timer the evening earlier than to have contemporary rice prepared within the morning. You may as well prep and freeze rice upfront. Simply microwave frozen rice for a couple of minutes within the morning—it tastes simply pretty much as good as freshly steamed rice. Sprinkle some furikake on high for added taste and umami.
Quick Video
The full video is on our YouTube channel. Bento field used on this recipe is BLACK + BLUM Bento Field Model Compartment Meals Container (#CommissionsEarned)
Simple Bento field lunch that includes Dealer Joe’s Hen Shumai.
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Microwave the frozen shu mai based on the bundle. Combine the potato salad and shelled edamame in a small bowl.
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Within the bento field, organize the steamed rice, shumai, potato salad, and greens.