Spam #1: Spam Musubi
Spam musubi (pronounced moo-soo-bee, with the emphasis on the last syllable) is a take off on the familiar nigiri, a pressed seasoned sushi rice with something on top which is wrapped with a strip of nori. In this case, a fried piece of spam. The dish seems to have originated in Hawaii where Spam is a much beloved delicacy.
A spam musubi press (a rectangular plastic form) works best to form and press down the rice, however, if you don't have one, you can improvise by removing the bottom of the can of Spam. This is easier said than done. And for someone like me, a klutz with a capital K, it can be a very dangerous undertaking.
Due to the lack of a bottom ridge, and the soft, flexible nature of the modern can of Spam, a can opener does not work well. Oh you can start a couple of slices, on both the long even sides, but then you will have to resort to a very sturdy pair of kitchen shears.
WARNING: Do all this in a work area where flying pieces of metal shavings will not end up in your food or your eyes.
Ragged can bottom
Bottom taped with masking tape
Spam Musubi - makes 4 musubi
2 cups cooked sushi rice
2-3 tbsp seasoned rice wine vinegar
2 sheets of nori, each cut into 3 strips (you'll only use 4 strips)
4 slices of grilled Spam
wasabi paste (optional)
In a bowl, add your 2 cups of cooked sushi rice. Sprinkle over the rice wine vinegar, one tbsp at a time, cutting through the rice with a rice paddle so as to distribute the vinegar evenly. Roughly divide the rice into 4 portions.
There are 2 ways of distributing the rice when making the musubi. You can either put all of your rice (~1 inch) on the bottom of your slice of spam or you can surround your spam with rice with roughly half an inch on either side. The choice is yours.
One layer of rice spam musubi:
Lay out the strip of nori vertically. Place the slice of spam horizontally across the middle of the nori and, if desired, smear a bit of wasabi across the spam. Place your washed can of spam (taped side up) over the slice of spam and ladle/spoon or transfer by clumps the cooked rice over the spam. Using the back of a small spoon, press down the rice firmly.
Then, gently push down on the rice while pulling up on your can of spam.
Wrap the strip of nori around the musubi and seal with a bit of water.
For the 2 Layer of rice version:
Lay out the strip of nori vertically. Place the washed can of spam (taped side up) horizontally across the middle of the nori. Spoon half of the rice apportioned for this musubi in the bottom. Press down firmly on the rice. Smear some wasabi on one of the slices of grilled spam and fit the spam gently into the can over the rice. Press down firmly on the slice of spam to further pack down the rice. Add the rest of the rice and press down firmly.
Then, gently push down on the rice while pulling up on your can of spam.
Wrap the strip of nori around the musubi and seal with a bit of water.
Furikake may be added to the sushi rice before assembly for additional flavour and texture.
Nori and Spam with Wasabi
Empty spam can over the slice of spam
Pressing down the rice
Wrapped single rice layer spam musubi
Finished single rice layer musubi
Double rice layer prior to wrapping up with strip of nori
Single and Double rice layer musubi
I think Spam musubi is a great bento box dish or even just wrapped up in a piece of saran wrap and thrown into your lunch for the next day.
A spam musubi press (a rectangular plastic form) works best to form and press down the rice, however, if you don't have one, you can improvise by removing the bottom of the can of Spam. This is easier said than done. And for someone like me, a klutz with a capital K, it can be a very dangerous undertaking.
Due to the lack of a bottom ridge, and the soft, flexible nature of the modern can of Spam, a can opener does not work well. Oh you can start a couple of slices, on both the long even sides, but then you will have to resort to a very sturdy pair of kitchen shears.
WARNING: Do all this in a work area where flying pieces of metal shavings will not end up in your food or your eyes.
Ragged can bottom
Bottom taped with masking tape
Spam Musubi - makes 4 musubi
2 cups cooked sushi rice
2-3 tbsp seasoned rice wine vinegar
2 sheets of nori, each cut into 3 strips (you'll only use 4 strips)
4 slices of grilled Spam
wasabi paste (optional)
In a bowl, add your 2 cups of cooked sushi rice. Sprinkle over the rice wine vinegar, one tbsp at a time, cutting through the rice with a rice paddle so as to distribute the vinegar evenly. Roughly divide the rice into 4 portions.
There are 2 ways of distributing the rice when making the musubi. You can either put all of your rice (~1 inch) on the bottom of your slice of spam or you can surround your spam with rice with roughly half an inch on either side. The choice is yours.
One layer of rice spam musubi:
Lay out the strip of nori vertically. Place the slice of spam horizontally across the middle of the nori and, if desired, smear a bit of wasabi across the spam. Place your washed can of spam (taped side up) over the slice of spam and ladle/spoon or transfer by clumps the cooked rice over the spam. Using the back of a small spoon, press down the rice firmly.
Then, gently push down on the rice while pulling up on your can of spam.
Wrap the strip of nori around the musubi and seal with a bit of water.
For the 2 Layer of rice version:
Lay out the strip of nori vertically. Place the washed can of spam (taped side up) horizontally across the middle of the nori. Spoon half of the rice apportioned for this musubi in the bottom. Press down firmly on the rice. Smear some wasabi on one of the slices of grilled spam and fit the spam gently into the can over the rice. Press down firmly on the slice of spam to further pack down the rice. Add the rest of the rice and press down firmly.
Then, gently push down on the rice while pulling up on your can of spam.
Wrap the strip of nori around the musubi and seal with a bit of water.
Furikake may be added to the sushi rice before assembly for additional flavour and texture.
Nori and Spam with Wasabi
Empty spam can over the slice of spam
Pressing down the rice
Wrapped single rice layer spam musubi
Finished single rice layer musubi
Double rice layer prior to wrapping up with strip of nori
Single and Double rice layer musubi
I think Spam musubi is a great bento box dish or even just wrapped up in a piece of saran wrap and thrown into your lunch for the next day.