Salmon and Ikura Bento
One of the must-do things while riding the Shinkansen (the Japanese Bullet Train) is to try an Ekiben. An Ekiben is a lunch box that you can buy at the station and enjoy while riding the train. Bentos usually feature ingredients that the city is famous for. The Salmon and Ikura (Salmon Roe) Bento is famous at Tokyo Station. So when you are at Tokyo station, remember to ask for the number 29!
Salmon and Ikura Bento boxes are a beautiful Tokyo style lunch that you can enjoy at home or on the go. The beautiful hand made lunches are served in a bento box and can be bought in convenience stores or made at home. In fact, the term bento is derived from the Chinese term biandang (便當, pinyin: biàndāng), which means “convenient” or “convenience”. So a “Bento” or a “Bento box” is a Japanese lunch box.
Japanese Bentos come in a variety of shapes and colors.Bento boxes are often beautiful and prepared with a variety of delicious and seasonal ingredients. For example, bento boxes from Tochigi are often loaded with crab, bento boxes from Hiroshima often feature Oysters, and bentos from Kagoshima are often loaded with black pork. Bentos are usually sold at train stations and convenience stores, especially around train stations. If you ride the bullet trains, people will often board with a bento that features hometown or seasonal ingredients.
Tokyo is home to the famous Tokyo fish market where salmon and salmon roe (Ikura) can be found in abundance. So what better says Tokyo than salmon and ikura?
Salmon and Ikura bentos start with a bed of sushi rice which is topped with salmon flakes and a pice of tender poached salmon and then topped with fresh ikura. Japanese pickles (tsukemono) are used to garnis the meal and are usually colorful and reflect the season. Other accoutrements can be added to the bento such as chrysanthemum flowers, plastic sawgrass, or mitsuba (Japanese Parsley) leaves to decorate the bento and create a convenient personalized feast that can be carried with you and eaten later.
When carrying a bento it’s often packed in a cold storage bag with some lice packs to keep it cool, although the sushi rice is loaded with vinegar keeping the bento fresh at room temperature for a few hours.
Try this bento box for yourself, or pack your children a 5 star lunch if you prefer.
Try it out and let me know what you think in the comments section, below.
Salmon and Ikura Bento
Bento Boxes is a true opportunity for a kitchen chef to show their artistic side. Gather your ingredients and have at it! If you are making a single tier bento, remember to first layer your rice on the bottom but not so much that your ingredients spill over- at least no if you are planning to put a cover over the bento. If using a multi tier box then load one tier up with rice and fill your second tier with ingredients you love.
This Salmon and Ikura Bento box features moist poached salmon. Check out my recipe if you want to prepare it yourself.
 PREP |  COOKING |  YIELD |
| 10 mins | Makes 1 Bento |
| PREP | 10 mins |
| COOKING | |
| YIELD | Makes 1 Bento |
Sushi Rice:
- 1 cup of white rice
- 2 TBSP Sushi Vinegar
Toppings:
- 1 piece of poached salmon
- Salmon Flakes
- Ikura
- Japanese pickles (tsukemono)
Instructions:
- Mix the sushi and the sushi vinegar using a plastic piece paddle.
- Fill the bento box about halfway with the rice. Smooth the rice so it is even.
- Place the tsukemono on top of the rice in the corners of the box.
- Sprinkle the rice with the salmon flakes.
- Lay the poached fish in the middle of the box.
- Top the salmon and the salmon flakes with ikura.
- Place a packet of soy sauce in the box if desired.
- Put the cover on the box.
- Store in the refrigerator or put in a bag with an ice pack for up to four hours.
- Serve and eat.
Notes:
- When making a bento, nice presentation is important. Aesthetically pleasing meals are a hallmark of Japanese cooking. When selecting your pickles, go for taste and color. I like using shiba-zuke (purple pickles made with cucumbers and eggplant) and a nice green pickle (such as mizuna -Japanese parsley, or takana- Japanese mustard leaf) with a simple taste.
- Although you can serve with a pack of soy sauce or wasabi, you might find it’s not necessary. This little bento is already packed with good flavors.
