Artfully arranged with sweet ground chicken, salmon flakes, scrambled egg, and strawberries, this colorful Sanshoku Bento turns a simple school lunch or work lunch exciting.
Sanshoku Bento is very similar to Soboro Bento which I had previously shared on Just One Cookbook. The bento includes ground chicken seasoned with the slightly sweet soy sauce flavor, served on top of steamed rice with scrambled egg. The only difference here is I have also included flaked salmon. Because there are three colors, this bento is known as “Sanshoku (three-color)” Bento.
On the previous day, dinner was: Sanshoku Donburi
Sometimes I add one more color to enhance the looks of Soboro Don. This time I defrosted and bake Japanese Salted Salmon from the freezer. Once it’s cooled, I break up the salmon into flakes. Now your third topping is ready.
Lunch Next Day:
- Sanshoku Bento
- Strawberries
Whether your packing lunches for the kids, or for yourself, Sanshoku Bento is one of the easiest ideas for a wholesome, delicious bento menu.
If you are new to packing lunches and interested in making bento-style lunch, check out my short video below on How To Make Bento.
Watch How to Make Bento (お弁当の作り方)
Here are some helpful tips and tools on how to make healthy and colorful Bento.
Japanese Ingredient Substitution: If you want to look for substitutes for Japanese condiments and ingredients, click here.
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- Soboro Don
- Salted Salmon
- shredded nori seaweed (kizami nori)
- Strawberries
- Pack rice in 2/3 of bento box and put salmon flakes, scramble egg, and ground chicken on top of the rice. Sprinkle shredded nori.
- Add strawberries in 1/3 of the bento.
- Cool down completely before closing the bento box.
Please read FOOD SAFETY TIPS.
You can buy a Magewappa Bento Box from this online store that ships internationally.
Recipe by Namiko Chen of Just One Cookbook. All images and content on this site are copyright protected. Please do not use my images without my permission. If you’d like to share this recipe on your site, please re-write the recipe in your own words and link to this post as the original source. Thank you.
Love your new website, so elegant! Congrats, and I certainly don’t mind the multi emails as you transition. You just make me hungry, that’s all! 🙂
Hi Andria! You’re so sweet and kind… THANK YOU! I’m very frustrated with the email system but I think i got it and should work next time… but I’m too scared to make a promise after sending multi emails. Haha.
Did you hear my scream when this happened? =P
Love your meals and the pics as well, very good quality shots that make things look even yummier!
This is a very cute bentobako set! Thank you for the opportunity.
Thank you so much for your kind words, Andy! Hope you enter the giveaway and good luck!
I wish you could make a how to video on how to roll a sushi and maybe some korean recipes
Hi Camyl! Just in case you are not aware, this comment won’t be counted for Giveaway. Please enter in the giveaway page: https://www.justonecookbook.com/giveaways/bento-box-set-giveaway-2/
I’ll think about the video for making sushi. I don’t make too many Korean dishes, but have you checked this Korean food youtube channel? You will love it!
http://www.youtube.com/user/Maangchi
I love how you’ve arranged the 3 proteins in triangular wedges at one end of the bento with the fruit at the other. My own posts/pictures seem to be predominantly brown so the sheer colour in your posts make me envious. 🙂
素敵！ピンしました＝）
Those strawberries look so delicious against the other colors of the food! =) Thanks for sharing it with us. Also, congrats on the launch of your site’s new look!
Thank you so much Kimmi! I was too lazy and put only one kind of fruit, yet it’s interesting how the colorful food brightens the lunch box. 🙂 Thank you for your kind words!
Thanks for the worldwide giveaway!! LOL. I really love how pretty your bentos are. Especially that wooden box. I happen to have a salmon fillet in the freezer. I think I’ll give your salted salmon a go. Will be fabulous with pasta!
It looks really yummy and easy to make.
Thank you Teresa! Yes, it’s easy to make AND delicious! 🙂
You make bento look so easy and beautiful! I can’t wait to start making some myself!
Hi Ami! Thank you! This is very easy to make and if you have leftover, it’s one of the easiest bento menus too! 🙂
Interesting different flavours placed in one box, I bet the differences in flavour notes enhances each other.
like the blog’s new look! congrats, Nami.
the bento is very colorful, nice. Must try making one soon..:-)
Hi Lilliana! Thank you so much for your kind words! 🙂
What a beautiful bento set! Love the vibrant colours.
Love how pretty this bento is Nami – bentos are such a fun way to enjoy a healthy lunch!
Lovely bento! Your next cookbook should be all about bentos. 🙂 New website looks great – congrats!
Hello Nami-san, I’m a few blogs behind due to the holiday season, but don’t want to miss the opportunity to say “Omedetoo Gozaimasu!” (Congratulations!) on the release of your new e-cookbook. I’m sure that it was quite an undertaking and will become a huge success… I also think that it was very thoughtful of you donating part of the proceeds for the victims in the Philippines typhoon recovery. As for your Bento recipes they all look so fantastic and artistic that it almost seems to be a shame to eat it… My bento boxes will have to escalate to another level to achieve such symmetry and beauty. Thank you again for the work that you do. Happy Holidays to you and your family!!!
Hi Tak-san! Thank you so much for the chili infused olive oil you have sent me! I was very surprised and thank you so much for the surprise present! I hope you received my card. I haven’t tested the oil yet (everyday is holiday get together…. miss home cook meal!), but will give it a try soon!
Arigato for your kind words about my eBook! Happy Holidays to you too! Thank you once again!
Hi Nami-san, Yes, I did received your card and you’re very welcome for the oil. I thought you might consider using it on some of your pasta recipes. Sometimes, I actually take my eye dropper with me to restaurants I go to just to add a little heat for the food I order… Enjoy!
I love your recipes. I’ve made a few of them already. Your recipes are always so fun to make and good to eat.
Your new layout website is clean and simple, love it! This bento has very nice colours and sound so healthy too. Thanks for the giveaway..
Nami I love the new design! So nice. Great work.
Beautiful bento meal as always Nami 🙂 I love how pretty you arrange everything and the colors look so vibrant. Thank you for hosting a wonderful giveaway, I’ll hop over to check it out, the bento kit looks so pretty:)
Wow… I could eat this delicious combination for lunch every day. Fabulous bento lunch. 🙂
Looks great, Nami! I love the colors and the flavors going on in this bento box.
I always enjoy your website very much. Seasons Greetings!
Congrats on yr blog’s new layout. Your bento looks good, love the colours.
Wow!
Love these bento boxes. You are simply amazing!
oh this bento has such a riot of colorful treats….gorgeous …will definitely receive a big big thumbs up from kids,thanks so much for the inspiration 🙂
Love this nutritious and colorful bento, Nami! Great job with it, and I love the beautiful new site you’ve created here! It’s very user friendly and easy to follow. Happy holidays!
I love your new site, Nami! This recipe looks delicious as always.
Hi, Nami! What a beautiful, healthy, and flavorful bento. It has everything that I enjoy!!!
Wishing you a very Merry Christmas!
This is definitely what I need to pack during the holiday sweet season. So healthy but tasty!
I just subscribed JOC On YouTube
Jessica! Thank you for subscribing to my YouTube channel! 🙂 Please enter in the giveaway post, not here as this entry won’t count for the bento giveaway. Giveaway post is below:
https://www.justonecookbook.com/giveaways/bento-box-set-giveaway-2/
Thanks for the great idea on adding the Salmon flakes. The red in color of the strawberries sure makes the bento box looks appealing and appetizing. I love your revamped website.
Hi Maisy! Thank you so much for your kind words! I hope it’s easy to navigate and use recipe index. 🙂
Really love this bento. not only are all the components delicious but it is the most adult looking one yet lol.
That’s a great looking lunch, Nami. I love all the colour and the strawberries look amazing xx
Love your website! I would like to see even more recipes for Osechi Ryori.
This looks great! I love how you easily used the salmon to add the 3rd color~
And I LOVE the new design!! 🙂
I’m so making this for dinner!!
Love your new website format, Nami-san! Clear layout, easy to navigate and like your recipe index much better now. I know that is always a lot of work moving but it was worth it. I love your old fashion wood bento box. Large size with lots of yummy delights, but would need at least two of those for my hungry teenagers. Wishing you a safe and happy holiday. Take care, BAM
Perfection, Nami! I’m in awe (as always!!)
Merry Christmas to you and the family!
Hi Nami, I love your new website! It looks great… and at the end of the year, a perfect time for a makeover 😉 Happy New Year!
Colorful bento!
Beautiful and inspiring bento, as always. I have once tried making salted salmon, but was too impatient and ended up grilling it for my husband before it actually changed the colour, consistency and taste. Thank you for reminding me of it. I must really persevere next time!
My good new year’s resolution (among lots of others!) will be to make bentos more aesthetic than those I have been making until now. Your posts will be very helpful here 🙂
PS I have forgotten to say I love the new layout (please don’t tell me it’s been here for some time already… I feel so sleepy and absent these recent weeks I might have not noticed it!).
I love this! All the flavors look great together. I want to make bento boxes for myself.
If this is what you eat for lunch at Chez Nami, I’m inviting myself over 😉 What a gorgeous (and yummy) bento!
What a delicious meal in a box! Would love this for lunch! 🙂 ela
YUM! I love everything about this bento Nami! I could eat this every single day for my breakfast or lunch!
Love Love Love such clean n beautiful site Nami…
B/w just wanted to bring to your notice I have stopped getting email of your new post ….
I dunno if it is something due to transition… just thought of letting you know 🙂
So glad that you put your Soboro Don in this bento! It brought it back to my attention and I do remember craving it the first time I saw it . This appears to be a very high protein bento, more so than some of your others. Just what I need with the busy holidays!
I love how colorful this bento looks! Not to mention, healthy. ^_^
Simply delicious Nami!
Can i just say, I think what you do here is amazing! It’s really motivated me to make my daughters kindy/school lunch packs more exciting and interesting for her. Can’t believe I haven’t found justonecookbook.com sooner!
Hi Shonya! Thank you for your kind words! I’m glad you enjoy my blog. Well, you didn’t miss much. I only have been blogging for 3 years. 🙂
This looks awesome, Nami. I am sure your kids are extremely happy when they open their lunchbox packed by their mama. The bento looks so fresh and colourful! (Nami, I am back from a long vacation, reading your blog now.)
I actually wanted to ask a question and I’m hoping this is the right way to go about doing so. I work a lot of hours throughout my week and it would be easier for me to prepare multiple bento meals and other meals on one day for a whole week. However I didn’t know if the bento meals you have on your website would be ok to leave in the refrigerator for a week and still taste ok or if these recipes are more for a day to day setting. Also I just wanted to be sure bento meals (even with fish and chicken) are intended to be eaten cold correct? Again I hope it wasn’t a bother for me to ask my questions via comments. I like the recipes you have on this site though and you are very thorough and helpful for someone who wants to try eating more genuine Japanese cuisine, thank you.
Hi Andrew! Thank you for your questions! So first of all, I have some bento related pages here to start:
https://www.justonecookbook.com/how_to/bento-how-to/
A few things to point out.
1) Bento is usually eaten at room temperature (not cold). So we pick ingredients and food that taste good at this temperature. Also, season slightly stronger (saltier/sweeter etc).
2) Rice gets hard when it’s stored in the refrigerator. So if your lunch box involves rice, this is something you think about. Because of this reason, I do not pack lunch previous night, and always pack rice in the morning. I freeze my rice (you can find in my How to page), so in the morning, I reheat the individual portion rice in the microwave and then pack into lunch box. It works when you pack rice exact same portion as your lunch box.
3) I’m not sure if this bento is for you – or for your children, etc and how the lunch box is kept till lunch time. If it’s kept in the refrigerator whole time, and maybe if you microwave at work, etc, I don’t think we don’t have to worry too much about food safety. Food should be kept at the chilled temperature to store – and should not go warm, cold, warm, cold etc. Should be kept at chilled temp whole time before reheating. But if this is for kids, and no refrigeration, sometimes kept outside the classroom under sun, etc etc… I think it’s best to reheat (and kill possible/invisible bacteria on food) and pack in the morning… so it really depends.
Hope that helps (or my How to pages). 🙂