Chikuwa Bento Box
Thanksgiving is just a couple days away and we are looking forward to a day off together. There’s one day before that happens and I’ve packed a quick “no cook” bento box for Saba Man’s midnight meal! I usually have a stash of frozen pre-cooked rice for just these occasions when time is limited and I’m pooped out! Gosh I love the freezer at these moments. It’s both a treasure trove and lifesaver. Ready to eat, chikuwa tubes can be steamed, broiled, simmered or eaten plain as I’ve presented here. “Express bento” is the theme for this bento box.
1. Zap the baggie of black rice and 2 chikuwa tubes in the microwave.
2. Quarter a tomato.
3. Slice a few pieces of takuwan.
4. Switch out the rice and chikuwa with a frozen piece of fried tofu in the microwave.
5. Spinkle some salt in my hands and form a triangle musubi. Set aside to cool. (Realy hot rice, careful)
6. Remove the fried tofu from the micro and let cool.
7. Chop a few broccoli florets and place those in the micro for 30 seconds then cool.
8. Slice the chikuwa.
9. Line half of the bento box with a green lettuce leaf.
10. Place the musubi on the lettuce.
11. Then add the fried tofu next to the musubi.
12. Arrange the chikuwa pieces.
13. Fan out the takuwan slices.
14. Add tomato and fill in spaces with broccoli.
15. Decorate the chikuwa with black sesame seeds.
16. Take a photo, close the lid, hand off to Saba Man as heads out the door!
Looks like my microwave oven is just as indispensable as the freezer!
You’ve got the routine down! Nice snapshot into your bentomaking system
Even your speedy express bentos are beautiful! Thanks for the tutorial.
Your quick ‘no cook’ bento is nice. I like the beauty of the simplicity
)
Oh my, I would not have the time to make only this in the Morning ^.^ Looks great! another one with this great black rice ^-^ Hmm.. I haven’t used rice from the freezer often until now. I’m not sure how to use it, or get it hot to make something with it =/
I’m also a fan of whoever invented the freezer and the microwave. That guy (or woman?) deserves a statue
) When you’re in a hurry making a no cook bento can be a challenge but you did great. I never heard of chikuwa, but apparently I should be a kind a surimi tube? Anyway, I’m sure Saba Man enjoyed it, because I certainly would have. 
)