We’re kicking off a new series on our blog where we interview some of our favorite bento gurus on their bento tips and tricks! Read them all here.
Today we are interviewing Dulguun (@dulguunts) who is from Mongolia. We love seeing Dulguun’s tasty bento creations on Instagram and were so impressed to learn she makes bento for her very large family (7 children!)
Tell us a bit about yourself!
My name is Dulguun and I live with my husband and 7 children in Ulaanbaatar, the capital of Mongolia. My youngest son is 3 months old and my eldest daughter is 12 years old. I have 2 sons and 5 daughters. I love cooking and trying new recipes.
How often do you make bento and who do you make it for?
Every morning I prepare bento for my husband and children.
A nutritious meal made by Dulguun featuring our Woven Bamboo Bento Box, Cat Ears Stainless Soup Jar and the Double Sided Furoshiki | Sakura Stripes Blue & Green.
How do you decide the menu for your bento?
We design our bento menu together as a family. It's one of the most interesting things we do.
You have 7 children which is amazing! What is it like to make food for such a big family?
Yes, we are a big family. Food is tastiest in a big family ☺️. I usually cook dinner together with my children. Sometimes we like to make cakes, breads and cookies too. It's fun for us.
What is a typical Mongolian lunch like?
Mongolian people eat a lot of meat in winter, animal milk products and natural wild fruits in summer. The main food is beef and mutton.
For this bento, I added sheep head that has been cooked for many hours. The meat becomes very tender and juicy. It's really delicious. We also eat liver, kidney and heart.
(Featuring the Asanoha Bento)
What are popular Mongolian foods?
Our national dishes are Buuz, Khuushuur and Khorkhog. Buuz (steamed mutton dumplings) are made and eaten during the Lunar New Year.
Buuz
Khuushuur (fried meat pastry) and khorkhog (barbequed meat) are eaten during the festival called Naadam.
Khuushuur
Khorkhog is made by cooking chopped lamb meat on a gas fire together with various vegetables and stones.
Khorkhog
Any bento tips or advice you’d like to share?
When preparing bento, it is important to prepare according to the season and weather. Try to keep a variety of flavors and colors in one bento. My husband says there is love in a bento. I wish more people would pack and take bentos ❤️
Featuring the Woven Bamboo Bento Box and the Sakura Big Bento Box.
Thank you Dulguun for giving a peek into your Mongolian bento life. Your amazing lunches packed with love nourish your family and also bring inspiration to many. We also love seeing bits of the Mongolian landscape in your photos.
Our Big Kokeshi Bento Busho enjoying the blue skies of Mongolia.
Have some bento-making advice of your own? We’d love to hear from you. Send us an email at contact@bentoandco.com to let us know your favorite bento making tip/hack with a picture of a bento meal made by you, for a chance to be featured on our blog!