You can pack any kind of food or cuisine in a bento box. Here’s a way to have deconstructed nachos or tostadas ready for assembly at lunch.

Ingredients

Seasoned Ground Beef (3 servings)

1 lb (450 g) lean ground beef (or protein of choice)
15 g (1 tbsp) tomato paste
10 g (2 tsp) hot sauce
6 g (2 tsp) ground cumin
3 g (1 tsp) smoked paprika
3 g (1 tsp) chile powder
Kosher salt to taste

Refried Beans (3 servings)

10 g (2 tsp) oil
1 clove of garlic, minced
1 chipotle in adobo, minced
1 can of pinto beans
5 g (1 tsp) vinegar or lime juice
Salt to Taste

Toasted Cumin Slaw (makes extra)

200 g (2.5 cups) green cabbage, thinly sliced
50 g (~1 cup) red onion, thinly sliced
1 serrano pepper, thinly sliced
10 g (2 tsp) vinegar
10 g (2 tsp) neutral oil
5 g ( 1 tsp) kosher salt
5 g (1 tsp) sugar
10 g (1 tbsp) toasted, whole cumin seeds

Other Components, per serving

Serving of tostadas, tortillas, or tortilla chips
28 g (1/4 cup) shredded cheese
28 g (1/4 cup) cherry tomatoes
Cilantro, chopped, for garnish
Spicy yogurt sauce: 20 g non-fat yogurt + 5 g hot sauce (1/4 cup total)

Instructions

Cook the protein: Add the ground beef to a ripping hot pan.Add a hefty pinch of salt over the top along with any ground spices or seasonings. Let the beef sear on one side for about 2 minutes before chopping it up with the spatula. Then, add the tomato paste and hot sauce (this creates that saucy texture that you would get with higher-fat ground beef and really transforms the flavor into something special). Once the beef is cooked through and flavored to your liking, transfer it to a container.

Make the refried beans: After cleaning the pan, I add a drizzle of oil and toss in 1 clove of minced garlic along with a spoonful of the chipotle in adobo and let saute for 30 to 60 seconds or until fragrant. Add the whole can of beans along with the liquid, and let come to a simmer. Mash the beans until they have transformed into your desired texture. Taste and adjust with vinegar and salt.

Make the cumin slaw: Add the sliced cabbage, red onion, serrano pepper, and a sprinkle of salt to a large bowl and mix them together. Once mixed, add the vinegar, oil, and toasted cumin seeds. Taste and adjust seasoning with salt and more vinegar if needed. Stores in the fridge for a few weeks.

Assemble the bento box:

Placed the seasoned beef and the beans in their own layer or compartments, depending on the type of bento you have. In the other compartments, add the slaw, chopped cilantro, grated cheese, tomatoes, and the yogurt sauce. Lastly, bring along tortilla chips, tortillas, or tostadas to eat with.