Build a Better Bento

What is in a Japanese bento? Well, it is a boxed lunch which usually consists of cold or room temperature rice and a variety of side dishes, also served cold or room temperature. In Japanese high schools, there is no school lunch to buy and no microwave to reheat leftovers (my go-to lunch when teaching in the States), so unless I planned on surviving on instant ramen, I would have to be creative and learn to make Japanese-style bento lunches.

My kawaii Alice in Wonderland bento box

The other thing to worry about is that it needs to be filling enough (since the Japanese workday is very long and teachers can’t have snacks during the day, unless it’s a gift from a coworker, but more on omiyage later), and fit into one of the smallish and adorable Japanese bento boxes. Oh, and it should be as visually appealing and kawaii (cute) as possible. There are plenty of places online to see the crazy levels that people go to make kawaii bentos, but, since I’m not artistically talented, I won’t be making any Hello Kitty potatoes or sushi rolls that look like Stitch – sorry.

Every once in a while, I’ll post a picture of a bento that I’ve bade, as well as recipes which are great bento fillers.  They’re mostly a strange mix of Japanese and American, but they work for me.  I hope my suggestions help with my fellow ALTs who have started bringing their own lunches.

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Today's bento: Broad bean and tomato salad, steamed broccoli, and brown rice with pickled ginger

Broad Bean and Tomato Salad

Dry broad beans

1/2 onion, unchopped
2 bay leaves
2 cloves garlic, whole
1 2-inch piece of konbu* (optional)
Cherry tomatoes, quartered and seeded**
1 tbs salt
Balsamic vinaigrette dressing (see bellow), to taste

1. Rinse and sort the beans (it’s possible, though rare, that small rocks, sticks, and other non-edibles got through the sorting machines, so always give dry beans a quick check before cooking). Cover by at least 1-2 inches of water, and leave to soak in the fridge for up to 12 hours (I usually put the beans to soak before I leave for work).
 

2. Drain and rinse the beans and transfer them to a large pot. Cover with water and add the onion, bay leaves, garlic, and konbu (if using). DO NOT add salt at this time (it will cause the beans to get very soft and burst. Good for blackbean soup or chili; bad for bean salad). Bring to a simmer. When the beans are about 15 minutes from done (but still firm in the center), add the salt to the water. It’s hard to judge the time it takes to cook dry beans, but this batch of broad beans took a long time for me (about 1 1/2 hours). Most batches of soaked beans (especially smaller ones, like kidney or black beans), cook in an hour or less. Test the doneness by eating one or cutting it in half. Do not allow the beans to overcook or become too mushy. For this salad, you want them to keep their shape.

3. When the beans are tender but not falling apart, drain them and rinse under cold water for a minute to stop the cooking process. (At this point, you can remove some of the batch to use for other recipes during the week – I’ll update later with suggestions from what I’ve made with my cooked beans)  Remove the onion, bay leaves, garlic, and konbu.

4. To make the salad, add the cooked and cooled beans to a bowl. Add the quartered and seeded tomatoes and balsamic vinaigrette (see bellow). This salad can be made a day ahead and served at room temperature.

* Quick note about konbu: Konbu is a type of dried seaweed that’s made in Hakkaido and is sold in thick sheets. There are ways to cook and eat it, but in it most frequently used as an ingredient in dashi, Japanese soup stock. It is also used as a flavoring agent in things like beans and rice, and as a way to add nutrients, like iodine and vitamin B12, to these foods. I often use it as a natural source of umami, the fifth basic taste (the savory flavor of things like meat, mushrooms, cheese, soy sauce, and tomatoes). Konbu has little taste on its own, but instead brings out the umami in other foods. In short, it just makes things taste better.

** Why seed the tomatoes? Leaving in the seeds and gel will make the salad far too watery (due to the salt in the dressing drawing out additional moisture) and will add too much acidity. You can skip this step, but the salad won’t be as good. Trust me.

I know it takes a long time to cook dry beans, but they last a while, so it's a great way to cook once on the weekend and have food ready for lunch throughout the week.  Also, simmering beans doesn't need constant babysitting, so you can do something else while you cook (Last night, I was reading the news while cooking the beans, regularly checking to make sure they didn't boil over - obviously I don't suggest taking a nap or going for a jog, but you can do other things around the house while beans cook)

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Basic Balsamic Vinaigrette

Balsamic vinegar
Dijon mustard
Honey
Extra virgin olive oil
Water (optional)
Dry herbs (parsley, basil, chive, oregano, marjoram, etc)
Salt and pepper

(Sorry, this dressing is done to taste, especially since I like my dressing very acidic and with a lot of mustard. The good thing is once you learn the basic technique, it’s easy to personalize.)

In a medium bowl, whisk together the mustard, vinegar, honey (start with just a little, since balsamic vinegar is already sweet), salt, pepper, and herbs. If you want a lower fat dressing, add some water now (to replace some of the olive oil). Once that is very well mixed (emulsified – the mustard and honey helps the water-based vinegar mix with the oil without separating, if done correctly), begin to SLOWLY pour in the oil as you continue to whisk (it helps to put a moist tea towel under the bowl to help it from sliding around). Once you get to the desired oil-acidic level of the dressing, it’s ready.

Make enough dressing to last a week or two, since it stays well in the fridge, and is so much more delicious than chemical mystery dressings from the store.

The Disaster in Japan

I just wanted to post a map of where I live in relation to Miyagi and Fukushima Prefectures, the location of the earthquake, tsunami, and nuclear power plants.  There was no damage in Fukui, where many didn’t even feel the earthquake (I felt only a tremor, like a heavy truck passing on the highway, for about a minute).

My location in Fukui Prefecture in relation to Miyagi and Fukushima Prefectures.  (Thank again for the map, Anna)

The Japanese prime minister described this disaster as "the most severe crisis in the past 65 years since World War II,"  but there is one impressive fact about the national response to this disaster: even in the most devastated regions, there is still order.  There is no looting, no violence.  I’m in complete awe at the rescue efforts and the local reaction.  To put that into perspective, when I went down to New Orleans on a relief trip about six months after Hurricane Katrina, the volunteers were housed in a warehouse which was patrolled by armed guards and had a strict 10PM curfew, since it was still so dangerous in the Ninth Ward.  That is simply not the case in Japan.

I do encourage everyone to donate to the relief efforts if they can.  Within Japan, all Hearts supermarket locations are accepting donations of blankets, pillows, canned food, and bottled water, and you can make cash donations at any conbini.  Outside of Japan, you can donate through the Red Cross, as well as many other relief organizations.  Here is a great article from the New York Times with information for Americans who want to donate and help the people of northeastern Japan.

Engrish Food Highlights, part 1

These are some of my favorite examples of food-based Japanese-English (Engrish) that I've seen so far.

"Indian" Curry Powder - Um, I'm not sure that's right...

"Coffee: a hot drink made from a dark brown powder with a strong flavour and smell"  Now doesn't that sound appetizing?

British Bistro Bear?  Wait, am I supposed to enjoy conversation with this plate?  And are there even bears in Britain?  I know I never saw any.

"Boston Club Whisky.  A masterpiece in whisky, presented with pride to be enjoyed with pleasure." Made by Kirin, a Japanese beer and alcohol company.

Technically not Engrish, but it still makes me happy to see my Red Sox first thing in the morning.

Japanese Cocktail Hour: The Yuzutini

The long Japanese winter is on its way out, and spring is still a couple weeks away, but I have found a reason to love this time of year: it's yuzu season!  Yuzu ( ゆず) is a type of Japanese citrus fruit which many people describe as a mix between lemon and mandarin orange (though I think it's most like key lime).  I've been cooking with it a lot recently, so I've decided to post my Yuzutini recipe.  It's a basic flavored martini recipe, based largely on the Cosmopolitan.  Enjoy!

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The Yuzutini

1 part vodka, chilled
1 part orange liquor (triple sec, Curaçao, Cointreau, or Grand Marnier), chilled
1-2 parts sweetened yuzu or yuzu and lemon juice (depending on how sweet or strong you like your cocktail)
Fresh yuzu, cut into wedges* (key lime or lemon can be substituted if fresh yuzu is unavailable)


* Watch for seeds, since yuzu tends to have a lot more seeds than other citrus fruit of similar size.

Vodka, yuzu and lemon juice, triple sec, fresh yuzu, and a cocktail glass

1. Cool your martini/cocktail/wine class by filling with ice and cold water.  Set aside.


2. Put some ice cubes into a cocktail shaker or large class.  Pour in the vodka, orange liquor, and yuzu juice.  Squeeze a wedge of yuzu into the mix, making sure to bruise the skin (which adds the flavorful essential oils to the drink).  Mix well.

Fresh yuzu

3. Empty the ice water from the cocktail glass.  Squeeze another wedge of yuzu directly into the glass.  Strain the mixed drink into the glass, making sure to strain out the ice and first wedge of yuzu.  Cheers!

The Yuzutini

Vasco da Gama: Portuguese Food in Rural Japan

Today I’ve decided to post something a little different: my review of a Japanese restaurant.  Not just any restaurant, but a Portuguese Restaurant in Fukui!  Crazy!  It’s called Vasco da Gama, which is one of the only Portuguese people that is covered in pretty much every high school history class (he’s the first guy to navigate around Africa to trade with India – yeah, that’s our big contribution to history).

Now, given that I’m 100% Portuguese-American, a bit of a foodie, and was raised in a family of fantastic cooks, I was a little cautious about the Japanese interpretation of Portuguese food (anyone who has been to Japan and eaten at Sizeria, their version of “Italian” food, knows exactly what I mean).  I have to say, though, I was pleasantly surprised at my dinner.

First, it’s a good sign when the chef speaks the language (I didn’t actually have a chance to speak to him to see if he was Portuguese or Brazilian, which is common in Fukui prefecture, so I’ll have to update next time I go).  Also a good sign: when the only non-Japanese writing on the menu is Portuguese, and, from what I could tell, there weren’t any weird spelling/translation mistakes (OK, so my Portuguese reading skills are pretty terrible, but I am pretty much fluent in Portuguese menu reading).  Oh, and every table had a galo napkin holder from Portugal (these roosters are called o Galo de Barcelos and no Portuguese household or restaurant is complete without at least one. 

 If you're ever in a Portuguese kitchen, please play "Spot the Galo" - Trust me. It's there.

So, we were off to a good start.

Now, since it’s Japan (which has a zero tolerance for drinking and driving) and I had drive myself home after dinner, I could not try any wines, which usually complete the Portuguese dinner, but I was excited to see TWO varieties of Portuguese vinho verde (the young, dry white wines which are a Portuguese specialty).  They had both Avaleda, my family’s go-to wine, and Casal Garcia, my sister’s favorite brand.  I’m looking forward to going again with a DD to sample how these wines compare to my usual American imported ones. 

For dinner, I ordered Bacalhau com Nata, a gratin of dried and salted codfish, potatoes, and onions in a cream sauce.  For those who have never eaten bacalhau or its Spanish or Italian equivalent, it doesn’t actually taste salty, since it’s soaked to rehydrate and remove the saltiness.  The salting concentrates the cod flavor and creates a firmer texture.  There’s a reason why it’s the national food of Portugal.  And my bacalhau was wonderful!  The only critique I have is that I would have liked more fish, but then again, they could have handed me a platter of plain bacalhau and I would have been happy.

 Bacalhau, potatoes, onions, cream, and cheese - What's not to like? (Oh, and there was originally also an olive on there, but that didn't last long enough for a picture - sorry)

Dessert was an even better surprise for me.  I ordered the pastéis de nata, which is a custard pastry, and basically the most delicious thing on earth (and if you’ve ever had one freshly baked and warm from the oven, you’d completely agree).  And, once again, the pasties were delicious, with a great flaky and crispy crust and warm filling.  Since the dessert came with two pastries, I was originally planning on taking one home with me for breakfast the next day, but, for some reason, I completely forgot about that plan one bite into the first pastry.

Heaven in pastry form

My dinner at Vasco da Gama, was definitely memorable, and I will have to go back again.  (Next time, I think I’ll order what they call bouillabaisse, which is a French seafood soup from Provence, but I’m curious if they actually mean caldeirada, which is a similar stew from Portugal).  So I’ve learned that occasionally restaurants in rural Japan can have authentic western cuisine, even from a tiny country like Portugal.  At least I found some place to tide me over until I visit home later this spring!

Dinner in Under 10 Minutes: Toasted Mochi with Citrus Stir Fry

I got home late tonight and was already starving, so my limited dinner options included instant ramen, defrosting some leftover lentil soup, or making something from scratch.  I decided to see how quickly I could make a meal, and it turns out, under 10 minutes from the time I walked into the kitchen.

So here’s my little 10-minute dinner experiment.  I hope you like it.

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10 Minute Toasted Mochi with Citrus Stir Fry

Packaged plain mochi (glutinous rice cakes)

Asparagus, cut into pieces

Kabocha (Japanese Pumpkin), cut into pieces

Aburaage tofu (fried sheet tofu), roughly chopped

Scallions (Green/spring onion), chopped fine

Fresh ginger, grated or chopped very fine

Dried chilies, chopped fine

Ponzu – yuzu  (Japanese citrus) soy sauce

Honey

Olive oil

Fresh yuzu or lemon (optional)

 Aburaage tofu

Mochi

 

1. Begin to toast the mochi, either in a frying pan or in the toaster oven.  (Be careful, since, like bread, it goes from perfectly toasted and delicious to charcoal in just a few seconds.)  Flip when the first side is toasted.

 

 Toasting the mochi

2. Blanch the asparagus and kabocha (Boil the vegetables for 1 minute in lightly salted water.  Drain and immediately cool the vegetables by running under cold water or immersing in ice water to stop cooking.)

  

3. Heat a frying pan or walk over medium high heat (a water drop should “dance” in the heat before evaporating).  Add about ½ tsp olive oil.  Heat the chilies for about 30 seconds, then add the ginger.  (Remember, this is a stir fry, so keep the food moving over the high heat to prevent burning)  Another 30 seconds later, add the blanched vegetables, tofu, and scallions.  Cook another minute.   Add the ponzu (2-3 tbsp per person should be plenty) and honey (to taste – I only used about 1/2 tsp for just a little sweetness).  Reduce the heat to very low.

 The stir fry

4.  When the mochi is done (toasted on both sides and puffy and gooey in the center), put on a plate and pour the stir fry over the toasted mochi.  Finish with a squeeze of fresh yuzu or lemon.  Enjoy.

 10 minutes to dinner

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That’s my 10 minute dinner experiment.  It sure beat McDonalds!

Weeknight Dinners 101: Fried Rice

Yes, I know -- it’s been a while. Can I still blame jetlag? Maybe culture shock? Or simple laziness, which is much more likely…
 Well, I’ve decided to update on some of my food adventures in Japan, both my own cooking and interesting Japanese foods I try.
To start, I’m going to post my basic fried rice recipe (like most of my recipes, it’s more of a guideline, since I’m all about changing the recipe to taste or for convenience). This is probably the recipe I make most often, thanks to always having a steady supply of leftover brown rice. It’s the easiest way to use up whatever vegetables you have lying around and the best way to make dinner when you’re desperate for a grocery run, or have been snowed into your apartment for three straight days. (Thank you, Fukui winter…)

[Sidenote: the best purchase since I’ve come to Japan? A good rice cooker, which I got on the cheap from a recycle shop. It’s made my life so much easier, since I don’t need to pay attention to the rice while I cook the rest of dinner, and it always supplies me with enough leftover rice to make this delicious weeknight dinner] 

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Basic Fried Rice

2-4 cups cooked brown or white rice*
1-2 eggs
1/2 chopped onion
2 small Japanese green peppers or 1 large bell pepper
2 cloves garlic, chopped
1 inch fresh ginger, finely chopped or grated (trust me, it makes a huge difference, and ginger can stay fresh in the freezer for months and is easily grated while still frozen)
Soy sauce (low sodium is best)
Black pepper, to taste
Chopped dried chilies or cayenne pepper, to taste
Sesame oil (again, makes a huge difference, but optional)
Olive oil or vegetable oil (it’s also amazing with homemade ghee, but that’ll be another post…)

--Now here’s the place for your creativity/desperation (need to use up that last carrot or piece of tofu?)--

1 cup protein: some suggestions are chopped chicken breast, extra firm tofu, Aburaage tofu (fried tofu sheets), ham or bacon, shrimp, frozen shelled edamame. Whatever you have or like works (this is a great way to use extra cooked meats, like Thanksgiving turkey or leftover steak).
Other chopped vegetables – I usually use 2-3, depending on what’s in my fridge: 1 chopped carrot, 1/4 chopped kabocha (Japanese pumpkin), finely chopped chilies (seeded), 1 small Japanese eggplant or 1/2 large Italian eggplant, 1 cup shredded cabbage (napa works best), 1/2 head broccoli (blanched***), 1 cup chopped bok choy or spinach, frozen vegetables (peas or a mix of carrots, peas, and corn).**


1. Put a small amount of vegetable oil into a frying pan and heat to medium-high (until a drop of water “dances” before evaporating when it hits the pan). Break the eggs directly into the pan and scramble with a spatula or wooden spoon, breaking it apart as it cooks. Cook until just set, then take out the eggs and leave aside.
2. If you have a protein that needs a lot of cooking (raw chicken breast, block tofu, bacon, raw shrimp), add a little oil into the pan, heat to medium and cook thoroughly. Season with black pepper (do not use salt – there will be enough seasoning with the soy sauce later). Put aside with the eggs.
3. Add a little more oil to the pan and heat again. This time use half sesame oil and half olive oil (the sesame oil adds a lot of flavor, but burns and smokes at a low temperature, so adding the other oil helps). Cook the chopped onion until translucent (if you’re using carrots or pumpkin, add those now, too). Once they’re mostly cooked, lower the heat and add the garlic, peppers, chilies, and ginger, stirring often to prevent burning. (Garlic burns quickly and gets very bitter). Cook about 1 minute.
4. Add the additional vegetables and protein (if they weren’t cooked earlier) and cook through. This will probably take 1-2 minutes.
5. Add the leftover rice, egg, and cooked protein and heat for a minute. Then add the soy sauce to taste and stir. Cook for 1 more minute until the soy sauce is absorbed and everything is heated. Enjoy!


* The best rice for this is actually leftover cooked rice which has been cooled in the fridge uncovered. This way it thoroughly dries out and cooks into fluffy, separated grains. This is especially important for Japanese-style rice, which is medium grain and very sticky.
** Obviously this list could go on forever. Most vegetables work well, though tomatoes,　potatoes, celery, and leeks are all examples of vegetables that don’t work well.
*** To blanch a vegetable, cut it into pieces, boil in salted water for about a minute, then cool immediately in ice water or under cold running water to stop the cooking process. This is allows you to stir fry hearty vegetables which take a long time to cook, and is a great way to add vegetables like broccoli, asparagus, or winter squash to a salad.

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Fried rice is easy to personalize and a great way to experiment. Some of my favorite variations include:
* Adding chunks of fresh or canned pineapple with the vegetables (step 4)
* Using different flavored soy sauces: ponzu (yuzu Japanese citrus soy sauce), chili, and konbu (Japanese seaweed) soy sauces all work great.
* Adding curry powder (or Garam masala and tumeric) and cooking it with the onions makes a great Japanese dry curry rice




Well, I hope you like my basic fried rice. Now, you see why I always make so much rice (and how I get through those giant 5Kg bags of brown rice)