Just Bento

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This is the kind of bento item that you see quite often in homemade Japanese bentos - a simple deep fried fritter or nugget. I haven't featured a lot of these on these pages, because I know that many JustBento readers are leery of deep frying in general. However, they are quite easy to make, especially if you make them for dinner and reserve one or two for next day's bento - or even freeze a few. The general theory behind including a bit of fried food in a bento is to make it just a bit more filling and substantial. And remember, for a bento you only need one or two. continue reading...

A nice, simple fall comfort food bento that might give you some ideas for what to do with the leftovers from a certain feast day coming up soon… continue reading...

It’s the best time of the year to stock up on your own frozen kabocha squash; here’s how to do it. Plus, an easy to remember recipe for classic simmered kabocha squash. continue reading...

Bento contents:

• 1 1/2 cups (370ml) sweet potato rice (300 cal)
• Braised spicy daikon radish and carrot (50 cal)
• Japanese-style omelette (tamagoyaki) with green onions (120 cal)
• Stewed dried shiitake mushrooms (5 cal)
• Broccoli florets with wasabi sauce (5 cal)

Total calories (approx): 480 cal (how calories are calculated)

Time needed: 30 minutes total (20 the night before, 10 in the morning)

Type: Japanese, no meat (egg) continue reading...

Bento contents:

• Vegan mushroom rice, with 1 cup white rice (190 calories)
• Black bean mini burgers with tomato sauce (250 calories)
• Instant radish pickles (5 calories)
• Blanched spinach (20 calories)

Total calories (approx.) 465 calories (how calories are calculated)

Time needed: 30 minutes total (20 the night before, 10 in the morning)

Type: Japanese vegan continue reading...