Spam Musubi

Spam Musubi

Spam Musubi

Hawaiian’s love Spam. Spam found it’s way to Hawaii after WW2. All Spam really is is ground pork shoulder with hotdog seasoning. This recipe has it’s roots in Japan, where sushi rice is rolled into balls and wrapped in nori; called omusubi. It is said that Japanese soldiers in interment camps created the recipe. Today, you can find musubi everywhere in Hawaii; even at gas stations in plastic containers ready to eat.
There are many different variations of Spam musubi. Some have the Spam slices cooked in the soy/sugar sauce, almost making the slices candied. Others will have the sauce brushed on the rice block, then placing the Spam on top. Some recipes will have the Spam rice block wrapped in only an inch of the nori. This particular recipe has the block completely covered in the nori. If you don’t have a musubi press, cut the top and bottoms out of the Spam can and use that as your mold for the rice.
Prep Time5 minutes
Cook Time10 minutes
Course: Appetizer, Main Course
Cuisine: Hawaiian, Japanese
Keyword: appetizer, Hawaiian, Japanese, main course, Pork, U.S.A.
Author: Alex Gorgos

Ingredients

  • 2 cups steamed rice steamed with 6 tbsp rice vinegar
  • 1 can Spam sliced into 6-8 slices
  • 1 tbsp vegetable oil
  • 1/4 cup soy sauce
  • 1/2 cup sugar
  • 3-4 sheets nori

Instructions

  • Mix together the soy sauce and sugar. Set aside.
    Hawaiian, appetizer, main course, pork
  • Slice the Spam into either 6 or 8 slices.
    Hawaiian, appetizer, main course, pork
  • Heat up the cooking oil on a griddle over medium high heat. Add the spam slices. Cook for 3 minutes a side.
    Hawaiian, main course, appetizer, pork
  • Pour in the soy/sugar sauce. Cook the spam slices for another 2 minutes a side, making sure the spam is coated in the sauce. Remove from the pan.
    Hawaiian, appetizer, main course, pork
  • Portion out the rice into 6 or 8 portions, depending on how many spam slices you have. Using a musubi press, press down one portion of the rice.
    Hawaiian, appetizer, main course, pork
  • The rice block should be firm and hold shape. This will only work if the rice is freshly steamed.
    Hawaiian, appetizer, main course, pork
  • Add a slice of the spam on top of a rice block.
    Hawaiian, appetizer, main course, pork
  • Slice a sheet of nori in half.
    Hawaiian, appetizer, main course, pork
  • Put a slab of rice/spam on the center of the sheet. Fold up each side up, sealing with water.
    Hawaiian, appetizer, main course, pork
  • Keep them whole if eating as a main course or slice in half if eating as an appetizer.
    Hawaiian, appetizer, main course, pork