Fried Shrimp Bento

Ingredients

• •3 large shrimp (16/20 count fresh or defrosted), shelled and deveined, tails left on
• •Salt
• •Pepper
• •2 Tbsp potato starch
• •1 egg, beaten
• •3 Tbsp panko bread crumbs
• •vegetable oil, for frying
• •Dipping sauce (tartar/sriracha mayo/ketchup/tonkatsu/sweet chili/ranch/etc)
• •1 serving [carrot and celeriac salad](https://xanthir.com/recipes/showrecipe.php?id=id456)
• •3 broccoli florets
• •1/2 tbsp grainy mustard
• •1/2 tsp lemon juice
• •pinch sugar
• •1 cup cooked white rice

Steps

1. 1Pack **rice** into bento box and allow to cool while prepping remaining ingredients.
2. 2Make tiny cuts along the inside of each **shrimp** (opposite site to where the vein was) and gently pull the shrimp straight. This is an optional step, but it does make the shrimp look much bigger.
3. 3Pat the shrimps dry, and season with a little salt and pepper.
4. 4Put the **potato starch** in one plate, the **beaten egg** in a small bowl, and the **panko bread crumbs** on another plate. Have another plate ready, lined with a couple of paper towels.
5. 5Heat 1/2 inch of vegetable oil in a small frying pan over high heat. The oil is hot enough when a panko bread crumb dropped into it turns light brown right away.
6. 6Working rapidly, coat the shrimps in the cornstarch, dip in the egg,then roll in the bread crumbs. Try to do this with one hand, leaving the other hand clean to hold a pair of chopsticks or tongs to turn the shrimps. Gently put the shrimps one by one into the hot oil. Turn after a minute, and cook for another 30 seconds to a minute on the other side. The shrimps should feel firm when lightly tapped with the chopsticks.
7. 7As soon as each shrimp is cooked, remove from the oil and drain on the paper towels. Sprinkle with salt while still hot. Leave the shrimps to cool thoroughly before packing into a bento box.
8. 8Ahead of time note: Bread the shrimps and freeze in a single layer, ideally on a metal baking sheet. Once the shrimps are frozen stiff, pack them in freezer bags or containers. Frozen breaded shrimps should be cooked for 2-3 minutes longer than fresh.
9. 9For **broccoli**, cook or blanch to desired doneness, then let cool. Combine the rest of the ingredients, then mix with the cooled broccoli.
10. 10To pack bento:
11. 11Put the **dipping sauce** of your choice in the sauce cup, to tuck into a corner of the bento box. Pack **carrot and celeriac salad** and **dressed broccoli**. Place shrimp on top of rice, if possible.