Monty Python’s Flying Circus
In 1970 Monty Python’s Flying Circus immortalized Spam®, the most famous of canned meats, in a musical comedy sketch. The Spam® song to this day is sung loud and proud all over the world at the mere mention of Spam®. That year also marked the 2 billionth can of Spam® produced.
World War II
Spam® was introduced to Hawaii during World War II by American troops and since then it has been a staple in the Hawaiian diet, averaging about 6 cans per capita a year. The reasons are simple, it stores well with no refrigeration, it’s cheap, it’s insanely versatile and it is ono (delicious)!
WWII soldier (Nat’s uncle)
100 million pounds
To some, Spam® is the lowest of foods that elicits all sorts of gross faces and shock that we would even consider eating it, but I would urge you to treat it with the utmost of respect. Spam® is a war hero, earning its place in history during WWII with 100 million pounds of Spam® shipped abroad to feed the allied troops. Not only did Spam® feed the soldiers during war, it became an excellent commodity to trade, generating stories of barters for bottles of French wine or hunks of Italian cheese.
People world wide
Falling into the hands of so many people world wide, Spam® took its place in many different kitchens. In fact, that is exactly what has happened in Hawaii, different cultures have taken Spam® and transformed it into dishes from their home country. Spam® sushi, called Musubi , is a seared (or not) slice of Spam® on sushi rice wrapped with a belt of Nori. Spam® teriyaki, Korean style, Mexican Spam® tacos, Spanish Spam® frittata, Chinese Spam® fried rice, pizza, burgers, sauces there is nothing Spam® can’t do!
Spam® & eggs
Pork shoulder, ham and a bit of chicken
The ingredient list on the iconic pull top can, with its bright yellow lettering on a navy blue background, is not something to dwell on when you want to eat Spam®. Just remember; pork shoulder, ham and a bit of chicken conveniently packaged, with no bones or skin for ease of preparation, then pop the top and enjoy!
Iconic packaging
A few more facts
Spam® packaging has been donated to the Smithsonian Institute and in 2001 a museum dedicated to Spam opened its doors, which should have had quite a line up considering between 5 and 6 billion cans had been produced up until then reaching 7 billion cans in 2007.
Iconic, consistent, reliable
So there it is, Spam®, an all American food hero that has served its country and the world proudly. Iconic, consistent and reliable over the years, let’s give Spam® the true respect it deserves.
Spam katsu
Our favourite way to eat Spam® is fried up with eggs for breakfast (Spam®, sausage and Spam®, eggs and Spam®…) but I thought this time I would get a little crazy by combining a Hawaiian favourite, chicken Katsu, with an Asian summer roll. What I came up with was a Spam® Katsu summer roll with Katsu dipping sauce. They were easy to put together and turned out to be…spam spam spam spam, spam spam spam spam, spamedy spam!!!
- 1 can Spam®
- 1.5 cups Panko crumbs
- 1/2 cup flour
- 2 eggs beaten
- 8 rice paper wraps
- Red leaf lettuce
- 1 carrot, julienned
- 1 bunch fresh basil leaves
- 1 bunch fresh mint leaves
- 1 tomato seeded and cut into strips
- Carefully carve your tin of Spam® into 8 equal logs.
- Roll each log in the flour, then beaten egg and finally the Panko.
- When all the logs are breaded heat 1/2 an inch of oil in a sauté pan until just smoking then add the Spam® carefully and fry to golden brown and then reserve on a paper towel lined plate.
- Prepare your rice paper wraps by soaking 3 at time in a bowl of warm water.
- When soft and pliable, lay out on a damp towel and build the roll.
- Start with the basil and mint leaves, then a few carrots, a couple of ripped lettuce leaves and top with the breaded Spam® and a strip of tomato.
- Fold the wrapper up from the bottom and form a tight roll, fold each side over and continue to roll.
- Reserve each roll under a damp paper towel to keep them from drying out while you make the Katsu sauce.
Spam® ready for its dunking in flour, egg & Panko
Spam® logs waiting for the oil
Breaded Spam® getting crispy
- 1/2 cup ketchup
- 2 Tbsp soy sauce
- 2 Tbsp Worcester sauce
- 1 Tbsp fresh ginger, minced
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- 1 Tbsp Dijon mustard
- 1 1/2 Tbsp brown sugar
- 3 Tbsp Hawaiian chili water (optional)
- Blend or whisk all of the ingredients together and let sit to blend all the flavours.
The finished product with its sauce
How do you like your Spam®?
Haha – any recipe that says “cut the meat into logs” makes me a little queasy. 🙂
Pete, on the other hand, tried the musubi the other night and quite liked it!
Aaww you should have tried it. It can be very tasty.
I don’t mind the spam, but in infrequent doses. The “problem” is: we know what’s in it. 😉 I gotta say one of my fave ways to nom the spam is in a big loco moco platter. Mmmm, looooco moooco, accompanied by … spam spam spam spam … “but I haven’t got eggs, bacon, and spam …”
Definitely in infrequent doses. And we promise loco moco will be had before we leave!