With lots of time on our hands staying home until the pandemic subsides, many of us have been drawn to experiment with food to fight boredom and make up for the reduced access to our favourite restaurants. What better opportunity to revisit an old favourite and have some fun!
SPAM Teriyaki Kabobs: Just one of thousands of ways you can use SPAM!
An obvious choice with Grilling Season just around the corner…
I refer, of course, to SPAM, the ubiquitous canned Pork Luncheon Meat that folks my age all know from their childhoods. The product has a colourful history and stands out as one globally popular food the origin of whose name remains a mystery. Most folks, however, agree that the name is an anagram: ‘SPiced haM’.
SPAM was invented in 1937 just in time to become a staple in U.S. and Allied Army Ration Packs during the Second World War. Millions of servicemen from around the world developed a taste for the Salty concoction and brought it home with them after the War. SPAM became ubiquitous in American, British and Commonwealth countries in the 50s and never really lost popularity.
How popular is SPAM?
Hormel Foods, which owns the brand and still makes the product, claims over 9 billion (yes, with a ‘B’) cams of SPAM products have been sold. In Hawaii, where they have held Pork as a staple since the first migrating Polynesian settlers arrived on its shores almost 1,000 years ago, folks have claimed SPAM as their own during the War, when it was readily available from military sources. Now it’s their unofficial ‘National Food’.
SPAM has also been adapated to regional tastes to fit into almost all the major cuisines of the world. With 16 varieties, from Low Fat and Low Sodium to Jalapeño and Teriyaki, there’s a SPAM for every taste. There are even Spam Fries (breaded ‘fingers’ of SPAM) and SPAM Patties (breaded and ready to fry).
One reason SPAM is popular is that it can be eaten right out of the can. Just pop the lovely, greasy Loaf out of the can and slice for Sandwiches – which is the way most of us remember it, in our lunches. But SPAM can also be cooked, in myriad ways. What that in mind, I present to you a list of selected SPAM recipes direct from the product website.
‘Suggested presentations’
Tex-Mex: Tacos, Burritos, Enchiladas, Arepas, Nachos, and SPAM with Black Beans and Rice.
Hawaiian: SPAM Kabobs, Classic Hawaiian SPAM Sandwich, and SPAM Hawaiian Pizza.
Asian: SPAM Sushi (Kimbap), SPAM Bimbap Bowl, SPAM Ramen, and SPAM Summer Rolls.
‘State Fair’ Oddities: SPAM Meatloaf Cupcakes, SPAM Fries, SPAM Baked Beans, SPAM Cuban Sandwich, Spicy SPAM Sliders, SPAM Ice Cream, Bacon-Wrapped SPAM Bites, SPAM French Toast, and ‘Pulled SPAM’ BBQ Sandwich.
Fan Favourites: SPAM Grilled Cheese, SPAM and Wild Rice Salad, SPAM Gyros, SPAM Hashbrown Bake, SPAM Benedict, SPAM Pizza Rolls, Sweet and Sour SPAM (Cantonese style), and SPAM Bahn Mi (Korean).
These are just a few recipes that appealed to me, out of hundreds on the SPAM website, and thousands more scattered around the net.
A caveat…
While SPAM is generally acknowledged as ‘addictive’ by its fans, I hasten to remind readers that it is very high in Fat, Salt and Calories, and relatively low in other Vitamins and Minerals. It also contains preservatives such as Sodium Nitrite – but so do Bacon and other Cured Meats. My advice is to enjoy playing with SPAM, but limit your intake to one meal a week, at most. Use a creative SPAM recipe as a break from other more healthy menu items.
~ Maggie J.