Spam Musubi

A can of SPAM, some microwaveable rice and sheets of Nori... SPAM MUSUBI is a staple in Hawaiian snack food. In my College Graduation trip to Hawaii a few months ago, I stuffed my face with the delectable snack at every opportunity, and made sure I bought a Musubi Maker (to shape the rice into a rectangular shape) so I could enjoy them at home on the mainland. Finally, I got around to making it at home- It’s so simple!!! My family was very wary of eating it because of the stigma attached with SPAM, but they gave it a try and really enjoyed it! SPAM is actually not bad quality ham luncheon meat, contrary to the stigma attached to the name, and the product is high in protein and Vitamin C, and lower in calories than expected. It is very salty though, so I chose the “lite” option.

I used reduced sodium oyster sauce and soy sauce along with half the sugar recommended as the marinade (marinate for an hour), and actually cooked the Spam in the marinade (not in original recipe).  Then I formed the little squares of rice with the Musubi Maker and laid them on saran wrap until was ready to put them together. (I tried it with white rice and brown rice- white is traditional and stickier, but Brown is healthier because of the fiber and it’s not bleached). When it was time to assemble them, I wrapped the Nori (seaweed) around the rice and SPAM and sealed it with a drip of water. The little spam Musubi’s came out great!

Later in the week we got the MUSUBI craving again and tried making them with Teriyaki Marinade because we ran out of oyster sauce. It was just as tasty! You could tell the difference, but it wasn't very noticeable. Hint: I really like putting some of the cooked marinade on the rice before the slice of spam for extra salty/sweet delicious marinade flavor.

Ingredients:

2 cups of Instant Brown rice (Microwaveable)

1/4 c Soy Sauce

1/4 c Oyster Sauce

1/4 c Sugar

1 (12 oz) can SPAM Luncheon Meat

5 sheets of Nori

Directions:

1. Microwave the rice

2. Slice SPAM - 10 slivers

3. In a separate bowl, mix Soy Sauce, Oyster Sauce, and Sugar; marinate slices of SPAM in mixture for about an hour

4. In a skillet, heat some Veg. Oil over medium heat, and add the SPAM slices --- I always add a little of the marinade too

5. Form the little rectangles with the Musubi Maker and lay on Saran Wrap until ready to assemble.

6. Assemble: rice rectangle, SPAM Slice, and wrap with Nori

7. ENJOY!