Week 8: Meal Prep Recipes

Another week another meal prep as my parents' private chef

Happy Sunday!

We’re back with our meal prep, and this week’s theme is Japanese bento boxes! For lunch, we are making the classic bento structure with one carb, one protein, and multiple side dishes. For breakfast, we’re going for Japanese favorites with a twist: an egg sando and some chocolate zucchini mini loaves to sneak in some extra veggies!

Breakfast #1: Chocolate Zucchini Mini Loaves

A great way to use up any leftover zucchini! These moist, chocolatey mini loaves are perfect for a quick breakfast or snack. Find the recipe here.

• Ingredients:

  • Shredded zucchini

  • Cocoa powder

  • Cinnamon

  • Freshly brewed hot coffee

Breakfast #2: Egg & Bacon Sando

A Japanese convenience store classic, often found at 7-Eleven, but for this recipe, we’re swapping out milk bread for buttery brioche buns. Find the recipe here.

• Ingredients:

  • Medium-boiled eggs

  • Kewpie mayo

  • Brioche buns

  • Crispy bacon

Lunch #1: Niku Miso Bento

A sweet and savory miso beef dish served over rice, paired with a variety of tasty side dishes for a balanced and flavorful meal. Find the recipe here.

• Ingredients:

  • Miso ground beef

  • Steamed rice

  • Chili oil crunch cucumbers

  • Sesame carrots

  • Korean spinach salad (Sigeumchi namul)

  • Gamja salad (Korean potato salad)

Lunch #2: Shiozake Salmon Bento

A traditional Japanese salted salmon meal, served like a bento box with perfectly seasoned rice and a variety of colorful side dishes. Find the recipe here.

• Ingredients:

  • Salted salmon (Shiozake)

  • Gamja salad

  • Chili crunch cucumbers

  • Sesame carrots

  • Wakame salad

  • Tamagoyaki (Japanese folded omelet)

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Tips for This Week’s Meal Prep:

• Reusing Side Dishes: We’ve reused some side dishes between the bentos, like the Korean potato salad (gamja salad), chili crunch cucumbers, and sesame carrots. It’s a great way to save time while adding variety to your meals!

• Meal Prep Ready: All of these dishes are meal-prep friendly and can be stored in the fridge for a few days. You can also freeze the salted salmon for later use!

• Bento Box Method: A traditional bento box balances protein, carbs, and veggies. This week, we’ve included a mix of Korean and Japanese-inspired sides to keep things fresh and flavorful.

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With this week’s menu, you’ll be ready to enjoy Japanese-inspired meals throughout the week. 

Love and appreciate you all!