A Bento Box can define a meal plan all by itself.
The Bento Box compartment feature practically insists on having a variety in your meal. Not just for Japanese food, bento boxes can be used for any meal and any cuisine. Besides all that, they are fun!
This bento box meal plan was created as a Christmas present for my grandsons.
It has Salmon and crab in this bento box but I have included a WFPB version that is quite similar.
I created both versions at the same time so you can easily make this for a family not quite onboard for the vegan trip!
Click on the links for the recipe and directions.
This meal plan has high level instructions but not the actual recipes.
My grandsons box menu featuring Salmon:
First up, succulent Teriyaki glazed salmon with broccoli! When I made these Bento Boxes, I made grilled salmon. However but I simplified the recipe by baking the fish. It turned out better in my opinion!
The The California sushi rolls were made with real crab! No cheating here. I used 12 snow crab legs for four rolls. Never cracked crab? Go here for instructions.
Normally I add a little sriracha to mayonnaise as it provides a little color and spice. However, I just used plain mayo piped on top. The boys can decide if they want the extra heat.
The meal is rounded out with easy simple side salad topped with creamy sesame dressing. There is a recipe for the traditional Japanese ginger dressing as an alternative. Both dressings are easy!
Icy cold mango slices make for an easy finish to round out the meal! This fourth item can be any kind of cut fruit, vegetable, crisp wonton or just extra sushi. There should be no work to speak of.
Keep it easy!
The center well is for a dipping sauce, pickles or nuts. Here I placed the pickled ginger and wasabi. It gets too crowded in with the sushi rolls. Normally I would have Tamari in the center well and crowd the pickled ginger and wasabi in with the sushi.
My grandsons have never made sushi before, much less with real crab, I kept this as simple as possible to lessen the time in the kitchen. Luckily crab can be prepared in advance as well as the rice.
The WFPB box featuring Tofu:
Since Teriyaki sauce is not WFPB, I make a teriyaki sauce using pure maple syrup and tamari. I have several Asian sauce recipes here.
The box features grilled tofu with walnuts and a maple glaze with broccoli.
My California roll sushi recipe calls for crab but a finely chopped parsnip salad is a great substitute and is WFPB.
Pickles are a traditional addition to a bento box. This Japanese Pickled salad is a tasty alternative to the boys simple salad and it uses some of the sushi leftovers.
Instead of mango, I could have plated the other half of my sushi roll topped with a different sauce. Sometimes we throw on some jalapeño, wasabi mayo or slice of lime.
Additions
Many bento box meals start with a soup. Try the basic dashi or a miso vegetable soup.
Crispy wontons take just minutes. Spray with a slight amount of avocado oil and bake them on a baking rack for 15 minutes.
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Using Anylist app, you can import the recipes and add the exact ingredients to your shopping list.
Steps to do ahead
Here are some videos to watch that will show how to shell the crab and make sushi rolls.
Shell the crab early. It can be done the day before and refrigerated until ready for use.
Make the rice early in the day and leave in the steamer until an hour before use.
Get out all of your condiments for the entire meal.
Make the salad dressing.
Mix mayonnaise and sriracha to your taste and set aside.
Mix the wasabi. Some mix with water or mayonnaise to make a paste. It depends on what kind you get but you want to have it prepared ahead of time. I’ve heard that jalapeño juice is some thing good to use to thin wasabi.
Arrange your bento boxes and decide what goes where. You will be filling the boxes as you complete the meal.
Preparation
Add sushi and ginger to the bento boxes.
Mix mayonnaise and sriracha to your taste and set aside.
Cut vegetables for the sushi and prepare the sushi. This California roll recipe makes 4 rolls with 8 pieces each. The sushi can be set aside for about an hour while you finish the bento box.
Arrange sushi in the bento boxes. Pipe on sriracha mayo or just mayo onto the sushi.
Prepare the salmon for the oven. About 20 minutes before serving, put the salmon in the oven. (If you are making the tofu, place it on a grill to get some grill marks then finish in the oven. The tofu and salmon are prepared about the same).
Arrange mango slices in the bento boxes.
Prepare salad (or pickled vegetables) and place in the bento boxes.
Place broccoli in the oven with a little water when you add glaze to the salmon.
When salmon is done, add the salmon and broccoli to the bento box. Add lime wedges.
My recipe makes at least four California rolls with 8 pieces each. They may not all fit in your bento box so just put the extra on a plate for seconds.
Leftovers?
Leftovers can go on your salad or make additional rolls until the ingredients are used up.
You might make Maki hand rolls where the remaining ingredients are stuffed into a nori cone. Or, simply wrap a salad in nori and cut in half on the diagonal.
If you have left over crab, try your hand at crab Rangoon.
(Recipe is included in the videos).
Complete and EAT?!
Your bento boxes should be complete and ready to serve.
If you made four rolls, you should have a side plate of extra sushi to share.
Serve with Jasmine tea, ginger ale, sparkling water or beverage of choice.
お 楽しみ ください
Summary
Although there are links to all of the recipes and videos throughout this post, I am summing them all up here. It was my daughter’s suggestion after they made this meal. Just click on the links below for the recipes and videos.
Teriyaki Salmon with broccoli – Use store bought teriyaki glaze to save time or make your own sauce.
Teriyaki Tofu with walnuts and broccoli
California rolls with real crab
Vegan California rolls with minced parsnip salad
Simple Salad with creamy sesame dressing
Alternative carrot ginger dressing
Recommended APP – Anylist – Download recipes to sharable location. Click to read more.
