Spam Musubi: Easy and Delicious Square Kimbap
Turn Your Holiday Spam Gifts into Hawaiian-Style Spam Musubi (Square Kimbap)
Do you have a surplus of canned Spam from holiday gifts sitting unused? While delicious, Spam can be quite salty on its own. It shines when incorporated into dishes like fried rice or kimbap. Today, we’re taking kimbap to a fun new level by making ‘Spam Musubi,’ a visually appealing and easy-to-assemble square kimbap with a Hawaiian flair. It’s the perfect way to enjoy that canned ham!
Ingredients
- 1 can Spam
- 2 sheets of kimbap seaweed
- 2 bowls of cooked rice
- 4 eggs
- 0.5 tsp salt
- 0.5 tsp sesame oil
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
First, prepare about 2 bowls of freshly cooked warm rice. Place the rice in a bowl and season it with 0.5 tsp of sesame oil and 0.5 tsp of salt. Gently mix the rice so it doesn’t clump, ensuring it’s seasoned evenly. This seasoning makes the rice itself delicious!
Step 2
Next, let’s prepare the Spam. If the canned Spam has a lot of surface oil, you can wipe it off with a paper towel. However, I’ll be blanching it in boiling water, so I didn’t wipe it. Blanching in hot water is an effective way to reduce both the saltiness and the greasiness.
Step 3
Slice the Spam into manageable pieces. Aim for uniform thickness, about 1cm, so that it fits well with the musubi mold or egg garnish. Consistent thickness will make your musubi look neat.
Step 4
Fill a pot with plenty of water and bring it to a rolling boil. This is for blanching the Spam.
Step 5
Once the water is boiling, carefully add the sliced Spam and blanch for about 1 minute. This step helps to mellow out the intense saltiness and cut through the richness of the Spam, making it much milder.
Step 6
Remove the blanched Spam from the water and place it in a frying pan to grill until golden brown. Since Spam is quite fatty, you don’t need to add any oil to the pan. Cook over medium-low heat until nicely browned.
Step 7
Watch the Spam turn a lovely golden brown! Remember that blanched Spam can be a bit fragile, so handle it gently when flipping. Grilling both sides enhances its flavor.
Step 8
Now, let’s make a thick egg garnish. Whisk 4 eggs in a bowl, season lightly with salt, and heat a lightly oiled pan over low heat. Pour about half of the egg mixture and let it set slightly. Once the edges begin to cook, pour in the remaining egg mixture to create a thicker omelet. This technique yields a satisfyingly thick egg layer!
Step 9
The egg garnish is slightly browned, but its thickness is perfect for texture! Cut this egg garnish into squares that match the size of your Spam slices. With this, the ingredient preparation is almost complete!
Step 10
Clean out the empty Spam can. Line it generously with plastic wrap. Then, press the seasoned rice into the can, about 1cm thick. Don’t overfill with rice; too much rice can overpower the Spam and egg flavors, so use a moderate amount – this is key!
Step 11
Layer the grilled Spam and the egg garnish on top of the rice. The order of layering doesn’t strictly matter; feel free to arrange them as you like. For an extra flavor boost, consider adding some stir-fried kimchi or shredded imitation crab meat (like Kani Kama)!
Step 12
Carefully lift the entire contents out of the can using the plastic wrap and unwrap them. You’ll have a perfectly shaped square Spam musubi!
Step 13
Cut a sheet of kimbap seaweed in half. Place your prepared Spam musubi block onto the seaweed and roll it up snugly, ensuring the seaweed doesn’t tear. This is the final step! Rolling it is much simpler and faster than making traditional kimbap.
Step 14
While typically made with white rice, I’ve opted for a healthy mixed grain rice (black rice blend) for this version. The color is different, but the taste is just as wonderful! Transform your holiday Spam gifts into these delightful Spam Musubi!
