bento for beginners: techniques

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USING LEAVES AS DIVIDERS AND PICKS:

Aside from lettuce, parsley, cabbage and pechay, sometimes I use banana leaves and pandan leaves as dividers. I also use silicon containers because they are easy to fit in the bento box.

For rice topper and pick, sometimes I use kalumata leaves and malunggay. You can find lots of leaves in your backyard or area which you can use. Just be sure to wash the leaves and pat them dry before use. Also use leaves that are aromatic or do not have bitter taste as they may react with the food.

Malunggay leaves, kalumata, banana leaf and pandan

Using pandan leaf as divider:

Using banana leaf as divider:

Using kalumata as pick or rice topper:

Using malunggay as rice decoration:

USING TOMATO, CUCUMBER AND CARROTS FOR DECORATION:

Aside from serving the veggies and fruits in slices, wedges and strips, you can also cut them into other shapes. Below are 2 of my favorite decorations because they are very easy to make:

How to make heart-shape tomato:
I use cherry tomato for this, but you can also use any ordinary tomato in season, just choose the more elongated one as much as possible.

Wash the tomato and cut diagonally in half

Invert the other half to make a shape of heart

Insert a toothpick or decorated pick to secure the tomato in shape

How to make a flower:
I use carrot and cucumber for this, but you can also use other vegetables or fruits like potato, squash, turnip, beet, strawberry, apple, melon, etc.

Wash and peel the carrot

Cut a slice to make a circle

Cut the top portion of the circle. If the carrot is big, you can slice in the middle.

Cut zigzags as shown in the picture to make a lotus flower

To make the leaves, wash a cucumber and slice it to make a circle

Cut the circle in half

Remove the seeds

Assemble the cut carrot and cucumber to make lotus flower and leaves

Secure with a toothpick

For variations, you can also cut the carrots into other flower shapes with the help of a cookie cutter

There are many cookie cutters which you can buy from the stores. I prefer to use stainless steel cookie cutters than plastic because they are sturdier and sharper

For option, you can also attach a "stalk" to the flower. For this, I am using string beans, but you can also use spring onion, kangkong stalk, celery stalk, etc.

Or combination

How to make an octopus hotdog:
I used regular-sized hotdogs for this, but you can also use any size and flavor as per your preference.

Peel off the casing and cut the hotdog as shown in the photo. Leave at least 1 inch on one end of the hotdog to make space for the "face".

Turn the hotdog and make another cut to make 4 tentacles of the "octopus"

Make the face of the octopus by using sausage cutters or mold. If you do not have them, you may use any pointed-tip knife (I use craft knife) to make the face. You can also make faces from mayonnaise or nori sheets but only after the hotdogs are already cooked and completely cooled down. You can also leave the octopus without a face if you like.

If you are using jumbo-sized hotdog, you may cut it in half if you like. In this case, you'll be making small octopuses, which are perfect if you have small bento lunch box.

There are many sausage cutters and molds which you can buy from stores to make different cuts but these are optional

Boil the hotdogs in a little amount of water for a few minutes to cook until the water has reduced

When the water has reduced, pour a little amount of oil or butter so that the "tentacles" will curl out. Cook further under low heat until all sides are evenly cooked.

HOW TO MAKE TAMAGOYAKI (EGG ROLL):

Beat two eggs. Add salt to taste. Other options: depending on your choice, you can add one or combination of these ingredients: sugar, ground pepper, herbs and spices, carrots, leeks, cheese, kani, mirin, milk, mayonnaise, parsley, mushroom, ham, etc. Just cut the ingredients very finely before adding to the eggs. For this recipe i used salt and milk.

Heat the pan over low heat. Pour some oil. Pour half of the egg mixture. Tilt the pan from side to side to make an even layer.

While the mixture is still a bit runny, roll beginning from one end with the help of a spatula, chop stick or any flat ladle. If you are using round pan fold the left and right sides first, then roll.