Korean Spam Rice Bowl (스팸덮밥)
My notes for this recipe
Spam is widely used in modern Korean home cooking and works especially well with rice dishes. In this recipe, the Spam is cooked until crisp and then seasoned with garlic, onion, sugar, and soy sauce.
This recipe is inspired by a Spam rice bowl shared by Korean actor and home cook Ryu Soo-young on the television program “Fun-Staurant.”
In the original method, the Spam is mashed by hand in a food-safe bag. If you prefer to avoid plastic, you can mash it on a cutting board with a knife or fork instead. The seasoned Spam is served over hot rice and finished with egg yolk and gim-garu.
How I cook it
Prepare the Spam and onion
Mash the Spam with a fork or knife, or break it into very small pieces. Finely chop the half onion.
Crisp the Spam
Heat 1.5 tablespoons of olive oil in a frying pan. Cook the mashed Spam over medium heat until well browned and slightly crisp.
Add the garlic and onion
Add 2/3 tablespoon minced garlic and the chopped onion to the Spam. Continue cooking until the onion becomes translucent.
Add the sugar
Reduce the heat and add 2/3 tablespoon sugar. Cook for about 30 seconds while stirring.
Cook the soy sauce
Push the Spam mixture to one side of the pan. Pour 1.3 tablespoons soy sauce into the empty side and increase the heat. Let the soy sauce cook for about 30 seconds, then mix it thoroughly with the Spam mixture.
Assemble the rice bowl
Place one serving of hot cooked rice in a bowl and spoon the seasoned Spam mixture over the top. Finish with an egg yolk and, if desired, sprinkle with gim-garu. Serve immediately.
