[RECIPE] Chicken Nanban Bento

Chicken Nanban is a beloved Japanese fried chicken dish coated in a tangy-sweet sauce and topped with creamy tartar sauce. This dish is a popular bento choice, offering a satisfying and flavorful meal. The crispy chicken, paired with the richness of tartar sauce, makes it a hearty and delicious option—perfect for a filling lunch.

Recipe: 

Serving: 1

Time: 30 minutes 

Ingredients: 

For The Rice:

• 1 Cup Cooked Rice (Rice Options)

Fried Chicken:

• 3 pc Chicken Thigh 

• 1 tbsp Sake

• Salt

• 3 tbsp Flour

• 1 pc Egg

• Cooking Oil 

Amazu Sauce (Sweet and Tangy Sauce): 

• 1 1/2 tbsp Red Vinegar 

• 1 tbsp Soy Sauce 

• 2 tbsp Sugar 

Tartar Sauce:

• 2 pcs Boiled Egg

• 1/3 small Onion 

• 3 tbsp Yuzu Kosho Mayonnaise 

• Salt

• Black Pepper 

Enoki Salad:

• 1 cup Dried Enoki 

• 1 tbsp Sesame Oil

• 1 tsp Torigara (Chicken Stock Powder) 

• 1 tbsp Sesame Seeds 

• 1 tsp Garlic Chili Oil

Garnish:

• Lettuce

• Broccoli (boiled) 

• Cherry Tomato 

• Lemon Slice 

Instructions: 

1. Prepare the Tangy-sweet Sauce 

   1. In a small pot, combine red vinegar, soy sauce, and sugar. 

   2. Bring to a boil, then turn off the heat and set aside. 

2. Fry the chicken

   1. Make shallow slits in the chicken thighs for even cooking. 

   2. Rub the chicken with salt and Sake, then coat with flour. 

   3. Dip into the beaten egg and fry in hot oil until golden brown and crispy. 

   4. Once fried, dip the chicken into the tangy-sweet sauce, coating it evenly. 

   5. Slice into bite-sized pieces and set aside. 

3. Make the Tartar Sauce 

   1. Finely chop the onion. 

   2. In a microwave-safe bowl, crack eggs, poke the yolk and microwave for 1:20-1:30 minutes until cooked.

   3. Mash the boiled egg and mix with chopped onion, mayonnaise, salt, and black pepper to create the tartar sauce. 

4. Prepare the Enoki Salad 

   1. Place the dried Enoki mushrooms in a bowl and add 1 cup of water to rehydrate. 

   2. Squeeze out excess water, then mix with Torigara powder and sesame oil. 

   3. Cover and microwave for 1 minute. 

   4. Add sesame seeds and garlic chili oil, then mix well. 

5. Assemble the Bento 

   1. Fill the bento box with cooked rice. 

   2. Arrange a bed of lettuce and place the friend Chicken on top.

   3. Spoon the tartar sauce over the chicken. 

   4. Fill the remaining space with the Enoki Salad, boiled broccoli, a cherry tomato, and a lemon slice. 

RECIPE by Azusa