Hawaiian Spam Musubi
User Reviews
5
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Prep Time
15 mins
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Cook Time
30 mins
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Total Time
45 mins
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Servings
6
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Calories
442 kcal
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Course
Main Course, Breakfast, Snacks
Hawaiian Spam Musubi
Description
Hawaiian Spam Musubi combines pan-cooked Spam slices simmered in a blend of soy sauce and sugar with Japanese-style rice shaped into firm blocks. The Spam is sliced to about half an inch thickness and simmered evenly on both sides in the sweet-salty sauce to develop a caramelized exterior while maintaining a moist interior. The musubi is assembled by compacting rice in a cleaned Spam can lined with plastic wrap, topped with a slice of sauced Spam, and then wrapped tightly with a nori strip cut into wide strips. This layering offers a contrast between the savory, slightly crispy meat and the soft, sticky rice, with the nori adding a mild, briny crunch.
Musubi is served as a portable snack or light meal, often enjoyed as a lunchbox item. The use of Japanese rice ensures good adhesion and stickiness, allowing the musubi to hold its shape well. Variations can include adjusting the Spam thickness or adding other ingredients, but the classic recipe centers on this simple combination. Using a distinctly mild, sweeter soy sauce like Aloha soy sauce enhances flavor without overpowering the taste.
The recipe uses an Instant Pot to cook the rice precisely, but a rice cooker or stovetop method with water adjustments works as well. Using Lite Spam reduces the fat and sodium content. The Spam can originally serves as an ideal mold after being washed and lined with plastic wrap to facilitate easy shaping and removal of the rice block. Preparing the musubi with care will help maintain the shape and texture.
Ingredients
- 1 can SPAM (12 oz, I like to use Lite spam)
- 2 heets nori 7 in x 8 in, 6 grams, seaweed
Cook rice:
- 2 cups rice Japanese variety
- 2 cups water
Sauce to cook spam:
- ¼ cup soy sauce ( The best to use Aloha soy sauce)
- ¼ cup sugar
Instructions
- Put 2 cups of Japanese rice into the bowl.
- Pour 6 cups of water into the bowl.
- Wash and rub the rice.
- Then, drain the rice. Usually, I repeat steps 2-4 for 3 times.
- After that, put the washed rice into the instant pot.
- Pour 2 cups of water into the instant pot and level off the rice. Close the lid and vent, press the button manual, adjust 6 minutes and natural release.
- While cooking the rice, open a can of spam. Cut the block of spam into slices ¼ -½ inch thick. I did around ½ inch thick for 6 slices. You can do 8 slices and thinner.
- After, pour ¼ cup of soy sauce and ¼ cup of sugar into a pan. Mix it well and turn on the small fire. ( The best to use Aloha soy sauce.)
- Next, put the sliced spam from step 7 into the sauce. Let it simmer for 3-4 minutes.
- Flip the other side and let it simmer for 3-4 minutes.
- Cut 2 sheets of nori seaweed into strips (2-3 inches wide).
- Wash and clean the can from spam. Use a paper towel to dry it and put a plastic wrap into it. (This way it is easier to take the block of rice.)
- When the rice is done, open the lid and scoop the rice out.
- When the rice, nori and spam are ready, you can start combining the ingredients to make Hawaiian spam musubi.
- Put 6 tablespoons of rice into the mold and compact the rice with the spoon.
- Take out the block of rice.
- Place a strip of nori under the block of rice.
- Put the cooked spam on top of the rice.
- Then, bring the nori together and close the end. You can dip some sauce from the cooked spam, this can help stick the seaweed and close it well.
Notes
- Japanese short-grain rice is preferable for its texture and stickiness, but Calrose rice is a practical substitute.
- Because of differences in cooking equipment and rice brands, you may need to adjust water amounts if not using an Instant Pot.
- Lite Spam provides a less fatty and lower sodium option while preserving flavor.
- Aloha soy sauce lends an ideal balance of saltiness and sweetness; standard soy sauce may alter the taste.
- Reuse and clean the empty Spam can as a mold by lining it with plastic wrap for forming uniform rice blocks without sticking.
- Experimenting with additions and variations is common, but the classic Spam and rice wrapped with nori gives the traditional musubi experience.
Nutrition Information
Show DetailsNutrition Facts
Serving: 6Serving
Amount Per Serving
Calories 442 kcal
% Daily Value*
| Calories | 442kcal | 22% |
| Carbohydrates | 61g | 20% |
| Protein | 13g | 26% |
| Fat | 16g | 25% |
| Saturated Fat | 6g | 30% |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 1g | 6% |
| Monounsaturated Fat | 8g | 40% |
| Cholesterol | 40mg | 13% |
| Sodium | 1347mg | 56% |
| Potassium | 326mg | 7% |
| Fiber | 1g | 4% |
| Sugar | 9g | 18% |
| Vitamin A | 45IU | 1% |
| Vitamin C | 0.3mg | 0% |
| Calcium | 22mg | 2% |
| Iron | 1mg | 6% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.
User Reviews
Overall Rating
5
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