A bright, Italian-inspired warm salad that finishes steaming in your Zojirushi while you crack on with the rest of your morning.
📋 Ingredients
|
12 oz (0.36 L) Jar |
17 oz (0.5 L) Jar |
|
|
Onion, minced |
⅛ small |
⅙ small |
|
Asparagus spears, trimmed |
2 |
3 |
|
Cabbage leaves, cut to 2 cm squares |
2 |
3 |
|
Tomato juice |
¼ cup |
⅓ cup |
|
Chicken stock |
¼ cup |
⅓ cup |
|
Italian herb seasoning |
½ tsp |
1 tsp |
|
Sea salt |
⅛ tsp |
¼ tsp |
|
Red bulgur (dry) |
¼ cup |
⅓ cup |
*This recipe was developed for Stainless Steel Food Jars SW-EAE35/50. Adjustments may be required for making this recipe in other Food Jar models.
🍲 Instructions — step-by-step
Pre-heat your jar
Fill with boiling water, close and let it sit. This single move turns average lunches into truly healthy lunch recipes for thermos success stories.
1
Pre-heat the jar
Pour in boiling water, close the lid and leave it to work its insulating magic.
2
Mince & chop
Finely mince the onion. Slice each asparagus spear into six bite-sized pieces. Cut the cabbage into 2 cm squares.
3
Start the broth
Tip tomato juice, chicken stock, onion, asparagus, cabbage, Italian seasoning and salt into a small saucepan; bring to a rolling boil over high heat.
4
Gentle simmer
Reduce to medium-low and cook for exactly two minutes so the veg stays vibrant.
5
Jar the grains
Empty the hot water from the food jar and add the dry red bulgur.
6
Fill & seal
Ladle the bubbling veggie mixture over the bulgur until the level sits 1 cm below the ridge, then fasten the lid firmly — the hallmark of a truly leak-proof lunch jar recipe.
7
Hands-free cooking
Let the jar stand 2–6 hours. Over that time the bulgur drinks up the liquid, turning into a fluffy, nutty salad — one of my favourite Zojirushi lunch jar meals.
8
Stir & serve
Mix well just before eating and be sure to finish within six hours for safety — a brilliant hot food idea for kids’ school lunch or an easy desk bite.
💡 Tip or Advice
- Vegan switch-up: Swap chicken stock for vegetable stock and add a few olives for extra Mediterranean flair.
- Texture twist: Scatter toasted sunflower seeds on top if your school is nut-free.
- Brighten it up: A squeeze of lemon right before serving lifts the flavour wonderfully.
📦 Best used with
Zojirushi Stainless Steel Food Jar 17 oz — generous, shareable size.
Their superior insulation keeps grains fluffy and vegetables tender for hours.
🔗 Linked collection
Explore more Mediterranean flavours in the Thermo Recipe Library, and pair your jar with a matching insulated carry tote for effortless weekday commuting.
