Angry Birds Rice Ball Bento
Transform lunchtime into a playful adventure with this delightful Angry Birds Rice Ball Bento Box! Perfectly crafted for both kids and adults who are young at heart, this recipe combines flavorful onigiri with fun Angry Birds characters. Using simple ingredients like cooked Japanese rice, crab sticks, and a hard-boiled egg, we create a fun and nutritious meal. Make lunchtime exciting and watch the smiles as the vibrant Red Bird and his friends come to life in this appetizing bento box. This playful twist not only satisfies hunger but also sparks the imagination, making it a winning meal for the entire family!
N/A
Servings
350
Calories
12
Ingredients
Ingredients
Japanese-style rice
3 tablespoons (cooked)
Crab sticks
2 (blanched and diced)
Hard-boiled egg
1/2 (mashed)
Cheese slice
1 (cut into circles for eyes)
Nori (seaweed)
1 sheet (cut into shapes for eyes)
Salt water
1 teaspoon (for dampening cling wrap)
Ketchup (tomato sauce)
1 tablespoon (mixed into rice)
Mayonnaise
1 tablespoon (for crabmeat mixture)
Black pepper
1 dash (for seasoning)
Plastic wrap
1 sheet (for forming rice ball)
Mayonnaise
to taste (optional for serving)
Wasabi
to taste (optional for serving)
Instructions
1
Begin by mashing your hard-boiled egg in a bowl and set it aside for later use.
2
Blanch the crab sticks by placing them in boiling water for a few minutes, then drain and let cool. Once cool, dice the crab sticks into small pieces and combine them with the mashed egg, mayonnaise, and a dash of black pepper to create a creamy filling.
3
In another bowl, mix 1 tablespoon of ketchup into 2 tablespoons of cooked Japanese-style rice to give it a hint of flavor and color. Prepare a piece of cling wrap by dampening it with salt water.
4
Take 2 tablespoons of the colored rice and place it in the center of the cling wrap. Scoop a generous amount of the crabmeat mixture on top and gently mold the rice around it to form a ball. Add an additional tablespoon of plain rice to the bottom to create a rounded base for your Red Bird.
5
Press the rice tightly together to ensure it holds its shape. Carefully unwrap and gather your cheese slice and nori. Cut out two small circles from the cheese for the eyes, and use the nori to create pupils. For the crown and beak, use thin strips of carrot to give your Red Bird personality.
6
Assemble your Angry Bird by placing the eyes and facial features on the rice ball, adding the carrot crown and beak. Repeat these steps for other Angry Birds if desired.
7
Serve your beautifully crafted Angry Birds along with optional mayonnaise and wasabi for an extra kick.
Nutrition Information
8g
Fat
55g
Carbs
15g
Protein
Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
What is an Angry Birds Rice Ball Bento?
It is a creative and playful bento box featuring Japanese rice balls (onigiri) decorated to look like characters from the Angry Birds game.
What type of rice should I use for this recipe?
Japanese-style short-grain rice is best because its sticky texture allows it to be easily molded into shapes.
How do I color the rice red for the Red Bird?
You can give the rice a red tint by mixing one tablespoon of ketchup into two tablespoons of cooked Japanese rice.
What is the filling for the rice balls?
The filling is a creamy mixture of mashed hard-boiled egg, blanched and diced crab sticks, mayonnaise, and black pepper.
How do I prepare the crab sticks for the filling?
Blanch the crab sticks in boiling water for a few minutes, drain them, let them cool, and then dice them into small pieces.
What is the best way to shape the rice balls without sticking?
Use a piece of plastic cling wrap dampened with salt water to mold and press the rice into a ball shape.
How do I make the eyes for the Angry Bird?
Cut two small circles out of a cheese slice for the whites of the eyes and use small pieces of nori (seaweed) for the pupils.
What is used to create the beak and crown?
Thin strips of carrot are used to craft the personality-filled beak and crown for the Red Bird.
Why is plain rice added to the bottom of the colored rice?
A tablespoon of plain rice is added to the bottom to create a rounded, two-toned base that resembles the Red Bird's belly.
Can I add a spicy flavor to this bento?
Yes, you can serve the finished rice balls with optional wasabi and extra mayonnaise for an added kick.
How many calories are in this Angry Birds Bento?
One serving of this bento contains approximately 350 calories.
What are the macronutrients for this recipe?
This recipe contains 15g of protein, 8g of fat, and 55g of carbohydrates.
How do I ensure the rice ball holds its shape?
Press the rice tightly together while it is still inside the cling wrap to ensure it stays compact and holds its form.
Is this recipe suitable for kids?
Yes, it is specifically designed as a fun, imaginative, and nutritious meal for children and families.
What is nori?
Nori is dried edible seaweed commonly used in Japanese cuisine to wrap sushi and decorate onigiri.
Can I substitute the crab sticks?
Yes, you can substitute crab sticks with cooked tuna, salmon, or even finely chopped vegetables if you prefer.
How much ketchup is needed for the color?
Only one tablespoon of ketchup is needed to flavor and color the rice for one character.
Do I need to cook the egg?
Yes, you should use a hard-boiled egg that is cooled and mashed for the filling.
How much rice is used per bird?
The recipe uses approximately 3 tablespoons of rice per bird (2 tablespoons colored and 1 tablespoon plain).
What tools are required for the facial features?
You can use clean kitchen scissors to cut the nori, cheese, and carrot into the desired shapes.
Is there any seasoning in the filling?
The filling is seasoned with a dash of black pepper and the natural flavors of the crab, egg, and mayonnaise.
Why use salt water on the plastic wrap?
Salt water prevents the rice from sticking to the wrap and provides a very light seasoning to the outside of the rice ball.
Can I make this bento in advance?
Yes, but keep it in an airtight container to prevent the rice from drying out before lunchtime.
What should I do with the remaining hard-boiled egg?
Since the recipe uses half an egg, you can use the other half as a side dish in the bento box.
Is this recipe gluten-free?
It depends on the specific brands of crab sticks and mayonnaise used; check labels to ensure they are gluten-free if needed.
How many ingredients are in this recipe?
There are 12 ingredients used in total, including optional items for serving like wasabi.
What are the tags for this recipe?
Tags include onigiri, bento box, kids lunch, Japanese cuisine, and fun food.
Does this recipe include fiber information?
The nutritional data provided does not specify the fiber content.
How long do I blanch the crab sticks?
Blanch them in boiling water for just a few minutes until they are heated through.
Can I use real crab instead of crab sticks?
Yes, real cooked crabmeat can be used as a high-quality substitute for the crab sticks in the filling.