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Inspired by the traditional Hawaiian dish spam musubi, this is a type of deconstructed spam musubi bowl. One of the easiest recipes I have on my website, yet one of the most comforting and delicious. I have been making versions of this my entire life and will never get enough of it.
What is spam
Spam is a type of processed canned pork that is very savory and absolutely delicious. It is light pink in color and slightly firm to the touch but easy to cut like a block of butter. Because spam is processed and very salty, it is important to accompany it with something bland like rice or bread. In this recipe, I coated it in a sugar based sauce to compliment the savory flavors. There is a deep history behind the use of spam and would highly recommend you read up on it if you have time.
Hawaiian origins of spam musubi
Spam Musubi, a beloved Hawaiian snack, has its origins deeply rooted in the islands’ history and culture. This fusion of Japanese and American cuisines emerged during World War II, when American GIs introduced Spam to Hawaii. The locals, particularly Japanese-Americans, creatively adapted the canned meat into a sushi-inspired treat, combining a slice of fried Spam with seasoned rice, wrapped in a sheet of seaweed. Spam Musubi quickly became a staple in Hawaiian cuisine. Today, it remains a popular and iconic Hawaiian dish, enjoyed by locals and tourists alike, symbolizing the unique culinary heritage of the islands.
How to make an onsen egg for spam musubi bowl
- Step 1: Bring 3 cups of water up to a boil.
- Step 2: Pour in 1 cup room temperature water.
- Step 3: Add large egg straight from the fridge into the water.
- Step 4: Turn off heat and cover with a lid for 12-13 minutes.
- Step 5: Rinse under cold water and crack on rice.
What toppings/garnishes to use in spam musubi bowl
You can customize your musubi bowl however you would like, however, here are a few of my favorite toppings/garnishes I enjoy adding on my bowl.
Mayo
This might be unpopular or untraditional, but I think that mayo and spam are a match made in heaven. I like to drizzle on a good amount on top of our coated spam.
Furikake
Furikake is a type of Japanese seasoning blend consisting of seaweed, sesame seeds, salt, sugar, and other spices depending on the type. It is one of my favorite seasonings to flavor regular rice and I always have a can of it on hand.
Green onions
Green onions are quite self explanatory, but I love them because they add a hint of freshness and color to your bowl.
Avocado
Avocado is another great additional to add color and freshness. The fat from the avocado really cuts through the saltiness of the spam as well. I did not have any avocados when I made this bowl but would highly recommend it.
Egg
It really doesn’t matter how you cook it, but every rice bowl needs to be topped with an egg. Whether thats scrambled, sunny side up, over easy, or boiled. I opted for an onsen egg which is a type of runny Japanese egg that I detailed how to make in the second paragraph.
Spam Musubi Bowl
Ingredients
- 1 can spam
- 2 tbsp soy sauce
- 2 tbsp brown sugar
- 2 tbsp mirin
- rice
Toppings/garnish
- 1 large egg
- green onion
- furikake
- mayo
Instructions
- Cut spam into equal sized cubes.1 can spam
- Cook on a med-high heat pan until all sides have been nicely browned.
- Add soy sauce, brown sugar, and mirin. Continue stirring for 1-2 minutes until sauce thickens and coats the spam well.2 tbsp soy sauce, 2 tbsp brown sugar, 2 tbsp mirin
- Serve spam on top of rice, top with mayo, an egg, garnish with furikake and green onions.rice, 1 large egg, green onion, furikake, mayo
How to make onsen egg
- Bring 3 cups of water up to a boil.
- Add 1 cup of room temp water.
- Drop egg in water from fridge.1 large egg
- Turn off heat, cover with lid, and leave it for 12-13 minutes.
- Immediately place under cold water, and crack in rice bowl.
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Came across this recipe as I was looking to make a spam musubi bowl. Quick and easy to make and incredibly delicious! I made mine with a fried egg and I add slices of avocado. Oh and made my own spicy mayo. Highly recommend this recipe!!
When I am short on time and ingredients, this is my go-to recipe. Used to be fried egg with lup cheong and Maggie’s seasoning over rice lol.
I made this recipe and wow it is absolutely incredible. Quick and easy to make with minimal ingredients, yet so tasty! This will now be a regular go-to meal.
Love to hear it! š