Do You Even Bento? How To Make A Simple But Adorable Bento!

Onigiri

Makes 8-10 onigiri

• 1 quantity sushi rice (see below)
• 1 quantity chicken or tuna filling (see below)
• 2 sheets nori
• 1/2 avocado
• You will also need an onigiri mold* - these are inexpensive and can be found at Japanese stores or ebay

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Step 1 - Take about two teaspoons of rice and using a teaspoon flatten down. Add a layer of the chicken or tuna mix and then flatten down. Then add some more rice - you want it to reach the level where the mold can press down. The tighter the better to keep its shape although the mold is remarkably forgiving.

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Step 2 - Turn upside down and gently remove from the mold by pressing down the tabs. Take a nori sheet - there is one long end and one shorter end. Cut long strips that can fit around the triangles. Wrap around the onigiri - they should fit perfectly. You can also cover the whole triangle with nori which is good for brown rice to help keep it together.

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Step 3 - Scoop out the avocado from the shell and slice thinly. Fan over the onigiri trimming it to a triangle shape. Wrap in cling film if you are serving it the next day.

Animal Eggs or Yudetama-Gokko

• Small to Medium sized eggs (avoid extra large eggs). I found that the 600g eggs were best
• 1 teaspoon soy sauce and a fine paintbrush
• You will also need an egg mold*

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Step 1 - Boil the eggs for 5 minutes. Cool a little and peel the shell from the egg carefully. Place into the mold and snap shut. Don't worry if some of the egg white comes out. Place the molds into a bowl of ice water for 5-10 minutes. Remove from the mold. You can draw in the features using soy sauce.

Chicken, corn and mayonnaise filling

• 1 large breast from a barbecued chicken (you can also use poached chicken but I had bbq chicken and I wanted to make this simple), chopped finely. Can also use a 425g tin of tuna, drained
• 1/2 cup corn kernels
• 1/4 cup sliced green onion
• 1/2 cup Kewpie mayonnaise.

Step 1 - Combine all ingredients together.

How To Make Sushi rice

• 1.5 cups rice (brown or sushi rice)
• 50ml/1.7 fl ozs. rice vinegar
• 40g/1.41ozs. sugar
• 2 teaspoons salt

Step 1 - Cook rice according to directions. Whisk the rice vinegar, sugar and salt until dissolved. When rice is cooked mix in the sushi rice seasoning.

*I found my onigiri and egg molds at Zen Citi at East Village, Zetland.