Japanese Fried Chicken Bento

One of my favorite bento is chicken karaage, or Japanese fried chicken bento.

In the United States, chicken kaarage is also referred to as sesame fried chicken in many Japanese restaurants.

Other than chicken teriyaki, chicken karaage is probably one of the most popular combinations when it comes to Japanese bento.

If you have had Japanese food or lunch box, I am sure you have tried the crispy and flavorful Japanese fried chicken.

I simply can’t resist the good taste.

Making restaurant-style bento is actually easier than you think, and the whole process of assembling the different dishes into the bento box is actually quite fun.

When I started making bento at home, I got myself a 5-compartment bento box, which is widely used in many Japanese restaurants.

Please take note that there are a wide variety of bento boxes available: plastic, wood, lacquer ware, 2-tier, single compartment, 2 compartments, up to 7 or 8 compartments, and the list goes on.

When it comes to choosing the size and type of bento box, it’s really a personal preference and what works best for you and your needs.

If you are a working professional, you should probably start with a simple 2 to 3-compartment bento box.

Everyone can make a bento of your choice. If you are a beginner, here are some pointers for packing mouthwatering bento:

1. Use short-grain rice for the steamed rice and always cook the rice ahead of time to allow for cooling before assembling.
2. Sprinkle some black sesame seeds on top of the steamed rice to enhance the presentation. You can also add some green peas to the rice. The key to a great bento is to make plain looking food looks interesting and hence pleasing to both the eyes and taste buds.
3. Sauces such as dipping sauce and salad dressing should be packed in separate sauce containers to avoid spillover and ensure freshness, especially if the bento is meant to be taken out or consumed later.
4. Avoid raw fish or sashimi (especially in warmer weather) unless the bento is served immediately.
5. Avoid soupy or watery dishes as they don’t pack well in a bento box.
6. Traditionally (regardless of the size or type of the bento box), the perfect ratio of a healthy bento is 3 parts carb (rice, noodles), 1 part protein (meat or fish), 2 parts vegetables/fruits.

   However, this is a guideline and not rules.

   If you are a vegetarian or vegan, you can still pack a bento!

This is my Japanese fried chicken bento.

Other than the main dish of chicken karaage,  there are steamed rice, gyoza, pickled cucumber and mixed green salad.

Here is my empty bento box with the different compartments and how I pack my bento.

A typical restaurant-style bento usually consists of steamed rice, main entree, side dish, tsukemono (Japanese pickle), and salad.

For the Japanese fried chicken, I marinated the chicken meat with Mizkan (Bonito Flavored) Soup Base, consists mostly of soy sauce and dashi.

I also added some Mizkan HONTERI® Mirin for a tint of sweetness.

For the tsukemono, Mizkan rice vinegar comes in handy as a little dash goes a long way in the simple cucumber pickle.

To balance off the taste of the bento, I chose Mizkan Sesame Dressing for my salad.

The end result was a beautiful bento packed with all my favorite Japanese dishes that I just couldn’t stop eating!

How Many Calories per Serving?

This recipe is only 684 calories per serving.

What Dishes to Serve with This Recipe?

For a wholesome meal and easy weeknight dinner, I recommend the following recipes.

Gyoza (Japanese Dumplings)

Agedashi Tofu

Asari Miso Soup (Miso Soup with Clams)

Dashi

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Japanese Fried Chicken Bento

Servings 1 people

Prep Time 45 minutes

Cook Time 30 minutes

Total Time 1 hour 15 minutes

Japanese Fried Chicken Bento with steamed rice and sesame seeds, pickled cucumbers, salad and Gyoza.

Calories 684 kcal

Author Bee | Rasa Malaysia

Ingredients

• 8 oz. skinless and boneless chicken, chicken breast or thigh (preferred)
• 1 tablespoon ginger juice extracted from 2-inch piece ginger
• 1 1/2 tablespoons Mizkan Bonito Flavored Soup Base
• 1 tablespoon Mizkan HONTERI® Mirin
• 3/4 cup corn starch or potato starch
• Oil for deep-frying
• Steamed rice
• Sesame seeds
• Cucumber Pickle
• Salad
• Gyoza

Cucumber Pickle (Tsukemono)

• 4 oz. cucumber
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon sugar
• 1 teaspoon Mizkan Rice Vinegar

Salad

• Mixed green or fresh herb salad
• Mizkan Sesame Dressing

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Directions

1. 1

   Cut the chicken into bite-sized pieces/cubes. Use paper towels to pat dry the chicken and transfer to a bowl. Grate the ginger and extract the juice by squeezing with your hand, you should get about 1 tablespoon ginger juice.

2. 2

   Add the Mizkan (Bonito Flavored) Soup Base, Mizkan HONTERI® Mirin, and ginger juice to the chicken and marinate for 30 minutes. Transfer the chicken out of the marinade and coat them evenly with the corn starch or potato starch. Shake off the excess.

   
3. 3

   Heat 2 to 3 inches (4 cm-6 cm) of oil in a pan or small stockpot to 350°F (176°C) for deep-frying. Gently drop the chicken pieces into the oil and deep-fry until golden brown. Dish out with a strainer or slotted spoon, draining the excess oil by laying the chicken on a dish lined with paper towels.

Cucumber Pickle (Tsukemono)

1. 1

   Cut the cucumber lengthwise and then slice into small pieces. Transfer the cucumber to a small bowl and add the salt, sugar, Mizkan Rice Vinegar and mix well. Chill in the refrigerator for 30 minutes.

Salad

1. 1

   Arrange the salad in the salad compartment of the bento box. Drizzle some Mizkan Sesame Dressing on top of the salad.

Assembling the Japanese Fried Chicken Bento

1. 1

   Lay a piece of lettuce leaf on the main dish compartment. Arrange the fried chicken on top of it.

2. 2
   Add a bowl of steamed rice in the rice compartment and top with some black sesame seeds.
3. 3
   Add 3-4 gyoza in the side dish compartment.
4. 4
   Add the chilled cucumber pickle in the tsukemono compartment.
5. 5
   The bento is now done and ready to be served.

Recipe Notes

For the gyoza recipe, please click here. For other Japanese bento recipes such as salmon teriyaki, please click here.

Nutrition Facts

Japanese Fried Chicken Bento

Amount Per Serving (1 people)

Calories 684 Calories from Fat 54

% Daily Value*

Fat 6g9%

Saturated Fat 1g6%

Cholesterol 145mg48%

Sodium 1570mg68%

Carbohydrates 101g34%

Fiber 1g4%

Sugar 9g10%

Protein 49g98%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Course: Japanese Recipes

Cuisine: Chicken

Keyword: Japanese Fried Chicken Bento