The very first bento for 2015. A 2015 Osechi Sheep Bento for you~~
Do you know Osechi-ryouri (御節料理) It is a traditional Japanese New Year cuisine, usually prepared and eaten for the first 1-3 days of the new year. Many of the osechi items each have a symbolic meaning. They range from celebratory garnish dishes, vinegared foods to cooked food items.
Traditionally, the Japanese wives/mothers painstakingly prepare the osechi dishes so that they can rest for the first few days of the new year while the family enjoy the osechi cuisine.
Since this is for 2015, the year of Sheep. I definitely had to make sheep characters for this Osechi Bento.
I shape the sheep characters from riceballs. The face and ears were made from rice coloured light brown with some teriyaki sauce. The pink colour is ham and the features are seaweed.
In this bento tier, the osechi sides include simmered vegetables (yasai-nimono), where the vegetables are simmered and cooked in dashi stock with mirin and soy for a nice flavoured cooked dish. Lotus root has an auspicious meaning of bearing fruit after the flower. I also added some really pretty flora nama-fu.
The other dish is date-maki which is a type of fish paste egg roll, it resembles a scroll, the luck of academic, cultural and liberal arts.
In the other bento tier, I prepared one of my favourites – Kurikinto (sweet chestnut and mashed potato paste), which has meaning of gold treasure and prosperity.
Not to forgot the must-have, red and white colours of kamaboko (japanese fish cake) which also have the meaning of good luck and talisman. I love this special sheep and 迎春 (welcome spring) designs of the kamaboko
I also added some sauteed vegetables with shiitake mushrooms, tamagoyaki and prawns. Prawns symbolises longevity – why? Cos you will live till your beard grows and your back bends like the prawns!
I had fun making and eating this Osechi Sheep Bento!
Wishing everyone a wonderful start to a fabulous 2015!! Happy New Year :)
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More information about my bento cookbook title ‘Kawaii Bento’ here.
January 4, 2015
How do you get the little brands in the pineapple? ;3
January 5, 2015
Those are not pineapples :) they are Japanese roll egg, tamagoyaki. I used a branding iron to make those marks :)
January 2, 2015
天啊！好可爱的绵羊便当，圆鼓鼓的小绵羊真讨喜♥♥谢谢分享○御節料理○，我又长知识了。
受您家可爱便当的诱惑，我今天也做了个绵羊便当应新年^^
January 1, 2015
Absolutely beautiful! Love to read about the meanig of the food & traditions.