Recipe: SPAM MEsubi

This week on the show, Evan talks with Roy Choi, the chef behind the Kogi Taco Truck and Chego. He’s heading a new campaign for Hormel Foods promoting SPAM.

The cans of salty, cured meat are a popular part of the cuisine in many Asian cultures that saw American military influence in the twentieth century. Choi tells Evan that when soldiers introduced SPAM to the people living outside their bases, the product became a window for Asians into American culture.

Choi shared his recipe for SPAM MEsubi. It’s his take on the Hawaiian SPAM musubi.

SPAM MEsubi

(From Roy Choi for Hormel Foods)

Makes 16 snack bites.

Ingredients

2 cups of calrose rice, washed

1 tablespoon of canola oil

one 12 ounce can of SPAM®, sliced into 16 squares

1/2 cup of kimchi, pureed

1 pack of salted nori snack sheets

1/2 cup sugar

1/3 cup soy sauce

Directions

Wash rice five times. Then cover with clean water one inch above the level of the rice and cook in a rice cooker.

Heat up a pan with oil and cook the SPAM® on each side till golden brown then transfer to paper towel-lined tray.

Reduce the sugar and soy sauce by half, then add a splash of water and reserve.

Lay the nori sheets down then top with knob of rice, a dot of reduced soy, pureed kimchi, SPAM®.

Fold and enjoy like a mini taco.