This Hawaiian Fried Rice Recipe is a classic Spam recipe. Everyone that tries this recipe says it is truly an authentic Hawaiian recipe! You definitely need to give it a try.
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Spam Fried Rice is frickin' delicious.
Fun fact: I grew up as a Navy brat, which means I lived all over the place. There are certain things that you learn when you grow up moving around every few years:
- Home is truly where your heart is – When people ask me where I'm from my answer is usually something like...uh, It's complicated.
- You learn to make friends anywhere – Stranger? What? I've never met one.
- Always be adaptable – 'Life moves pretty fast. If you don't stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it.' – Ferris Bueller
- Try anything – Never be afraid of new experiences. Things usually work out just fine.
When I moved to Hawaii my first experience with Spam (the wonder ham in a can) involved eating it on toasted white bread with ketchup and mustard.
We were staying in the military commons waiting for our housing assignment and furniture delivery from California. I was a kid, and my palate was maybe less developed than it is now. But, I liked Spam.
How to cook spam.
My mom made slices of spam and fried them in a skillet until they were browned on each side. Then she served the fired spam on toasted Wonder bread with ketchup and mustard — kind of like a hamburger, but way more low budget!
I still remember how it tasted with the overly sweet ketchup, and the yellow mustard all nestled between the oh-so-soft and fluffy, fortified, and aggressively processed slices of white bread. Now that I am older I have learned how to cook spam and make it delicious.
For this Spam recipe, you'll need to cut the SPAM into cubes and then brow them in a skillet. I like my spam to have a nice toasty brown color.
While living in Hawaii Spam became a common food group
My absolute favorite Spam treat was – and still is – Spam Musubi. Spam Musubi is a thick slice of fried spam, sometimes in a teriyaki sauce. It's perched on a brick of rice and wrapped in a sheet of Nori. There are a lot of different versions, but all basically follow this formula. It's magic!
The Evolution of Spam Fried Rice – Definitely a Journey of Love.
I started making this tasty dish in my twenties, during my college days. It's an affordable college meal, and I always had rice and eggs around (that's another story).
Fried rice always starts with leftover rice. You can use any type of rice that you like and have leftover. I like Nishiki Sushi Rice or Calrose Botan rice. Both are short-grain white rice.
Over the years I've pretty much perfected this Hawaiian style fried rice recipe. So many people that have lived in Hawaii and have had Spam Fried Rice tell me that this recipe is the most authentic one they have found.
This Hawaiian recipe reminds me of the time I spent growing up on Oahu.
This is one of my favorite pot luck recipes.
It's always gone in no time.
While working at the Crime Lab in San Diego, I brought this to an office potluck. One of my friends there, who happens to be Hawaiian, loved it! I think it was comfort food for him, too.
Something about food brings people together. We bonded over food, and now we are Ohana. If only everything in life were this uncomplicated.
I've talked about this before but, the connection and commonality we can get through food are what fuels my passion for cooking.
Food and the entire cooking experience takes me back to moments in my life that make me feel rooted. All of my recipes tie me to my history and transport me through the tangled web of my life, and all the places I've been and all the people that I've met.
This spam and rice recipe always takes me back to Hawaii!
I relive these moments any time I cook my beloved Spam fried rice.
It's authentic food from my roots. Every now and then we all need a little of the soul–fueling that you get from staying connected to your own roots.
I hope you enjoy this recipe as much as I do. If you love it, please share it.
Other Recipes That You Might Like
- Asian Cucumber Salad
- Furikake Fried Chicken with Sriracha Aioli
- Pineapple Sweet Rolls
- Legit Hawaiian Mac Salad
- Puerto Rican Rice and Beans
- Easy Curry Risotto
- Mushroom Lettuce Wraps
- Easy Chinese Fried Rice
When you visit Hawaii there are a few must-eats:
- Shave Ice
- Spam Musubi aka Spam Sushi
- Spam and eggs with furikake
- Lau Lau
- Poke
- Leonard's Malasadas
Not necessarily in that order.
Spam Fried Rice
Ingredients
Steamed Rice:
- 3 cups Nishiki rice sushi grade
- 4 cups water
Hawaiian Mirepoix
- 2 carrots shredded or finely diced
- ½ sweet onion finely diced
- 1 tbsp fresh ginger finely grated
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- vegetable oil
Da Flava:
- 1 can SPAM diced
- 2 tbsp mirin
- 1 tsp sesame oil
- 2 tbsp soy sauce
- 1 tbsp rice wine vinegar
- 1 16 oz bag frozen peas
- 1 bunch green onions sliced
Optional Equipment
Instructions
- Make the rice according to directions.
- Lightly beat eggs with 1 tsp sugar and 2 tsp of soy sauce. I usually cook this like an omelet and then dice it.
- Dice Spam. Brown in a little oil. Remove from the pan and set aside.
- Add Hawaiian mirepoix to the pan, saute until tender and fragrant.
- Add sesame oil and rice to the pan. Mix well.
- Add frozen peas (and/other frozen vegetables if desired). Mix in and make sure they are sufficiently warmed through.
- Remove from heat.
- Add mirin, rice wine, and soy sauce to the pan. Mix well.
- Add in the Spam and diced egg. Stir to incorporate.
- Add diced green onion.
- Serve immediately.
We loved it! The family decided that spam is too salty for them (first time for them) so I'll be switching out for ham next time. Enjoyed the flavor, texture, and colors 🙂
Thanks for the review Kimber. Spam is definitely on the salty side. Ham is delicious in this recipe. You can also use chicken or shrimp.
I Love Spam and am excited to try something new. This recipe looks awesome. Question is -- can I use Jasmine rice vs the one you have listed?
Cecilia,
Jasmine rice would give you a significantly different flavor than the original recipe. This fried rice recipe is meant to use short-grain sticky rice. However, that being said, just because it turns out different doesn't mean that it won't taste amazing!
If you do give it a try, I would love to hear how you like it with Jasmine rice.
Ok it’s official, As a former Naval Officer and world traveler. I deviated from my normal fried rice recipe. Served this one up to my family who promptly advised its was the best darn fried rice they had since our last visit to Ohahu (last year).
Thank you for sharing this recipe and some memories. Incidentally I served mine with some macadamia nut pancakes with mango compote just like we would get on the island!
Randy,
Thank you so much for the rave review! I am so glad that you and your family were able to relive your visit to Oahu! It's my goal to serve up recipes that make people happy!
Your macadamia nut pancakes sound amazing. I'd love to hear about the recipe!
💜 Laura
So Yummy just made it - they keep coming back for more!
I don't have Mirin...can I omit it or will it not taste right?
If you don't have any mirin, just add about a tsp or sugar to the rice wine vinegar. Mirin is a sweeter rice wine. A little sugar will give you a similar flavor. However, if you leave it out, this rice will still be delicious.
Such a delicious and EASY to make recipe! And right now, we're stocked up on Spam!! So this recipe is perfect!
Ive never eaten spam. After seeing this recipe im giving it a try. Thanks for giving me a new food adventure.
Michelle
I can't wait to hear how it comes out. AND how you like your first recipe with SPAM!
Lave this post! Can I quote in my blog please!?
https://google.com
Yes, definitely Angela.
All content can be used if credit is given and link to the original recipe is provided. Content should not be copied or reposted. Thank you!
I made this for a pot luck at work once and now I’m asked to make it again! It is so good and EASY to make and bring in to work.
That is exactly the reaction I always get! Thank you for sharing.
I used to eat this as a child, at my best friends Hawaiian restaurant, but never had the recipe so havent ate it in about 25 years. This recipe was perfect, it taste 100% authentic. I made for my family and they devoured it which was a surprise considering they dont like vegetable or spam...lol
Kai, I'm so glad that this recipe helped you relive your childhood. It takes me back every time. Thank you so much for sharing! And who doesn't like SPAM? LOL I'd love to know the restaurant. 😀
I loved spam growing up, haven't thought about it in years. May have to give this recipe a try, it sounds great!
Thanks, Barbara! If you haven't had spam in awhile, this recipe is a super tasty way to get reacquainted.
Now I know what to do with the cans of spam my father in law gave me!!! Recipe loooookkss so good!
I think its funny that your father-in-law gave you spam. I would love to hear the story behind that.
Thanks for linking to my recipe here. 🙂 Awesome post!