The Waikiki Spam Jam Festival is happening this Saturday, April 29, 2023 from 4-10pm on Kalakaua Avenue in Waikiki, Oahu | Event is FREE to the public
Do you know how Spam is made?
The two main ingredients of Spam are pork and ham. It is ground up, salt, sugar and extra spices are combined and added to give Spam its flavorful taste. The mixture is put into 12 ounce rectangular cans, vacuum-sealed, cooked and cooled which takes about three hours. The iconic SPAM labels are applied and then cans are stacked and cased to be distributed to stores around the world!
In honor of Hawaii’s love for Spam, we are sharing our Spam Musubi recipe so you can make for your family and friends!
Spam Musubi Recipe
Ingredients:
1 (12 oz.) can of Spam
2 cups Cooked Medium/Short Grain Rice (Hinode Rice)
1 package Nori (Seaweed) Sheets
Useful Items: Rice Cooker, Spam Musubi Maker Mold and Non-stick Frying Pan
Cook Rice: (Note: Start cooking a minimum of 45 minutes before making Spam Musubi)
Measure 2 cups of Japanese medium/short grain sticky rice into rice pot, rinse rice under water, drain water out trying to keep rice from going down the drain, rinse and repeat a few times till water becomes clear. Add water to #2 line on rice pot and cook according to rice cooker directions. Rice usually takes about 30-35 minutes to cook and times vary depending on rice cooker. Let rice rest in rice pot for 10 minutes after it is done cooking. If you open the rice too early and let out the steam out, the rice will be hard and not soft and sticky.
Teriyaki Sauce:
1/2 c Granulated Sugar
1 Tbs Mirin (Japanese Rice Wine Vinegar) – Optional
1 tsp Sesame Oil
1/2 c Soy Sauce
Mix all Teriyaki sauce ingredients together in a non-stick frying pan on medium high and stir making sure the sugar dissolves and all ingredients are incorporated. Cut Spam into 8 slices (1/4″ thick for each slice) and add to frying pan in a single layer and cook till teriyaki sauce reduces a little and becomes thick and sticky coating the spam and warmed through. If sauce gets too thick add a little water to your pan to loosen your teriyaki sauce. Flip the spam over so both sides so both sides have a nice glaze on it. Turn off the stove and keep the spam warm in pan while you make the musubis.
A Spam Musubi Maker Mold is helpful and can be purchased at Walmart, Don Quijote and some CVS Longs Drugs.
Cut Nori sheets into long rectangles (if nori sheets are bought in square sheets) Add rice into the musubi maker, filling it up 3/4 up the sides. Put the 2nd part of the Musubi Maker on top and press down on the rice so it is tight and compacted. Make it firm enough so the rice will not fall apart when eating. Next remove the Musubi maker by sliding the sides up off the rice, then remove the top. (TIP: Dip the Musubi Maker in a bowl of water in between making each musubi, it will keep the rice from sticking.) Add a piece of the teriyaki glazed spam on top of the rice. Now take the nori and start one edge of the nori on the back bottom, up the side and over the top of the spam, then down on under the rice. Dip your finger in some water and dab a little on the edge of the nori to seal and Voila! You now have made a Spam Musubi! Let’s eat! Wrap your Spam Musubi in cling wrap for the perfect beach snack!
