Crispy Chicken Bento

This recipe is incredibly easy & quick to prepare; perfect for a week day dinner. It is full of flavour and can be made spicier, if preferred, by simply adding more sriracha sauce to the mayonnaise mix & chilli flakes to the pickled cucumber. If you can find edamame beans, they are a great replacement for the grated carrots. Simply add a little salt & chilli flakes to the beans before serving.

2-4 Servings

Ingredients for the crispy chicken

500gr diced chicken thigh meat (can be replaced by strips of chicken breast)

20gr ginger, finely grated

3 cloves of garlic, finely grated

2 tbsp soy sauce

1 tbsp sugar

250gr cornflour

Ingredients for the spicy mayonnaise:

200ml mayonnaise

1 tbsp rice vinegar

1 tsp sriracha sauce

Ingredients for the flash pickled cucumber:

1/2 cucumber, cubed

2 tbsp rice vinegar

A pinch of salt

Ingredients for the rice:

2-3 cups of cooked basmati rice

2 tbsp sweet soy sauce

2 tbsp soy sauce

1 tbsp sesame oil

Ingredients for the carrot salad:

2 carrots, peeled & grated

1 tsp apple cider vinegar

1 tbsp vegetable oil

Sesame seeds (optional)

Fresh coriander (optional)

Instructions:

In a bowl, create your chicken marinade by combining the ginger, garlic, soy sauce & sugar. Add the chicken to the marinade & toss thoroughly. Allow to marinate at least 15 minutes.

If you are cooking your rice yourself, place the rice on the stove to cook at this point.

Mix the spicy mayonnaise ingredients together & refrigerate.

Toss the flash pickled cucumber ingredients together & refrigerate.

Toss the carrot salad ingredients together & refrigerate.

When the rice is nearly done, heat 4 tbsp of vegetable oil in a pan on medium heat & place the cornflour in a large bowl. Toss each piece of chicken in the cornflour & add to the pan, cooking 3-5 minutes on each side (depending on the thickness of the pieces) or until cooked through.

Toss your cooked rice with the sweet soy sauce, soy sauce & sesame oil.

Prepare your bento plate by placing a mound of rice on one side of the plate, 3-4 strips of fried chicken on the other, and a helping of pickled cucumber & carrot salad on either side. Drizzle the spicy mayo over the chicken.

Scatter sesame seeds & fresh, chopped coriander over the top, if desired.