#13. Cajun Chicken Skewers Lunch Set

 

This is just like chicken kebab. I marinated the chicken in cajun spice. I used grilled red pepper, caramelised orange , and grilled onion on a skewer. The sides actually came from kennys. They are leftovers from the day before. We have fruit salad, potato salad by me, corn and carrots, corn muffin, and orange slices.

#12. Pork Bulgogi

 

I always try to stick to this bento component ratio- 1carb:2protein:3fiber. The vegetable salad, like rice, is a staple in all my bentos. I only sometimes put 1 or 2 more ingredients and change the dressing.  But every now and then its good to have a little bit of everything in ur lunchbox.

This week I made a batch of fruit salad to put in my lunchbox. Fresh apples, kiwis, canned pineapple, and canned peach. I used the peach syrup to drizzle on the fruit mix. I was inspired to make this when I ordered some chicken from kennys and they gave me a side dish sampler. I usually just pack a banana or an apple but why not have a variety?

This lunchbox contains vegetable salad with honey mustard dressing, sugar snap peas, pork bulgogi, almond cluster, carrot sticks, seasoned dry seaweeds, and fruit mix.

Dwaeji Bulgogi (돼지 불고기)

We had a samgyeopsal party one saturday and had some left over pork so I decided to make this. Instead of pork belly, you can also use pork tenderloin or sukiyaki  cut. Although the sukiyaki cut maybe too thin. I marinated this meat and cooked in to 2 batches. I  was worried that it had gone bad being in the ref for almost 5 days. Surprisingly, it could keep long, provided it was stored cleanly.

Many people don't like eating the same food the very next day or even twice a week. Well my life is eating the same thing I had for dinner the next day at lunch. As for my hubby, I only gave him this a week after he had the first batch. He doesn't like eating the same lunch he had the day before. We like to eat this wrapped in lettuce with rice and pah muchim. I actually like this much better than the plain samgyeopsal because its less greasy. Try this at home. It's good for a dinner party at home with some soju. ^.^

Meat:

• 2 cups pork belly cut up to bite size
• 1 tbs cooking wine (mirin)
• a pinch of salt and pepper

Sauce:

• 2 tbs red pepper paste
• 1 tbs soy sauce
• 1 tbs garlic crushed
• 2 tbs sugar 
• 1/2 tbs sesame oil
• 1 tbs sesame seeds
• ½ Onion chopped
• 2 Green Onions chopped

 

Method:

1. Mix the meat ingredients and marinade for 5 min.
2. Prepare the sauce ingredients and mix.
3. Combine the sauce with the pork. Put in ziplock bag and put in the ref for atleast 30 min. You can leave it overnight for a better flavor.
4. Heat a skillet and put in the meat. Oil isn't necessary since it will cook on its own fat. Fry until pork is well cooked.

#11. Spam Lunchbox

 

I had leftover spam from making Budae Chigae (부대찌개) last night so I just used it up for my hubby's lunchbox. This is my "almost-empty-fridge-lunchbox". One of the things I like about making side dishes is that when the lazy morning comes, or you open your eyes to an empty fridge, you can still put together a decent meal.

I usually prepare side dishes on sundays or monday afternoons. They last the whole week. As long as you keep them well. I try to make 2 vegetable side dishes (besides veg salad), and 3 proteins. Here, we have spam, Soybean Sprouts , Quail eggs in soy sauce, Stir-fried Fishcake, Kimchi, tomato, and grapes. The rice is packed separately.

 

#10. Yangnyeom Chicken Lunchbox

Yang nyeom chicken is simply fried chicken in sweet and spicy sauce. I usually stock up on chicken because it's easy to prepare and you could make many variations. Frying chicken at home isnt something i look forward to but in small quantities where i can use a skillet, it's ok.

The trick to a crunchy and well cooked chicken is to fry it twice. Its true that this takes time to prepare so I do the frying at night. I mix the sauce ahead of time too. Then in the morning, I'll heat the sauce and mix in the chicken. It heats up the chicken but not too hot that it'll take time to cool before packing.

In this lunchbox are yang nyeom chicken, greek salad with grapes, macaroni salad, and rice.

Yang Nyeom Chicken (양념치킨)

 

Yang Nyeom Chicken (양념치킨)

 

 

Ingredients:
2 chicken breast fillets
1 egg white
2 tbs corn starch
1 tbs cooking wine
1/2 tsp salt
pinch black pepper

 

Sauce:
1 tbs red pepper paste
1 tbs sugar
1 tsp mayonnaise
1 tsp ketchup
2 tbs corn syrup
1-2 clove garlic crushed
1/4 white onion minced
1 tsp sesame oil
1 tsp sessame seeds
*2 tbs water

 

1. Cut the chicken fillets into bite size pieces.
2. Add the remaining ingredients to the chicken. Mix and set aside for 15 min.
3. Add the sauce ingredients and mix until well combined.
4. Let's fry. Put enough oil in a hot fry pan. Add the chicken pieces one by one. Fry each side for 2-3 min, then drain. Fry again for the 2nd time. Drain excess oil.
5. In a sauce pan, put the sauce mixture. Stir to prevent from burning. When it starts to sizzle and bubbles start forming, add the chicken. Mix to coat well. Turn off the heat. Cool before packing.
6. 

Cajun Chicken Skewers

It's been a while since my last post. I didn't have the time to post all my recipes but I will update this blog very soon. I had a trip to Puerto Galera in the Philippines and the food there was just  amazing. I had this very long chicken skewer with the conventional tomato and onion. The restaurant lays a spread of various meat and seafood ready for grill by the entrance. You can actually take your pick. Not only was the food fresh, but the meat was so tender. It's unlike other chicken skewers or BBQ Id had before.

I was inspired by my trip to put together a little something of my own. I made this for my hunny's lunchbox. It's size is perfect for cocktail parties, a little like finger food. I used cajun spice to marinade the chicken. Then just a little slice of caramelised orange to give that zingy taste that blends well with cajun (for me...). I put fresh cucumber and caramelised or grillled onion at the end.

Try this very simple and tasty treat.

Ingredients:

Meat:

2 chicken breast fillets

2 tbs mc cormick cajun seasoning mix

1 tbs veg oil

1tbs water

Orange slices (half an orange)

sugar

1 tbs water

cucumber

onion

red pepper

salt

olive oil

Method:

1. Mix the marinade ingredients with chicken and set aside for 30 min.
2. While your chicken is marinading, make the caramelised orange. Coat the orange slices in brown sugar. Put in a hot non stick fry pan. Wait until the sugar caramelises before turning over. Be careful not to burn the orange slices. Add a little water to avoid burning.
3. Preheat the grill. Grill red pepper and onion.
4. Grill chicken for 3-4 min on both sides or until juice is clear. Set aside for 10 min. Cut into 1" cubes.
5. Slice cucumber about quarter inch thick. If you are using a fat cucumber, cut into 4 crosswise and remove big seeds.
6. Assemble. Get small skewers. You can use bamboo, plastic, or metal skewers. Stick the red pepper, chicken, orange, chicken, cucumber, and onion.

You can use tomato and other kinds of sweet peppers.