Bento contents:

• 1 cup (240ml) green peas rice (mame gohan), approx. 230 cal
• 3 1 1/2 oz (50g) bean sprout burgers (moyashi hambaagu) with Worcestershire sauce (using lean ground beef), approx. 300 cal
• 1/4 cup Japanese potato salad (using Kewpie mayonnaise), approx. 90 cal
• 1/4 cup spinach with soy sauce, 10 cal

Total calories (approx): 630 cal (how calories are calculated)

Time needed: 5-10 minutes to assemble in the morning from pre-made components

Type: Japanese, a perennial favorite

I know that not everyone who follows JustBento follows my other food site, JustHungry. I put my 'foundation' type Japanese recipes over there more often than not, while I have especially bento-friendly recipes here on JustBento. Today though, there's a recipe and how-to for making Japanese style rice (the method should be adaptable to other types of rice) in a frying pan. I know that the subject of whether or not a rice cooker is needed for bento-making comes up quite a lot in the forums, so if you're looking for an alternative to getting a rice cooker, or just another backup rice-making method, give the good old frying pan a try!

• How to cook perfect rice in a frying pan