Mento Bento Recipe
Kalbi, fried chicken, ahi poke, SPAM, uzumaki, takan & um
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Ingredients
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Kalbi
Fried Chicken
Ahi Poke
SPAM
Uzumaki
Takan
Um
Method
Kalbi
- 1
Marinate the Kalbi
In a large bowl, mix soy sauce, brown sugar, minced garlic, sesame oil, and black pepper. Add short ribs and coat well. Cover and let marinate for at least 2 hours or overnight in the refrigerator.
- 2
Cook the Kalbi
Preheat a grill or grill pan over medium-high heat. Grill the marinated short ribs for about 4-5 minutes on each side until well charred and cooked through. Garnish with chopped green onions before serving.
Fried Chicken
- 3
Prepare the Chicken
In a bowl, soak chicken thighs in buttermilk for at least 1 hour. This helps tenderize the meat.
- 4
Coat the Chicken
In another bowl, mix flour, paprika, salt, and black pepper. Remove chicken from buttermilk and coat in the flour mixture.
- 5
Fry the Chicken
Heat oil in a deep skillet over medium-high heat. Fry the coated chicken thighs for about 8-10 minutes on each side or until golden brown and cooked through. Drain on paper towels before serving.
Ahi Poke
- 6
Mix the Ahi Poke
In a bowl, combine cubed ahi tuna, soy sauce, sesame oil, and sliced green onions. Gently mix until well combined.
- 7
Serve the Ahi Poke
Sprinkle shredded seaweed and sesame seeds on top of the poke mixture before serving.
SPAM
- 8
Cook the SPAM
In a skillet over medium heat, fry the sliced SPAM until golden brown on both sides, about 3-4 minutes per side.
- 9
Season the SPAM
Drizzle with soy sauce and sprinkle black pepper and chopped green onions over the cooked SPAM before serving.
Uzumaki
- 10
Cook the Sushi Rice
Rinse sushi rice under cold water until the water runs clear. Combine rice and water in a rice cooker and cook according to the manufacturer's instructions.
- 11
Season the Rice
Once cooked, transfer rice to a large bowl and mix with rice vinegar, sugar, and salt. Allow to cool slightly.
- 12
Roll the Uzumaki
Place a nori sheet on a bamboo sushi mat. Spread a thin layer of sushi rice over the nori, leaving a small border at the edges. Add julienned cucumber and carrots, then roll tightly using the mat. Slice into bite-sized pieces before serving.
Takan
- 13
Prepare the Tofu
Press the tofu to remove excess moisture, then cut into cubes.
- 14
Cook the Tofu
In a skillet, heat soy sauce over medium heat and add the tofu cubes, cooking until they're slightly golden and heated through, about 5-7 minutes.
- 15
Serve the Tofu
Garnish the cooked tofu with sliced green onions and sesame seeds before serving.
Um
- 16
Prepare the Condiments
Place pickled ginger and wasabi in small serving dishes for guests to use as condiments.

