Whether you live in Japan as a single person or with your family, it’s important to know and get used to the bento culture. Indeed, making bento either for yourself, spouse or kids will give you many benefits such as: low financial cost and of course healthier. Now, it’s okay to make a bento filled with your favourite dish from your country, but sometimes, if you’re interested to learn and embrace new cultures, we suggest you to try to cook Japanese food as well!
In making Japanese-styled bento, you’ll learn to prepare for some 常備菜 or “joubisai”, or “standby dishes”. According to www.justbento.com, joubisai literally means ‘always available food’. They are stored foods that can be kept for a while, which can be pulled out and used on short notice, and enrich and streamline the bento making process. Some joubisai that you can prepare easily, for example: homemade frozen mixed vegetables, pickles, soup stocks, and many more (read HERE for more details in English).
Now if you love to collect some recipes book for joubisai, here are some recommendation:
1.Standy Dishes: 109 Tasty Recipes You Can Have Ready in the Refrigerator, from General Dishes to Bento. Author: Kazuo Hida, Number of Pages: 128, Language: Japanese. Amazon Japan link HERE
2.Tsukuoki: Shuumatsu Matomete Tsukurioki Reshipi ( loosely translated as Tsukuoki: Recipes You Can Make Altogether Every Weekend). Author: Nozomi, Number of Pages: 127, Language: Japanese. Amazon Japan link HERE
3.Tsukurioki Sarada (loosely translated as “Standby Salads”). Author: Shufunotomosha, Number of Pages: 128, Language: Japanese. Amazon Japan link HERE
4.Yasai no Jobina (loosely translated as “Standby Vegetables”). Author: Izumo Shoji, Number of Pages: 128, Language: Japanese. Amazon Japan link HERE
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