Anyone who knows Hawaiian/Pacific Island cuisine will recognize what this is. Did you know that Spam is so beloved in Hawaii that Hawaiians consume 5 million pounds a year? That’s 6 cans per person (children included) per year. That’s too much. And if you’re interested, beyond the pork, there’s more to Spam. According to National Geographic, Spam’s popularity in Hawaii is related to dark events in WWII history.
But all seriousness and data aside, let’s get back to the “meat”. Today I’m featuring Spam musubi, possibly one of the most popular creations involving the porky ingredient. This is not Spam straight-up. This is Spam prepared in one of the most beloved ways to people in Hawaii, including President Obama. Musubi is basically like Spam sushi. As simple and possibly frightening as this might sound, this was the hands-down favorite of the menu items at our Hawaiian Supperclub– our guests actually clapped!
Without further ado, here is my recipe for Spam musubi.
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Spam Musubi
Makes 10
Ingredients
1 can Spam
3 cups uncooked sushi rice
Soy sauce
Sugar
Nori sheets (seaweed used for sushi)
Furikake (seaweed and sesame blend available in Asian markets)
Special equipment: musubi maker (available in Japanese supermarkets)
Technique
1. Slice the Spam into 10 even pieces.
2. Mix about 2 tablespoons each of soy sauce and sugar into a bowl and stir to dissolve.
3. Heat a large frying pan over medium high heat. Add slices of Spam.
4. After 2 minutes, pour the sauce over the Spam. Cook for another 2 minutes on each side until crispy and caramelized.
5. Prepare your musubi maker. (if you can’t get one, you could try shaping these by hand, but it will be messy.) Cut the nori sheets into one inch wide strips and lay them on a flat surface. Center a rice press on the sheet and press your rice (about 1/2 cup) firmly inside, then remove the press. Sprinkle furikake on top, then add a prepared slice of Spam. Wrap the nori around the rice and Spam and seal the edges with a dab of water.
Repeat until you have used up all the rice and Spam. Eat immediately or wrap tightly in plastic wrap.
I bet you’re hungry now! Don’t get too full, the main event is coming up next– Plate Lunch! To view the entire menu, please visit the overview. Mahalo and aloha!
Spicebox Supperclub 