A Guide to Cooking with Spam: 15 Delicious Recipes and Tips

Introduction

Don’t underestimate the power of Spam. This canned meat has been a pantry staple for over 80 years, but it’s more than just a survival food. If you know how to cook with it, Spam can be a versatile ingredient for creating delicious and cheap meals at home. In this article, we’ll explore 15 creative recipes for cooking with Spam, ranging from classic breakfast dishes to unexpected sushi rolls. But before we get started, let’s take a brief look at the history of this beloved food item.

5 Creative Spam Recipes to Try at Home

If you’re new to cooking with Spam or are just looking for some creative ideas, these 5 recipes are a great place to start:

Recipe 1: Spam Fried Rice

Ingredients:

• 1 can of Spam, diced
• 3 cups of cooked rice
• 1 cup of mixed frozen vegetables
• 2 eggs, beaten
• 2 tablespoons of soy sauce
• 2 tablespoons of vegetable oil

Instructions:

1. Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat.
2. Add the diced Spam and cook for 3-4 minutes, stirring occasionally, until golden brown.
3. Add the frozen vegetables and cook for another 2-3 minutes until they are heated through.
4. Push the Spam and vegetables to one side of the skillet and add the beaten eggs to the other side. Scramble the eggs until cooked through.
5. Add the cooked rice and soy sauce to the skillet and stir to combine with the Spam, vegetables, and eggs. Cook for an additional 2-3 minutes until everything is heated through and the rice is slightly crispy.

Recipe 2: Spam Musubi

Ingredients:

• 1 can of Spam, sliced into 8-10 pieces
• 3 cups of cooked sushi rice
• 4 sheets of nori
• 2 tablespoons of soy sauce
• 2 tablespoons of sugar
• 1 tablespoon of rice vinegar

Instructions:

1. In a small bowl, mix together the soy sauce, sugar, and rice vinegar to create the marinade.
2. Add the sliced Spam to the marinade and let it sit for at least 30 minutes.
3. Grill or pan-fry the Spam until it is crispy on the edges.
4. Cut the nori sheets into strips that are slightly wider than the Spam slices.
5. Place a strip of nori on a cutting board and lay a piece of Spam on top.
6. Top the Spam with a scoop of sushi rice and press down gently to shape it into a rectangle.
7. Fold the nori over the Spam and rice, using a little bit of water to seal the edges.
8. Repeat with the remaining Spam and rice.

Recipe 3: Spam and Egg Breakfast Sandwich

Ingredients:

• 1 can of Spam, sliced
• 4 English muffins
• 4 eggs
• 4 slices of cheese
• 1 tablespoon of butter
• Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions:

1. Melt the butter in a large skillet over medium heat.
2. Add the Spam slices and cook for 2-3 minutes on each side, until they are crispy and browned.
3. Remove the Spam from the skillet and set aside.
4. In the same skillet, crack the eggs and cook them to your desired level of doneness. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
5. Toast the English muffins and place a slice of cheese on each half.
6. Top one half of each English muffin with a cooked egg and a few slices of Spam, then cover with the other half of the muffin.

Recipe 4: Cheesy Spam and Potato Casserole

Ingredients:

• 1 can of Spam, diced
• 4 cups of sliced potatoes
• 1 cup of shredded cheddar cheese
• 1/2 cup of milk
• 1/4 cup of butter
• 1/4 cup of flour
• 1/2 teaspoon of salt
• 1/4 teaspoon of black pepper

Instructions:

1. Preheat the oven to 375°F.
2. Melt the butter in a large skillet over medium heat.
3. Add the diced Spam and cook for 2-3 minutes until browned.
4. Add the sliced potatoes and cook for another 5-7 minutes until they are soft.
5. Sprinkle the flour over the Spam and potatoes and stir to combine.
6. Add the milk, salt, and pepper to the skillet and stir until the ingredients are coated in the sauce.
7. Transfer the mixture to a greased baking dish and sprinkle the shredded cheese on top.
8. Bake in the oven for 25-30 minutes until the cheese is melted and bubbly.

Recipe 5: Spam and Pineapple Skewers

Ingredients:

• 1 can of Spam, sliced into cubes
• 1 can of pineapple chunks
• 1 red bell pepper, cut into bite-sized pieces
• 1 green bell pepper, cut into bite-sized pieces
• 1/4 cup of soy sauce
• 2 tablespoons of brown sugar
• 1 teaspoon of garlic powder
• 1 teaspoon of onion powder
• 1/4 teaspoon of black pepper

Instructions:

1. In a small bowl, mix together the soy sauce, brown sugar, garlic powder, onion powder, and black pepper to make the marinade.
2. Add the Spam cubes to the marinade and let them sit for at least 30 minutes.
3. Preheat the grill to medium-high heat.
4. Thread the Spam cubes, pineapple chunks, and bell pepper pieces onto skewers.
5. Grill the skewers for 5-7 minutes per side, until the Spam is crispy on the outside and the vegetables are tender.

Feeling Adventurous? Try These Unexpected Ways to Cook Spam

If you’re ready to take your Spam cooking to the next level, these recipes will certainly surprise your taste buds:

Recipe 1: Spam Mac and Cheese

Ingredients:

• 1 can of Spam, diced
• 8 oz of macaroni
• 2 cups of shredded cheddar cheese
• 1 cup of milk
• 2 tablespoons of butter
• 2 tablespoons of flour
• 1/2 teaspoon of salt
• 1/4 teaspoon of black pepper
• 1/4 teaspoon of smoked paprika

Instructions:

1. Cook the macaroni according to package instructions.
2. Melt the butter in a large saucepan over medium heat.
3. Add the diced Spam and cook for 2-3 minutes until browned.
4. Sprinkle the flour over the Spam and stir to combine.
5. Add the milk, salt, black pepper, and smoked paprika to the saucepan and stir until the ingredients are coated in the sauce.
6. Add the shredded cheese to the saucepan and stir until it is melted and creamy.
7. Stir in the cooked macaroni and serve.

Recipe 2: Spam Carbonara

Ingredients:

• 1 can of Spam, diced
• 8 oz of spaghetti
• 2 eggs, beaten
• 1/2 cup of grated Parmesan cheese
• 2 tablespoons of butter
• 2 cloves of garlic, minced
• 1/4 teaspoon of black pepper

Instructions:

1. Cook the spaghetti according to package instructions.
2. Melt the butter in a large skillet over medium heat.
3. Add the diced Spam and garlic to the skillet and cook for 2-3 minutes until browned.
4. In a small bowl, whisk together the beaten eggs, Parmesan cheese, and black pepper.
5. Drain the cooked spaghetti and add it to the skillet with the Spam and garlic.
6. Pour the egg mixture over the spaghetti and stir quickly to coat the pasta evenly.
7. Remove from heat and serve immediately.

Recipe 3: Spam Fritters with Spicy Mayo

Ingredients:

• 1 can of Spam, diced
• 1 cup of flour
• 1 teaspoon of baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon of salt
• 1/2 teaspoon of paprika
• 1/4 teaspoon of cayenne pepper
• 1 egg, beaten
• 1/2 cup of milk
• 2 tablespoons of chopped green onions (optional)
• Oil for frying
• 1/2 cup of mayonnaise
• 1 tablespoon of Sriracha sauce

Instructions:

1. Combine the flour, baking powder, salt, paprika, and cayenne pepper in a large bowl.
2. In a separate bowl, whisk together the egg, milk, and chopped green onions (if using).
3. Add the diced Spam to the dry ingredients and toss to coat.
4. Add the wet ingredients to the bowl with the Spam and stir until everything is combined.
5. Heat about 1 inch of oil in a large skillet over medium heat.
6. Drop tablespoons of the Spam batter into the oil and fry until golden brown, about 2-3 minutes per side.
7. Remove the fritters from the oil and place on a paper towel-lined plate to drain any excess oil.
8. In a small bowl, mix together the mayonnaise and Sriracha sauce to create the spicy mayo dipping sauce.
9. Serve the fritters warm with the spicy mayo on the side.

Recipe 4: Cajun-Style Spam Jambalaya

Ingredients:

• 1 can of Spam, diced
• 1 onion, diced
• 1 green bell pepper, diced
• 2 cloves of garlic, minced
• 1 cup of long-grain rice
• 1 cup of chicken broth
• 1 can of diced tomatoes
• 1 teaspoon of Cajun seasoning
• 1/4 teaspoon of cayenne pepper
• Salt and black pepper to taste

Instructions:

1. Heat a large Dutch oven over medium-high heat.
2. Add the diced Spam to the Dutch oven and cook for 3-4 minutes until browned.
3. Remove the Spam from the Dutch oven and set aside.
4. Add the diced onion and green pepper to the Dutch oven and cook for 2-3 minutes until softened.
5. Add the minced garlic to the Dutch oven and cook for an additional 30 seconds.
6. Add the rice, chicken broth, diced tomatoes, Cajun seasoning, cayenne pepper, salt, and black pepper to the Dutch oven and stir to combine.
   Tags: Cheap Meals Cooking With Spam Easy Recipes Spam Spam Recipes