Bento-Friendly Recipes Index

A sortable index of all recipes and how-tos on Just Bento. Click on the Title or Posted column headers to re-sort!

All the recipes on Just Bento are bento friendly. They are meant to be eaten cold (at room temperature), and do not need reheating at lunchtime unless specified otherwise. They also hold up well and do not spoil for a few hours. There are a few recipes or bento combinations for which an ice pack, or alternatively a thermal lunch jar or re-heating in a microwave is recommended, but that is clearly stated in the recipe.

You can click on the Categories to get relevant lists. For example: Japanese recipes; Not Japanese recipes; vegan recipes and so on.

You can also click on the following links to go to lists of specific types of recipes:

The main or star part of your bento box - proteins and carbs for the most part
Bento sides and space fillers - mostly vegetables or secondary proteins
Recipes that can be made in advance and stocked in the freezer, refrigerator or pantry - _johbisai_ (staples). These are the standbys of any bento box creator seeking to put together varied, tasty boxes with minimal fuss in the morning or the night before.

Also see:

Lists of all complete bentos, with thumbnails, on Just Bento: Bentos no. 1 to 30 ; Bentos no. 31 to 60; Bentos no. 61 to current.
Recipe index on Just Hungry, our big sister site, which is mainly dedicated to Japanese cooking. Many recipes there (especially the ones posted prior to October 2007, when Just Bento was born) can be used in bento boxes, especially in the Japanese category.
Index of all entries on Just Bento.

Title	Categories	Posted	Posted under
Oven-baked Spicy Asian Chicken Wings	chicken asian-general protein omnivore	2 May 2013 - 09:10	Recipe collection: Mains
Soft Polenta For Dinner, Fried Polenta Cakes for Bento	vegetarian leftovers gluten-free cheese not japanese carbs corn	9 Apr 2013 - 13:19	Recipe collection: Mains
Spinach Tamagoyaki (Spinach-packed omelette)	japanese vegetarian eggs spinach protein	4 Apr 2013 - 10:06	Recipe collection: Mains
Cubed Tofu and Broccoli with Miso and Kochujang (gochujang)	vegan vegetarian asian-general tofu protein	29 Mar 2013 - 11:10	Recipe collection: Mains
Bento staple: All-purpose winter vegetable mix for rice and more	vegan japanese vegetarian chicken johbisai staple vegetable washoku	22 Mar 2013 - 17:43	Johbisai or Joubisai: Building up a bento making 'stash'
Yuzu scented winter vegetable tsukemono (pickles)	japanese johbisai winter sides vegetables pickles	14 Dec 2012 - 04:54	Johbisai or Joubisai: Building up a bento making 'stash'
The Guy's Two-Step Nikujaga (Japanese meat and potatoes)	japanese meat beef potatoes guy does bento	6 Dec 2012 - 16:05
Sweet, sour and salty 'instant' radish pickles	vegan vegetarian johbisai gluten-free spring vegetables pickles	19 Apr 2012 - 16:22	Johbisai or Joubisai: Building up a bento making 'stash'
Beef and vegetable rolls (Yasai no nikumaki)	japanese meat beef washoku	7 Feb 2012 - 22:25	Recipe collection: Mains
Bento filler: Parsnip kinpira	vegan japanese vegetarian winter sides vegetables	25 Jan 2012 - 14:55	Recipe collection: Side dishes and space fillers
Bento filler: Cucumber and Nashi (Asian pear) marinated salad	vegan vegetarian winter gluten-free salad low fat	23 Jan 2012 - 16:16	Recipe collection: Side dishes and space fillers
Tofu and vegetable piccata	vegetarian asian-general gluten-free eggs tofu	16 Jan 2012 - 18:34	Recipe collection: Mains
Hearty meatball and vegetable soup (that's almost a stew)	meat winter beef soup not japanese low-carb guy does bento	12 Jan 2012 - 16:29	Recipe collection: Mains
Pork (or beef) and mushroom roll-ups	japanese fall meat beef pork fried food	30 Sep 2011 - 17:10	Recipe collection: Mains
Basic taco meat mix	staples johbisai meat beef not japanese	23 Sep 2011 - 10:33	Johbisai or Joubisai: Building up a bento making 'stash'
Lower-calorie, lower-cost, beef and bean sprout burgers	japanese meat beef yohshoku	31 May 2011 - 02:20	Recipe collection: Mains
Chicken Nanban 2 ways	japanese chicken poultry	4 Mar 2011 - 15:29	Recipe collection: Mains
Chana Dal with Fennel and Almonds	vegan vegetarian asian-general winter gluten-free not japanese beans also-rans diabetes mr. bento lunch jar	3 Mar 2011 - 13:37	Recipe collection: Mains
Really frugal ramen soup eggs	japanese johbisai eggs frugalbento	21 Feb 2011 - 12:55	Johbisai or Joubisai: Building up a bento making 'stash'
Bento no. 80: Deconstructed banh mi sandwich bento	asian-general bread based	18 Feb 2011 - 11:58
All-season shredded vegetable pickle-salad, plus migrating birds!	vegan japanese vegetarian johbisai staple asian-general winter vegetable bento decoration techniques	17 Feb 2011 - 19:58	Johbisai or Joubisai: Building up a bento making 'stash'
Brown rice porridge with azuki beans (azuki iri genmai gayu)	vegan japanese vegetarian rice gluten-free washoku thermal hot bento mr. bento lunch jar	5 Jan 2011 - 16:07	Recipe collection: Mains
Two-color namasu, a make-ahead daikon radish and carrot salad	vegan japanese vegetarian staples johbisai winter vegetables washoku holiday	17 Dec 2010 - 19:16	Johbisai or Joubisai: Building up a bento making 'stash'
Pan-fried crispy chicken or turkey nuggets with gobo (burdock root) or any root vegetable	japanese chicken leftovers poultry thanksgiving	24 Nov 2010 - 05:01	Recipe collection: Mains
Bento filler staple: Walnut miso paste for cooked vegetables	vegan japanese vegetarian staples johbisai sides vegetables washoku	9 Nov 2010 - 03:20	Johbisai or Joubisai: Building up a bento making 'stash'
Wafuu Quinoa - Quinoa with Japanese flavors	japanese no meat quinoa seafood grains fusion	3 Nov 2010 - 01:10	Recipe collection: Mains
Okara and crab salad	japanese gluten-free sides salad low-carb	20 Oct 2010 - 01:12	Recipe collection: Side dishes and space fillers
Low carb gluten-free freeze dried tofu (kouya dofu) fried sandwich 'bread'	vegan vegetarian gluten-free tofu diabetes low-carb	15 Oct 2010 - 13:10	Recipe collection: Mains
Zucchini Basil Muffins revisited: Low-carb and gluten-free version	vegetarian gluten-free not japanese muffins breakfast low-carb	8 Oct 2010 - 17:09	Johbisai or Joubisai: Building up a bento making 'stash'
Sweet pepper and carrot confetti	vegan japanese vegetarian staples johbisai furikake vegetables low-carb	28 Sep 2010 - 12:03	Johbisai or Joubisai: Building up a bento making 'stash'
Meatballs with lettuce in tomato sauce	meat beef not japanese low-carb	23 Sep 2010 - 15:45	Johbisai or Joubisai: Building up a bento making 'stash'
Negimiso bento recipes: Misoyaki tofu, Misoyaki onigiri, Misoyaki rice	vegan japanese vegetarian rice miso tofu	20 Sep 2010 - 17:19	Recipe collection: Mains
Green onion and thyme low-carb gluten-free muffins		10 Sep 2010 - 16:40	Johbisai or Joubisai: Building up a bento making 'stash'
Bento sized mini cabbage rolls	japanese staple meat beef pork rice cooker low-carb cabbage	31 Aug 2010 - 19:32	Johbisai or Joubisai: Building up a bento making 'stash'
Kinpira rice burger and how to keep the rice of the 'bun' together	vegan japanese rice gluten-free	9 Aug 2010 - 08:28	Recipe collection: Mains
A sushi roll bento, plus how to make sushi rolls without a sushi mat	japanese sushi also-rans summer	23 Jul 2010 - 07:41	Recipe collection: Mains
Rice cooker frittata with summer vegetables	vegetarian eggs rice cooker dorm friendly	28 Jun 2010 - 15:11	Recipe collection: Mains
Just a bigger dorm room for the summer	site news	10 Jun 2010 - 12:02
Muffins for spring: Ramp Pesto Muffins and Carrot Purée Muffins	vegetarian not japanese muffins bread based	17 May 2010 - 15:35	Johbisai or Joubisai: Building up a bento making 'stash'
Char siu or yakibuta - Chinese style roast pork	japanese staples asian-general meat pork	7 May 2010 - 10:51	Johbisai or Joubisai: Building up a bento making 'stash'
Quinoa with Green Peas and Dried Sausage	not japanese quinoa	28 Apr 2010 - 16:22	Recipe collection: Mains
Bento filler: Raw Asparagus, Radish and Parmesan salad	vegetarian cheese not japanese salad spring vegetables	28 Apr 2010 - 15:20	Recipe collection: Side dishes and space fillers
Bento filler: 3-color Spring Vegetable Namul with Crabstick	asian-general sides korean vegetables seafood	23 Apr 2010 - 20:29	Recipe collection: Side dishes and space fillers
Tuna soboro with ginger	japanese fish furikake frugalbento	23 Apr 2010 - 19:21	Johbisai or Joubisai: Building up a bento making 'stash'
Homemade Sakura Denbu - sweet, pink, fluffy fish flakes	japanese fish furikake decorative spring washoku	21 Apr 2010 - 16:26	Johbisai or Joubisai: Building up a bento making 'stash'
Budo Mame or Budoh Mame: Sweet-salty soy beans (Bento filler)	vegan japanese vegetarian staples johbisai sides protein beans washoku	7 Mar 2010 - 15:35	Johbisai or Joubisai: Building up a bento making 'stash'
Torihamu or Homemade Chicken "Ham"	japanese chicken staples johbisai	27 Jan 2010 - 09:21	Johbisai or Joubisai: Building up a bento making 'stash'
One-pan braised kale with bacon and new potatoes	winter gluten-free not japanese vegetables bacon	22 Dec 2009 - 16:06	Recipe collection: Mains
Stewed winter vegetables with kouya dofu (freeze dried tofu)	vegan japanese vegetarian staples johbisai gluten-free tofu vegetables	5 Dec 2009 - 09:13	Johbisai or Joubisai: Building up a bento making 'stash'
Potato Oyaki and Sweet Potato and Carrot Oyaki	leftovers meat gluten-free cheese potatoes	24 Nov 2009 - 07:02	Recipe collection: Mains