Spam musubi is a staple in the Hawaiian islands. You can find it in convenience stores and grocery stores alike.
I know what you’re thinking. “Spam?” Yes, Spam. It’s really not that different from a hot dog. Seriously.
Spam made its way to the Hawaiian islands many decades ago when military personnel needed something shelf-stable to eat. As a result, Spam became a thing and has remained a beloved ingredient in Hawaii.
So what is Spam musubi? It is a snack that consists of rice, a slice of grilled Spam and is wrapped in nori (seaweed). It can also have various other ingredients like egg, avocado, grilled eel, and bacon.
The version I chose to make contains egg. I also sprinkled my rice with a Japanese seasoning called furikake, which you should be able to find at your local Asian grocery store.
My family was ecstatic about the Spam musubi and as you can see below, we loved it. In fact, we enjoyed it so much that I went out and bought a musubi mold so we could more easily shape the rice. The musubi is best eaten the day it is made but can be reheated in the microwave.
Enjoy one of our favorite Hawaiian snacks!
Husband’s rating: 4.5 out of 5
Addie’s rating: 4.5 out of 5
My rating: 4.5 out of 5
Spam musubi
Ingredients
- 1 can Low sodium Spam
- 2 cups cooked rice preferably short or medium grain
- nori sheets
- 2 Tablespoons soy sauce
- 2 Tablespoons light brown sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon mirin
- 1-2 teaspoons neutral oil I used canola
- furikaki
Instructions
- In a measuring cup, mix soy sauce, brown sugar, and mirin. Set aside.
- Slice the Spam into 8 equal slices and set aside.
- If you do not own a Spam musubi mold, you will need to clean out the can the Spam came in and dry it out. Line the inside with plastic wrap (make sure there is an overhang so you can easily pull it out of the can) and set aside.
- In a large frying pan, heat the oil. Fry the Spam for about 2 or 3 minutes on each side. Then add the soy sauce mixture and work quickly to coat both sides of the Spam. The mixture will bubble and may begin burning so keep your eye on it. Remove the Spam from the pan and set it aside.
- Cut a sheet of nori into thirds. Place them on a clean working surface.
- Place one slice of Spam in your mold or in the can with the plastic wrap. Sprinkle with furikake. Then add the cooked rice on top and press down firmly.
- Lift everything out and place it, Spam side down, in the middle of one of the nori strips. Bring the ends of the nori up and wrap it around the rice. Flip the musubi upside down so that the Spam is on the top.
- Repeat with the remaining slices of Spam.
- Serve immediately.
- I added a fried egg to my musubi and added it between the furikake and rice layers. You can also add bacon, avocado, grilled eel and other ingredients.