Whenever I'm grocery shopping at Aeon supemarket, I (sometimes) buy these value-for-money, light and healthy, packed bento boxes that I can reheat for lunch or dinner later.
Like this Grilled Saba Bento @ RM6.80 (pre-GST) or Grilled Saba Don @ RM7.90 (post-GST).
Or this Chicken Burger Bento @ RM5.80 (pre-GST) or Chicken Burger Don @ RM6.90 (post-GST).
Or even this Chicken Burger Bento (L) @ RM6.80 (pre-GST) with a chicken burger, a fried egg, 2 fish balls, 1 mini sausage, 1 mini omelette and some vegetables. Not sure how this one looks post-GST though.
So, when I saw this frozen mackerel fillet on phonghongbakes, I immediately thought...why not get some and replicate the first bento above. These frozen (Norwegian) mackerel fillets are convenient and easy to work with. It retails for RM12.90 a packet (I bought them before GST kicked in) and each packet usually has 3 fillets (or 2 larger fillets).
I cut each fillet into two and steamed them for a couple of mins (I guess you can also grill them in the oven, it's up to you).
I then made a sauce with equal parts Japanese soy and water plus a bit of sugar. Add in some pre-fried garlic (if you have). Reduce the sauce or cook until it has thickened slightly.
Place the mackerel fillets on top of a bowl of Japanese rice and pour the sauce over the fish. Garnish with some seaweed.....oops, I cut it too thick, didn't I? :p Hmmm....not quite the finesse like Japanese restaurants...kekeke :D....but it will do! [#Tip: Anyway, there's no way you can cut them into fine strips (by hand), those you see served at restaurants are bought pre-cut (by machines)!]
And there you have it.....a very simple rice dish that's both healthy and light to eat, just not very pretty-looking ;p
But, if I have more time to spare, I would normally whip up a fried egg and some vegetables to go with it. And one of the easiest veges to whip up is the sugar snap peas as it takes mere seconds to cook....just fry it with some garlic and a pinch of salt.
So, this is my Aeon-inspired Mackerel Bento with (Crunchy) Sugar Snap Peas and a Fried Egg....now who wouldn't want to eat that! ;) It may be frozen and not as good as fresh ones but, hey, it's good enough for me without the extra work of having to fillet the fish...not that I know anyway! ;D
For the pre-GST price of RM12.90 a packet (not sure how much it costs now), each packet of frozen mackerel fillet is good enough for 3 portions (with 2 pcs from 1 mackerel fillet each). Sure beats the RM7.90 ready-bought one (with only half a pc of mackerel)! :(
You didn't count the price of the rice, egg, peas and soy sauce leh?
ReplyDeleteAiyah, even if I add all that in, it'll still cost only half the price! ;)
DeleteThose pre-packed meals look gorgeous. Too bad we can't get them here - I know my girl would love them, sure she would want to buy. So into Japanese cuisine, that girl.
ReplyDeleteOnly those pre-packed meals look gorgeous? What about mine...chopped liver? Hee....hee...:D
DeleteI also used to but those bento from Aeon as they look very attractive and are very convenient. Now that prices have been raised, it's best to cut cost and eat in whenever we can. Have you tried grilling the mackerel in the oven? I think it will taste better than steamed. And by the way, thanks for the mention hee..hee..
ReplyDeleteYes, those bentos are really convenient. For some reason, I've never used my microwave oven to grill...too troublesome. But I did even better, I pan-fried them...hee...hee....watch out for it in an upcoming post! :)
Deletei'll very happily purchase your delish-looking home-made mackerel platter from you if you wanna sell it to me for RM7.90 :)
ReplyDeleteAww.....thanks! For you, Sean, it will be foc!! ;D
DeleteVery nice meal! This mackerel from this brand is very nice because I have eaten them before. If you want your seaweed to be thinner strips, just cut them using a food grade scissors.
ReplyDeleteI knew this one will have your approval....it's a healthy meal! I did use food grade scissors but it can never be as nice as those done by machines. I've actually seen these pre-cut ones selling at the stores but I didn't buy them coz, after using them as a garnish, it's rather cumbersome to eat these fine strips.
DeleteThe do look like good value meals.
ReplyDeleteIndeed they are.
Delete