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SPAM Katsu Musubi Recipe

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Take your musubi to another level with this SPAM katsu musubi. Marinated SPAM breaded and fried to golden brown perfection sandwiched between a bed of sticky white rice and wrapped in nori. The ultimate on the go meal.

SPAM musubis are the quintessential cultural fusion dish of Hawai’i. And while yes a good old regular musubi is amazing, have you ever had a SPAM katsu musubi? If you didn’t, you’re missing out.

I mean breaded and deep fried anything sounds amazing right? And better yet why not marinate the SPAM in Hawai’i’s staple condiment, shoyu and sugar.

Now that your mouth is watering, let’s talk ingredients. You’ll need:

  • SPAM
  • Shoyu
  • Sugar
  • Flour
  • Eggs
  • Panko
  • Nori
  • Rice
  • Furikake
spam katsu musubi ingredients

Substitutions:

  • Don’t have granulated sugar? You can use brown or coconut sugar.
  • Panko is Japanese style bread crumbs and is the key to what makes this breading so yummy. If you can’t find panko you can use traditional breadcrumbs. Mix it in a food processor for a few pulses to grind it down a little finer.
  • If you do not like furikake feel free to leave it out.

What is SPAM?

SPAM or sizzle pork and mmm is a canned pork based product by Hormel. It became a popular food to feed the troops during World War II as it was cheap, filling, and shelf stable. The large military presence here in Hawai’i aided in the local adoption of Spam. Hawai’i now consumes 7 million cans of SPAM products a year.

spam marinating in shoyu for a spam katsu musubi

What is a musubi?

Musubis are a classic dish here in Hawai’i that is often made of cooked SPAM with rice wrapped in nori (seaweed). It was said to have come out of Japanese internment camps and has been a popular food since.

What is katsu?

Katsu is a Japanese word that was shortened from katsuretsu which translates to cutlet. Today this term is used to describe various meats or meat substitutes that have been breaded with panko and fried.

breading a spam katsu musubi

What to serve with SPAM katsu musubi?

Musubis are served perfectly on it’s own. Handheld and great for on the go.

How to store SPAM katsu musubi?

SPAM katsu musubi are best consumed fresh. Although not ideal, you can store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for a day or two. Storing in the refrigerator will often cause the rice to harden from the loss of moisture.

frying spam for a spam katsu musubi

How to reheat SPAM katsu musubi?

If you stored the musubi in the refrigerator you’ll want to make sure the rice is rehydrated. Moisten a paper towel, cover the musubi, and place in the microwave for 30-60 seconds.

Can you freeze SPAM musubi?

I would not recommend freezing a musubi as the rice will often dry out.

hand holding a spam katsu musubi cut in half

How to make SPAM katsu musubi?

  1. In a small mixing bowl whisk together shoyu and sugar until well combined.
  2. Place sliced Spam in sauce mixture and allow to marinate for 15 minutes.
  3. While the Spam is marinating begin setting up the breading. To a plate add flour. To another plate add eggs and whisk to combine. To the last plate add panko.
  4. Add cooking oil to a pan set over medium heat. Heat oil to 350F.
  5. Remove Spam from sauce mixture. Take one slice of Spam and coat in flour, then egg, and lastly panko. Set aside and continue with the remainder of the Spam.
  6. Place breaded Spam in the oil and for 2-3 minutes or until golden brown. Flip and repeat on the other side. Remove from the oil and set on a paper towel to soak up the excess oil.
  7. Lay nori on a flat surface. Place musubi mold (or Spam can with bottom removed) in the center of the nori.
  8. Press ¼ cup of rice in musubi mold. Sprinkle ½ teaspoon furikake over rice. Layer on a slice of Spam. Sprinkle another ½ teaspoon furikake. Top with another ¼ cup rice.
  9. Press musubi out of the mold.
  10. Wrap nori around musubi and seal ends with a small dab of water. ENJOY!
stack of spam katsu musubis

Spam Katsu Musubi

Relle Lum
Take your musubi to another level with this SPAM katsu musubi. Marinated Spam breaded and fried to golden brown perfection sandwiched between a bed of sticky white rice and wrapped in nori. The ultimate on the go meal.
5 from 1 vote
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 5 minutes
Total Time 20 minutes
Course Lunch
Cuisine Local
Servings 8 servings
Calories 298 kcal

Ingredients
  

Instructions
 

  • In a small mixing bowl whisk together shoyu and sugar until well combined.
  • Place sliced Spam in sauce mixture and allow to marinate for 15 minutes.
  • While the Spam is marinating begin setting up the breading. To a plate add flour. To another plate add eggs and whisk to combine. To the last plate add panko.
  • Add cooking oil to a pan set over medium heat. Heat oil to 350F.
  • Remove Spam from sauce mixture. Take one slice of Spam and coat in flour, then egg, and lastly panko. Set aside and continue with the remainder of the Spam.
  • Place breaded Spam in the oil and for 2-3 minutes or until golden brown. Flip and repeat on the other side. Remove from the oil and set on a paper towel to soak up the excess oil.
  • Lay nori on a flat surface. Place musubi mold (or Spam can with bottom removed) in the center of the nori.
  • Press ¼ cup of rice in musubi mold. Sprinkle ½ teaspoon furikake over rice. Layer on a slice of Spam. Sprinkle another ½ teaspoon furikake. Top with another ¼ cup rice.
  • Press musubi out of the mold.
  • Wrap nori around musubi and seal ends with a small dab of water. ENJOY!

Nutrition

Serving: 1gCalories: 298kcalCarbohydrates: 39gProtein: 9gFat: 11gSaturated Fat: 3gPolyunsaturated Fat: 7gCholesterol: 66mgSodium: 464mgFiber: 1gSugar: 5g
Keyword Hawaii food, Hawaiian food, japanese food, keeping it relle, lunch, musubi, snacks, spam katsu, spam katsu musubi
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spam katsu musubi

By on March 21st, 2021

About Relle

Aloha, my name is Relle and welcome to my little home on the internet where I like to share all my favorite Hawaiian recipes (and local ones too).

I am a wife, mom of two, and nurse practitioner here in the beautiful state of Hawai’i. I was born and raised in Hawai’i and I am of native Hawaiian descent. In my spare time I love to cook and bake and I have compiled many of my favorite recipes here for you to enjoy.

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