Tonight’s we are having Japanese/Korean bento for dinner. Mum got the Saba Fish Set (S$5 + S$0.30 for container) while I went for the Saba Fish & Chicken Set (S$7 + S$0.30 for container). Both sets came with pan-fried blue mackerel or Japanese mackerel, kimchi and white rice. My bento also included spicy chicken though with half the amount of fish.
Sprinkle with salt and microwave the Japanese mackerel soaked in saline for 4.5 minutes. The liquid was a mixture of physiological saline, mirin, chili oil, and added Japanese mackerel. Refreshing.
A flatfish, a horse mackerel (aji) and a turban shell (sazae) on a porcelain saucer. Painting in oil on canvas, 302x380 mm, (probably spuriously) signed Hokusai, with seal Katsushika/Tengu, 1840s.
Made my way to the coffee shop a couple of away from my place to buy dinner. Mum asked for the Saba Fish Bento from the Korean/Japanese stall. Half a pan-fried blue mackerel over a bed of shredded cabbages drizzled in teriyaki sauce occupied the largest compartment. White rice filled up the next biggest space with a side of kimchi and a lime.
Me went with the Economy Rice (菜饭) option and chose three dishes for my takeaway meal. Starting from the left to right, bitter gourd & egg stir-fry, stewed fried egg tofu and crispy chicken cutlet over white rice.
Japanese mackerel grilled with shio-koji and ketchup (cooking)
A Japanese mackerel is a fish that eventually grows big, and its name changes according to its stage of development (Shusse-uo). The taste is light and delicious. This time, I coated it with shio-koji and ketchup and heated it in the toaster oven for about 15 minutes.
Note: Shio-koji is a compound seasoning made by mixing salt with white mold grown in rice (koji), which is the source of fermentation.