Savory Spam and Potato Stir-fry
Savory Spam and Potato Stir-fry
Crispy and Delicious Spam and Potato Stir-fry: The Ultimate Side Dish Recipe
Transform your leftover potatoes and flavorful Spam into a delightful side dish! I’ll share my secret technique for making a Spam and Potato Stir-fry that stays perfectly intact, never falling apart. It’s simple yet adds a wonderful depth of flavor to your meal!
Main Ingredients- 2 medium potatoes
- 1/4 carrot
- 1/2 onion
- 100g Spam
Seasoning & Aromatics- 2 Tbsp cooking oil
- 1/2 Tbsp minced garlic
- 1/3 Tbsp salt (for blanching potatoes)
- 1/2 Tbsp coarse salt (for seasoning during stir-frying)
- Pinch of black pepper
- Pinch of sesame seeds
- 2 Tbsp cooking oil
- 1/2 Tbsp minced garlic
- 1/3 Tbsp salt (for blanching potatoes)
- 1/2 Tbsp coarse salt (for seasoning during stir-frying)
- Pinch of black pepper
- Pinch of sesame seeds
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
First, prepare all your ingredients. You’ll need 2 medium-sized potatoes, 1/4 carrot, and 1/2 onion. For the Spam, about 100g is a good amount. Ensure all ingredients are cut to a size that complements the potatoes for a balanced stir-fry.
Step 2
To reduce the saltiness and remove excess additives from the Spam, pour boiling water over the Spam can and rinse it briefly. This step softens the Spam’s flavor and gets rid of unnecessary grease. After rinsing, pat the Spam dry with paper towels.
Step 3
Thinly julienne the carrot and onion. This will give them a pleasant texture when stir-fried. Avoid cutting them too thick, as they might take too long to cook, or too thin, as they could become mushy. Aim for a consistent, moderate thickness.
Step 4
Julienne the potatoes into approximately 0.5cm thick strips. If they are too thin, they might break apart easily during cooking. Maintaining a good thickness is key. It’s best to cut the potatoes just before using them to prevent browning.
Step 5
Slice the Spam into strips that are similar in thickness to the potato strips. This ensures a good balance of textures between the potato and Spam when cooked together.
Step 6
Now, let’s prepare to blanch the potatoes. Fill a pot with plenty of water and bring it to a rolling boil over high heat. Once boiling, add 1/3 Tbsp of salt to the water. This process helps remove any raw potato taste and prevents the potatoes from breaking apart while stir-frying.
Step 7
Add the julienned potatoes to the boiling water and blanch for just about 50 seconds. You want them to be slightly tender, not fully cooked. This brief blanching is crucial for keeping the potatoes intact and maintaining a slight crispness. Immediately drain the blanched potatoes in a colander, ensuring all excess water is removed.
Step 8
Heat a pan over medium heat and add 2 Tbsp of cooking oil. Add the minced garlic first and stir-fry until fragrant. A good garlic aroma is essential for a flavorful potato stir-fry. Be careful not to burn the garlic.
Step 9
Once the garlic is fragrant, add the julienned carrots and stir-fry for about 30 seconds. The carrots should start to soften slightly and develop a vibrant color.
Step 10
Next, add the sliced onion and stir-fry until it becomes translucent. As the onions turn transparent, they release their natural sweetness, adding a delicious depth of flavor to the dish.
Step 11
Add the drained potato strips to the pan and gently toss them with the other ingredients to coat them in oil. Stir-fry until the potatoes are cooked through but still slightly firm to the bite, losing their raw crunchiness. The key tip here is to use chopsticks to stir gently, preventing the potatoes from breaking. Avoid shaking the pan too vigorously or stirring too hard.
Step 12
Once the potatoes are cooked to your liking, add the sliced Spam and stir-fry for another short while. Cook until the Spam is lightly browned and well combined with the potatoes.
Step 13
Now it’s time for the final seasoning. Add 1/2 Tbsp of coarse salt and a pinch of black pepper. Stir everything together to ensure the seasoning is evenly distributed. Taste and add more salt if needed. Once seasoned, turn off the heat.
Step 14
Finally, sprinkle some sesame seeds over the stir-fry to complete this delicious Spam and Potato dish! Enjoy it as a satisfying meal with hot rice or as a flavorful side dish.
