HOW TO MAKE BENTO BOX FOR VALENTINE'S DAY | Bento filled with Love and Hearts 💕!

chicken breast

🥗Healthier: tofu

💰Cheaper: chicken thighs

Tofu offers a plant-based option, while chicken thighs are more economical.

soy sauce

🥗Healthier: low-sodium soy sauce

💰Cheaper: tamari

Low-sodium soy sauce reduces sodium intake, while tamari is often less expensive.

mirin

🥗Healthier: rice vinegar + sugar

💰Cheaper: white wine

Rice vinegar and sugar mimic mirin's sweetness, while white wine is a budget-friendly alternative.

pickled vegetables

🥗Healthier: fresh vegetables

💰Cheaper: canned vegetables

Fresh vegetables provide crunch and nutrition, while canned options are cost-effective.

Welcome to the cooking class, today we're making a Valentine's Day bento box.

Gather the ingredients: 3 slices of Japanese bread, American cheese, ham, strawberry jam, butter, 2 eggs, 1 tablespoon sugar, 0.5 teaspoon Honda instant Japanese soup stock, 1 teaspoon sake, 1 teaspoon mirin, 2 tablespoons vinegar, 2 tablespoons sugar, daikon radish, carrot, lettuce, and 1 apple.

Make the tamagoyaki (Japanese omelette): In a bowl, crack 2 eggs and add 2 tablespoons of water, 0.5 teaspoon Honda soup stock, 1 tablespoon sugar, 1 teaspoon sake, and 1 teaspoon mirin. Mix well.

Heat 1 tablespoon of vegetable oil in a square frying pan. Use a paper towel to oil the pan.

Pour in one quarter of the egg mixture, ensuring to mix it well before pouring. Cook until the top is slightly runny, then roll it up using the oil in the pan.

Add another third of the egg mixture, ensuring it goes underneath the first layer. Roll it up again when half cooked. Repeat with the remaining egg mixture, rolling it up until fully cooked. Remove from pan and wrap to cool.

Prepare the pickles: Slice daikon and carrot using a heart-shaped cookie cutter. Place in a Ziploc container with 2 tablespoons of sugar and 2 tablespoons of vinegar. Mix and let sit for at least 10 minutes or overnight.

Make the sandwiches: Cut the crusts off 3 slices of bread, cut each into four pieces, and use a cookie cutter to cut out the top layer. Spread butter on the bread, add ham and cheese on some, and strawberry jam on others. Assemble the sandwiches with the layers.

Shape the tamagoyaki into hearts: Cut the omelette into slices, then cut diagonally to create heart shapes. Cut the ends off slightly to shape.

Prepare the apple: Slice the apple and dip in salted water to prevent browning.

Assemble the bento box: Place the sandwich in the middle, use lettuce as a separator, add the heart-shaped pickles in a small baking cup, place the heart-shaped omelette on one side, and fill the remaining space with apple slices.

Cooking Techniques

Equipment Needed

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