insideKENT Magazine Issue 101 - September 2020 | Page 29

FOOD+DRINK
TOP OF THE CLASS
LUNCHES
WITH SCHOOL DINNERS OFF THE MENU, OPT FOR HIDDEN VEGGIES, VEGAN
TREATS AND COLOURFUL INSPIRATIONS TO FILL LUNCHBOXES WITH DELICIOUS,
NUTRITIOUS RECIPES THIS NEW TERM.
Healthy Kids’ Bento Box
Recipe by www.watercress.co.uk
Kids will love this cute Japanese-inspired packed lunch that’s both nutritious and colourful!
Prep time: 20 minutes
Makes: One lunch box
Ingredients:
• 2 inch length of cucumber
• Small handful cherry tomatoes
• 100g cooked sliced chicken breast
• 1 tbsp teriyaki sauce
• Handful watercress
• 2 tbsp mixed nuts and seeds
• Small handful grapes, cut in half
• 3 strawberries, quartered
• 50g sushi rice, cooked according to packet
instructions
• 1 tsp sushi vinegar
• 1 sheet nori seaweed
Equipment needed:
• 1 panda rice mould with nori cutter
(or any preferred other shape, available online)
• 1 bento box (or use Tupperware)
• Star or heart shaped cutter
Method:
1. Take your rice mould and dip the main part of
the mould in cold water to help prevent the rice
from sticking. Pack the mould full of cooked sushi
rice, making double sure that any small, detailed
sections such as the ears are well packed. Take the
press and dip this in cold water before using to press
the rice firmly into the mould, ensuring the rice is
packed tightly so that it keeps its shape once turned
out. If you do not have a mould you can simply
shape the rice into firm balls using wet hands.
2. Carefully turn the panda shaped rice out of the
mould. Take your nori sheet and use the cutter to
punch shapes out of it. Use your fingers to carefully
position the pieces of nori onto the rice so that it
resembles the face of a panda. Refrigerate until
needed, up to 24 hours before using.
3. Slice your cucumber into half centimetre thick
rounds. Take your star or heart shaped cutter and
cut a shape from each cucumber round.
4. Take your sliced cooked chicken and toss in the
teriyaki sauce until well coated.
5. Finally assemble your bento box by placing the
panda rice, chicken, watercress, cucumber, tomatoes
and fruit into the box in a neat and tidy arrangement.
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