July 1: Chicken with Ume & Shiso Bento
When I first started living alone, the hardest part was figuring out lunch. Eating out was expensive, and convenience store meals got boring fast. That’s when I began making bento just for myself.
At first, it felt like such a hassle. But one day, I made chicken with ume (pickled plum) and shiso, and it turned out unexpectedly delicious. I remember thinking, “A bento can change my mood this much?”
It’s the kind of refreshing dish that’s perfect for a humid July morning. Even when you don’t have much of an appetite, it naturally makes you want to reach for your chopsticks. Today’s recipe captures that small discovery.
Bento Menu
| Main | Chicken with Ume & Shiso |
|---|---|
| Side 1 | Dashimaki Tamago (Japanese rolled omelet) |
| Side 2 | Stir-fried Bell Pepper with Dried Whitebait |
| Rice | Plain white rice with yukari (perilla sprinkles), or shiso-mixed rice |
📝 Ingredients (for 1 serving)
Main: Chicken with Ume & Shiso
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100–120g chicken thigh
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1 large umeboshi (pickled plum)
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2 shiso (perilla) leaves
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1 tsp soy sauce
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1 tsp mirin
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A dash of sesame oil
Side 1: Dashimaki Tamago
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1 egg
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1 tsp white dashi
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1 tsp water
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A little salad oil
Side 2: Stir-fried Bell Pepper with Whitebait
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1 bell pepper, thinly sliced
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1 tbsp chirimen-jako (dried baby sardines)
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1 tsp sesame oil
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White sesame seeds, to taste
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A few drops of soy sauce
🔪 Directions
Main: Chicken with Ume & Shiso
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Cut chicken into bite-size pieces. Remove the pit from the umeboshi and mash into a paste.
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In a bowl, mix chicken with ume paste, soy sauce, and mirin. Massage well and let sit for about 5 minutes.
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Julienne the shiso leaves. Heat sesame oil in a pan and cook the chicken until golden.
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Add the shiso just before finishing, let the aroma release, then remove from heat.
Side 1: Dashimaki Tamago
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Beat the egg, add white dashi and water, and mix.
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Cook in layers in a small frying pan, rolling into an omelet. Shape while warm.
Side 2: Stir-fried Bell Pepper with Whitebait
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Heat sesame oil in a pan and sauté the bell pepper.
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Add whitebait and lightly stir-fry, finishing with a dash of soy sauce.
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Sprinkle sesame seeds before serving.
🍚 Bento Assembly Tips
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Sprinkle rice with yukari (perilla seasoning) or shiso furikake for both color and freshness.
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Place chicken and omelet on opposite sides, with the stir-fried side dish in the middle for a balanced look.
📌 Cooking Notes
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Ume and shiso add a refreshing touch, stimulate appetite, and even help preserve the food in hot weather.
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Bell pepper with whitebait brings extra calcium and iron.
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Marinate the chicken the night before for an easier morning.