Vibrant Five-Color Sushi Rice Bento Box
Experience a delightful and colorful bento box featuring a medley of flavors and textures. This recipe incorporates savory ground chicken, tender salmon, fluffy scrambled eggs, nutty edamame, and zesty pickled ginger, making it an ideal handmade lunch option. Each component is easy to prepare and can be made in bulk, ensuring that you always have a nutritious and visually appealing meal on hand. Serve this bento box cold for a refreshing, delicious lunch that offers a balanced mix of protein, vegetables, and carbohydrates, perfect for any busy individual or family.
N/A
Servings
N/A
Calories
18
Ingredients
Ingredients
Ground chicken
1 lb (raw)
Ground ginger
1 teaspoon (dry)
Soy sauce (for chicken)
2 tablespoons (liquid)
Sake (for chicken)
4 tablespoons (liquid)
Mirin
4 tablespoons (liquid)
Water
2 tablespoons (liquid)
Sugar (for chicken)
2 teaspoons (dry)
Egg
1 (beaten)
Sugar (for egg)
1/2 teaspoon (dry)
Frozen edamame
1 (10 5/8 ounce) bag (thawed)
Pickled ginger
1 (11 1/2 ounce) bottle (ready to serve)
Salmon fillet
1/2 lb (cooked and flaked)
Sake (for salmon)
5 tablespoons (liquid)
Soy sauce (for salmon)
1 tablespoon (liquid)
Sugar (for salmon)
5 teaspoons (dry)
Vegetable or sesame oil
1 teaspoon (liquid)
Steamed Japanese rice
1 cup (cooked)
Sushi vinegar
1 tablespoon (liquid)
Instructions
1
In a mixing bowl, combine soy sauce, sake, mirin, water, and sugar to create a flavorful marinade.
2
In a saucepan, heat the marinade along with the ground ginger over medium-low heat. Add the ground chicken and simmer, stirring constantly with chopsticks or a wooden spoon until the liquid is absorbed and the chicken is fully cooked. Set aside to cool.
3
To prepare the scrambled egg, lightly grease a clean saucepan and heat it over high heat. In a small bowl, whisk together the beaten egg and sugar. Pour the mixture into the hot pan and stir quickly with chopsticks to scramble the egg into small, fluffy pieces. Once cooked, set aside.
4
Thaw the frozen edamame by placing it in cold water. Once thawed, drain and set aside.
5
For the salmon, grill or sauté the fillet until cooked, then remove the skin and bones. Use a fork to flake the salmon into small pieces. In a separate bowl, mix together soy sauce, sake, vegetable oil or sesame oil, and sugar. In a saucepan, heat the mixture on medium-high and add in the flaked salmon, cooking and stirring until the sauce is absorbed. Set aside to cool.
6
Once all components are ready, cook the Japanese rice according to package instructions. While it is still warm, mix in the sushi vinegar, and let it cool.
7
To assemble the bento box, place a generous layer of sushi rice at the bottom of your container or serving plate. Neatly arrange the ground chicken, scrambled eggs, edamame, flaked salmon, and pickled ginger on top of the rice, ensuring a colorful presentation.
Nutrition Information
Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Vibrant Five-Color Sushi Rice Bento Box?
It is a colorful and nutritious bento box featuring a mix of ground chicken, salmon, scrambled eggs, edamame, and pickled ginger served over seasoned sushi rice.
What are the five colors represented in this bento box?
The colors come from the brown savory chicken, pink flaked salmon, yellow fluffy scrambled eggs, green nutty edamame, and red zesty pickled ginger.
How do I prepare the ground chicken?
Simmer ground chicken with a marinade of soy sauce, sake, mirin, water, sugar, and ground ginger until the liquid is fully absorbed.
What ingredients are in the chicken marinade?
The marinade consists of soy sauce, sake, mirin, water, and sugar.
How are the scrambled eggs made for this recipe?
Whisk a beaten egg with sugar, then pour into a hot, greased pan and stir quickly with chopsticks to create small, fluffy pieces.
How should I prepare the frozen edamame?
Thaw the frozen edamame by placing it in cold water, then drain it before adding it to the bento box.
What is the process for preparing the salmon?
Grill or sauté the salmon, remove skin and bones, flake it, and then cook it with a mixture of sake, soy sauce, sugar, and oil until the sauce is absorbed.
What seasonings are used for the salmon flaking?
The salmon is seasoned with sake, soy sauce, sugar, and either vegetable or sesame oil.
How is the sushi rice prepared?
Cook Japanese rice according to package instructions and mix in sushi vinegar while the rice is still warm.
Should this bento box be served hot or cold?
This bento box is best served cold, making it a refreshing and convenient lunch option.
Is this recipe suitable for meal prep?
Yes, the components can be made in bulk and stored, making it ideal for nutritious meal planning.
What type of rice is recommended?
Steamed Japanese white rice is recommended for the best texture and flavor.
How do I assemble the bento box?
Layer the sushi rice at the bottom and neatly arrange the chicken, eggs, edamame, salmon, and ginger on top.
Can I substitute the ground chicken?
Yes, you can substitute ground chicken with ground turkey or a plant-based protein alternative if preferred.
Is the Vibrant Five-Color Sushi Rice Bento Box healthy?
Yes, it offers a balanced mix of protein from chicken and fish, vegetables like edamame, and carbohydrates from rice.
What tool should I use to cook the chicken and eggs?
Using chopsticks or a wooden spoon is recommended to break the chicken and eggs into small, even pieces.
What is the purpose of the pickled ginger?
The pickled ginger adds a zesty flavor and a vibrant pop of color to the dish.
Can I use sesame oil for the salmon?
Yes, you can use either vegetable oil or sesame oil to add extra flavor to the salmon mixture.
How do I flake the salmon fillet?
After cooking the fillet and removing the skin and bones, use a fork to break the fish into small pieces.
What should I do if I don't have sake?
If sake is unavailable, you can substitute it with dry sherry or omit it, though the flavor profile will change.
Can I use brown rice instead of white?
Yes, though the texture and traditional flavor will vary from standard sushi rice.
How do I ensure the eggs stay fluffy?
Stir the egg mixture quickly in a hot pan to ensure it scrambles into small, light pieces rather than large clumps.
Do I need to cool the ingredients before assembly?
Yes, the cooked components should be set aside to cool before being placed on the rice.
Is this bento box kid-friendly?
Yes, the mild, savory flavors and colorful presentation make it very appealing for children.
What is sushi vinegar?
Sushi vinegar is a mixture of rice vinegar, sugar, and salt used to season sushi rice.
Can I add other vegetables to the bento?
Absolutely, you can add shredded carrots or cucumber for extra crunch and nutrition.
How should leftovers be stored?
Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to two days.
How many ingredients are required for this recipe?
This recipe requires 18 ingredients in total including seasonings and main components.
Is there a lot of sugar in this recipe?
Small amounts of sugar are used in the chicken, egg, and salmon preparations to balance the savory soy sauce.
Can the salmon be prepared in bulk?
Yes, both the salmon and chicken components can be prepared in larger quantities for multiple meals.