Spring marks the beginning of a very special time in Japan: the cherry blossom season. Not only do people enjoy the sight of the sakura, it also serves as an occasion to eat and celebrate together under the lush blossoming trees. This traditional picnic is called hanami (“flower viewing”). If you spontaneously come to the park during your lunch break, everyone has a typical Bentō lunch box with them, which you can quickly pick up from a convenience store beforehand. If you plan Hanami with friends or family, there are often piles of lovingly homemade delicacies in the middle. Sounds great? You can also experience a picnic like in Japan in your city. Whether under blossoming cherries or your favorite tree in the park or garden. All you need are a few (Japanese) ingredients and creativity. And don't worry: even without special bento box accessories such as onigiri molds or mini cookie cutters, you can put together a beautiful and delicious box! We'll show you a few simple recipes that you can prepare using normal kitchen utensils.
Bento Box Without Special Accessories - Is That Possible?
Traditionally, bento boxes are often designed with small skewers, rice molds or decorative elements. Colorful disposable bowls or plastic dividers separate the individual ingredients from each other and look cute to boot. The rice ball is shaped into a perfect triangle, the omelette is seamlessly rolled. But that's not a must! With a few tricks, even beginners can arrange their box beautifully without special bento accessories and a lot of effort:
- Shaping onigiri: Truth be told, it’s easiest with a store bought mold. But you can just as well shape rice balls or triangles with wet hands. If this is too sticky for you, you can also use cling film.
- Cutting vegetables decoratively: Cookie cutters are great for turning carrots or cucumbers into cute stars or hearts.
- Combine colors in a targeted way: A mix of green lettuce, red tomatoes, yellow egg and white rice creates a beautiful look.
- Get creative: Not everything in your box has to be Japanese. Use local foods creatively and add for example Baybel cheese, grapes and salted pretzels to your box.
Simple Recipes for Your Japanese Picnic
Here are four simple recipes that are perfect for an uncomplicated bento box:
1. Onigiri - Japanese Rice Balls
Onigiri are the perfect on-the-go snack! They can be varied with different fillings and are super easy to make.
Ingredients (for 3 pieces):
- 250 g Japanese round grain rice (or pudding rice as an alternative)
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 tsp sesame seeds (optional)
- 1 tsp furikake (Japanese rice seasoning, optional)
- 1 piece of nori seaweed (cut into strips)
- Choice of filling: salmon, pickled plum (umeboshi), tuna with mayo or avocado
Preparation:
- Cook the rice according to the packet instructions and leave to cool.
- Moisten your hands slightly, then take a portion of rice in your hand, make a hollow in it and add the filling.
- Close the rice around the filling and shape into a ball or triangle.
- Sprinkle with sesame seeds or furikake as desired and wrap with a small strip of nori.
For a classic rice ball, simply use salt. If you want a little more flavor but find a filling too complicated or time-consuming, there are ready-made seasoning mixes that you only need to mix with the cooked rice and leave to stand for a short time.
2. Octopus Sausages From the Microwave
These funny mini sausages look like little octopuses and are super easy to make!
Ingredients:
- 4 cocktail sausages
- Roasted sesame seeds for the eyes (optional)
Preparation:
- Cut the sausages crosswise at one end to create four legs.
- Heat in the microwave for 20 seconds on a medium heat - the legs will automatically roll outwards! This creates the octopus look. This can also be done in a pan instead of the microwave.
- If desired, make two small holes with a skewer and press a dark sesame seed into each one.
3. Tamagoyaki - Japanese omelette
Tamagoyaki is a savory, slightly sweet egg roll that is often found in bento boxes.
Ingredients:
Preparation:
- Whisk the eggs with the soy sauce and mirin.
- Grease the pan with oil and pour in a thin layer of egg.
- Once the mixture has set, roll up from the edges. Push the roll to the edge of the pan, pour in more egg and fold the roll over it.
- Repeat the process until the egg is used up.
- Leave the roll to cool, then cut into bite-sized pieces.
You will need a little practice at first to roll up the rolls. The easiest way is to use a special tamagoyaki pan. This is rectangular and non-stick. However, you can also experiment in your normal kitchen pan to get started.
If you have acquired a taste for it, try adding garlic or ginger to the omelette.
4. Japanese Potato Salad
This creamy potato salad is very popular in Japan and fits perfectly in a bento box.
Ingredients:
- 3 potatoes (floury)
- 1 small carrot
- ½ cucumber
- ½ tsp salt
- 2 tbsp mayonnaise (Japanese kewpie mayonnaise works best)
- 1 tsp rice vinegar
- ½ tsp sugar
Preparation:
- Peel the potatoes, cut into pieces.
- Cut the carrot into thin slices.
- Cook everything in salted water until soft. Drain and roughly mash with a fork.
- Cut the cucumber into thin slices, sprinkle with salt, leave to stand for 5 minutes and squeeze.
- Mix everything with mayonnaise, rice vinegar and sugar.
- Season to taste with pepper or mustard.
Fill the Bento Box
Now it's time to fill your lunchbox. In addition to the cooked treats, it's best to have a few crisp lettuce leaves ready. You can use these as edible dividers for your things. Perhaps you have some silicone muffin tins or paper praline molds in your stash. You can also use these to divide the contents of your box into small portions.
The more different foods a box contains, the more professional it looks. So check what bite-sized fruit and vegetables you have to hand. Perhaps you have some green beans left over from dinner? Or do you have an apple to hand? A slice of it can be turned into a bunny with two simple incisions (peel only part of the skin, but don't cut it off, then cut this piece of skin lengthwise again). Now you have two more components in your Japanese picnic box.
Incidentally, these are eaten cold. With our SKATER box, you can also spend cozy evenings around the campfire and heat up the food you brought with you, including the box.
PS: A perfect Japanese picnic naturally includes a good sake rice wine.