The bento
Discover our tips and learn the mysterious art of bento ...
Japanese lunch
At the base, the bento is there box containing lunch of Japanese employees: in short, our lunch box! However, following the rules of Japanese culture, bento is much more complex, sophisticated and balanced than our traditional leftovers from the day before ... it is, therefore, a very chic meal box ...
Always presented in a nice box divided into various compartments, the bento is composed of small amounts of various types of food, with different flavors, but which always marry perfectly. The principle? Being able to appreciate each dish, filling up, but without overdoing it.
Traditionally, it is the woman, the housewife who stays at home, who prepares the bento for her husband and children. However, even in Japan, the company has changed and it is now possible to buy ready-made quality bentô!
What box do I choose for my bento?
One of the characteristics of bento, in addition to the variety of foods, is the refined way in which it is presented. No transparent plastic boxes, no crumpled aluminum sheets ...
The bento is served in a box with compartments, on one or more levels. Materials can range from heat-resistant plastic to enameled wood (very elegant) and, often, the boxes are decorated. There are bento boxes with traditional decorations, painted in a refined way, and there are even some with manga images… perfect for the little ones (but also for the grown-ups)!
In Italy, these lunch boxes are becoming more and more trendy and we find an infinity of them: round or rectangular, in plastic or metal ...
But be careful! Some models are very nice, sure, but certainly not very practical ... If you have to walk on the subway or take the bus with your bento, avoid it weighing 3 kilos ...
What do I put in my bento?
From this point of view, the Japanese principle is imperatively taken up: different foods in small quantities! It is the best way to fill up at midday while enjoying lunch.
And small formats are preferred, as if it were a picnic.
If you are a purist, choose typical Japanese dishes: rice balls, meat or fish skewers, sautéed vegetables, sushi, maki, omelette ...
But you can also prepare more "western" bento ... Here are some examples:
meat and fish
Surimi cubes, meatballs, omelette squares, hard-boiled eggs, pieces of fish fillet, chicken breast cubes, etc.
vegetables
A bed of salad, peas, julienne carrots, green beans, tomatoes, broccoli, cucumbers ... and why not accompany them with some very practical biscuits!
starchy
Rice balls, croutons, a nice slice of bread, a pasta salad, steamed potatoes, cereal biscuits ...
sweets
Small fruits (such as red fruits) or larger fruits cut into small pieces, a compote fruit salad, a piece of cake, a slice of donut ...
dairy product
Cheese, of course! It is simple to cut ... and to eat! Or yogurt accompanied by pieces of fruit ...
Finally, take care of the decoration of the inside of the bento: to divide your food into compartments, you can use parchment paper (used for sweets). And you can play with colors: culinary pleasure also passes through the eyes!
