Creating Adorable Character Lunch Boxes
How to Make Cute Minions Onigiri, Ham Ribbon Onigiri, and Ham Zucchini Pancakes!
Today, I’m excited to share three delightful and visually appealing autumn picnic lunch box menu ideas! We’ll be making adorable Minions onigiri, charming ham ribbon onigiri, and flavorful ham zucchini pancakes in detail. Get ready to impress with these character-themed bento creations!
Minions Onigiri Ingredients- White sliced cheese (for eyes)
- Yellow sliced cheese (for face)
- Boiled egg yolk (for rice coloring)
- Cooked rice
- Seaweed (for eyes, hair, mouth)
- Chives (for hair, decoration)
- Stir-fried anchovies (filling)
Ham Ribbon Onigiri Ingredients- Chives (for tying ribbons)
- Cooked rice
- Sandwich ham
- Pinch of salt
- Finely chopped vegetables (e.g., carrots, onions)
- Sesame seeds
- Egg garnish (for decoration)
Ham Zucchini Pancake Ingredients- Zucchini
- Spam or luncheon meat
- Cooking oil
- Eggs
- A little flour
- Chives (for tying ribbons)
- Cooked rice
- Sandwich ham
- Pinch of salt
- Finely chopped vegetables (e.g., carrots, onions)
- Sesame seeds
- Egg garnish (for decoration)
Ham Zucchini Pancake Ingredients- Zucchini
- Spam or luncheon meat
- Cooking oil
- Eggs
- A little flour
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
[Minions Onigiri] Use a small bottle cap or a similar tool to punch out circles from the white sliced cheese to create the pupils and irises for the eyes. Then, use small cutouts of seaweed to form the pupils. Add seaweed for hair and a mouth to craft the iconic Minions faces.
Step 2
Sieve the boiled egg yolks to create a fluffy, breadcrumb-like texture. Mix the cooked rice with the sieved egg yolk and a pinch of salt, ensuring it’s well combined. The rice will take on a lovely yellow hue.
Step 3
Shape the seasoned rice into a round onigiri. Carefully place the stir-fried anchovies inside as a filling, ensuring the rice doesn’t break. Gently mold it to form the basic shape of a Minion’s head.
Step 4
Wrap the onigiri with a strip of seaweed. Artfully attach the pre-made eye details, hair, and mouth pieces. Gently press to secure them. Your adorable Minions onigiri are now complete!
Step 5
[Ham Ribbon Onigiri] Briefly blanch the chives in boiling water for about 10 seconds, then rinse with cold water and squeeze out any excess moisture. This will make them pliable for tying.
Step 6
Lightly pan-fry the sandwich ham slices until they are golden brown on both sides. This makes them easier to shape into ribbons.
Step 7
Create a bow shape by pleating the fried ham three times. Use a blanched chive to tie around the center of the ham, securing the ribbon shape.
Step 8
In a lightly oiled pan, sauté the finely chopped vegetables (like carrots and onions) with a pinch of salt until slightly softened. Mix these sautéed vegetables with the cooked rice, sesame seeds, and a little more salt. Ensure everything is evenly incorporated.
Step 9
Form the seasoned rice mixture into bite-sized, slightly flattened balls for the onigiri base.
Step 10
Cut the cooked egg garnish into small squares. Place a square of egg garnish on top of each onigiri, then position the prepared ham ribbon over it. Gently wrap the onigiri to secure the ham ribbon in place. Your charming ham ribbon onigiri are ready!
Step 11
[Ham Zucchini Pancake] Slice the zucchini into approximately 0.5 cm thick rounds. Cut the Spam or luncheon meat to a similar thickness. Use a cookie cutter to create a hole in the center of each zucchini slice, then insert a slice of Spam into the opening for a decorative effect.
Step 12
Lightly coat the prepared zucchini-and-Spam pieces with a thin layer of flour. Then, dip them into beaten egg. Heat cooking oil in a frying pan and cook the coated pieces until both sides are golden brown and crisp. Your delicious ham zucchini pancakes are done!