This page may contain affiliate links. I receive a small commission at no cost to you when you make a purchase using my link. This post is about an Easy Hawaiian Spam Musubi Recipe!
Ok, so I haven't been to Hawaii. But, I have been to Hawaiian Bros Island Grill! This fast food restaurant is where I was introduced to the iconic Spam Musubi. I fell in love with this delicious Hawaiian snack, and relished the idea of making these for myself at home so that I could enjoy them anytime!
So allow me to tell you a little bit about Hawaiian Spam Musubi!
Jump to:
What is Hawaiian Spam Musubi?
Spam, a precooked pork shoulder and ham product, was introduced by Hormel Foods Corporation in 1937. It became a very popular food in Hawaii during World War II, when many American troops were sent to Hawaii when America entered the war after the attack on Pearl Harbor.
Spam has a very long shelf life and could easily be included in a soldier's rations as fresh meat was not always feasible. So, soldiers could get their protein by consuming this high calorie, salty, and quite delicious canned meat.
Eventually residents of Hawaii started to enjoy Spam, and sometime during the 1980's Spam musubi was invented and became extremely popular!
The Spam musubi was influenced by the Japanese onigiri, which is rice that is pressed and wrapped in nori (seaweed).
Today, Spam musubi can be found all over Hawaii in grocery stores, local convenience stores, and supermarkets. This local favorite is a delicious, inexpensive, and portable snack, and most everyone who tries Spam musubi loves Spam musubi!
So if you are ready to make this quintessential easy snack that is so beloved in Hawaiian cuisine, then please read on and I'll tell you what you'll need!
🥘 Ingredients
Here are the simple ingredients that you will need to make this Hawaiian-style Spam musubi:
- Spam - I've used regular Classic Spam for this recipe. If you are watching your salt, there is a less sodium version of Spam that you can use.
- Nori seaweed - I used 2 sheets of nori and cut the seaweed into 7" x 1" strips; there are approximately 5 strips of nori per sheet, so you'll need 2 sheets and will have a little nori leftover if you cut the sheets to this size
- Teriyaki sauce - you can use a prepared sauce like Kikkoman's or see the notes in the recipe card for an easy recipe to make your own teriyaki sauce
- Cooked rice - this refers to cooked short grain rice like you would use for sushi rice; it's best to use this as this short grain rice will stick together better than long grain rice
If you need a recipe for cooking short grain or sushi rice in the rice cooker, please visit my sister Tami's Sushi Rice Recipe For The Rice Cooker. Just omit the sushi vinegar dressing. 😉
Ok, now let's get ready to make this tasty snack from the Hawaiian islands!
Musubi Maker (Musubi Mold)
Before I jump into the instructions, I want to recommend using a musubi mold (also known as a musubi maker) to create your Spam musubi. The one I ordered on Amazon (link provided) also comes with a cute little rice paddle, as well as 2 triangle molds for rice balls. 😃
The musubi maker consists of the mold (which is the size of Spam slices), and a hand held portion with a handle that you use to press down on the rice.
You don't absolutely have to have one of these to make this Spam musubi, however it really helps to form your musubi.
If you don't have the Spam musubi mold, then you can use your hands to shape the rice into a rice bed that is the size of your sliced Spam.
🔪 Instructions
Slice the Spam into 8 equal slices, and prepare 3 cups of cooked short grain rice/sushi rice (without the vinegar).
Cut a nori sheet into strips approximately 7" x 1". Scissors are a great way to cut the nori!
Fry the slices of Spam in a large skillet on medium high heat for around 3-4 minutes per side until they are golden brown. If your Spam starts to stick to your pan, you can add a little bit of oil to loosen it up.
Lower the heat to medium, and then add the teriyaki sauce. Cook the Spam in the teriyaki sauce for about 30 seconds per side.
Lay a piece of nori down and place the musubi mold over the nori as pictured. This should be placed perpendicularly to the strip of nori in the middle of the strip.
Add 2 to 3 spoonfuls of cooked rice into the musubi mold, and then use the presser to press firmly down on the rice.
Now add a slice of Spam on top of the rice in the musubi mold.
Remove the mold. Use water to moisten the top of the nori strip, and then wrap the nori strip over the Spam and rice. The moistened part should lay on top of the other part of the strip so that the ends will stick together.
And now, it's time to enjoy your Spam musubi IMMENSELY!
Suggestions For Serving
It's time to gobble up these delightful musubi! You can eat these either warm (my preference) or at room temperature.
If you have extra teriyaki sauce, you can drizzle some over the musubi for extra deliciousness. Or, serve it with some soy sauce or Japanese mayo (like Kewpie)
I like eating the whole thing all at once. It's a bit messy, but totally delicious! Enjoy!
FAQ
Wrap leftovers in cling wrap and store in your refrigerator. Allow it to come to room temperature or warm them up for a few seconds before eating them. Best enjoyed within a couple of days!
Try adding some sesame seeds or sprinkle furikake onto the top of the rice before adding your piece of Spam.
Some Other Recipes You May Enjoy!
Here are some other recipes that you may enjoy:
- Super Easy Japanese Teriyaki Chicken
- Tami's Sushi Rice Recipe For The Rice Cooker
- Japanese Fried Chicken Recipe For Yurinchi Chicken
Join Me On A Fun Food Journey!
I invite you to come along on this food journey with me! Please sign up to get the latest recipes and inspiration for you to expand your food comfort zone! It's an incredible journey, please join me by signing up here.
Cheers!
Grace
Hawaiian Spam Musubi Recipe
Equipment
- 1 Skillet
- 1 rice mold musubi maker this is optional, but it makes making your Spam musubi just that much easier!
Ingredients
- 1 can Spam cut into 8 equal slices
- 8 strips nori I used 2 sheets of nori and cut the seaweed into 7" x 1" strips; there are approximately 5 strips of nori per sheet, so you'll need 2 sheets and will have a little nori leftover if you cut the sheets to this size
- 6 tablespoon teriyaki sauce you can use a prepared sauce like Kikkoman's or see the notes below for an easy recipe to make your own teriyaki sauce
- 3 cups rice this refers to cooked short grain rice like you would use for sushi rice; it's best to use this as this short grain rice will stick together better than long grain rice
- olive oil optional - you most likely will not need oil to cook the Spam, but if your Spam slices start to stick in your skillet when frying you can add a little bit to loosen them up
Instructions
- Slice the Spam into 8 equal slices, and prepare 3 cups of cooked short grain rice/sushi rice (without the vinegar).
- Cut the nori into strips approximately 7" x 1". Scissors are a great way to cut the nori!
- Fry the slices of Spam in a large skillet on medium high heat for around 3-4 minutes per side until they are golden brown. If your Spam starts to stick to your pan, you can add a little bit of oil to loosen it up.
- Lower the heat to medium, and then add the teriyaki sauce. Cook the Spam in the teriyaki sauce for about 30 seconds per side.
- Lay the nori down and place the musubi mold over the nori as pictured. This should be placed perpendicularly to the strip of nori in the middle of the strip.
- Add 2 to 3 spoonfuls of cooked rice into the musubi mold, and then use the presser to press firmly down on the rice.
- Now add a slice of Spam on top of the rice in the musubi mold.
- Remove the mold. Use water to moisten the top of the nori strip, and then wrap the nori strip over the Spam and rice. The moistened part should lay on top of the other part of the strip so that the ends will stick together.
- Enjoy your Spam musubi IMMENSELY!
Leave a Reply