Healthy Spam fried rice? A healthy twist on the classic dish from Hawaii, using cauliflower rice, Spam, and those pesky leftovers, for a super easy, super quick, paradise in your mouth in only 10 minutes!
During World War II, the delivery of fresh meat became difficult, so army soldiers were given cans of Spam instead. This shelf-stable meat gained so much popularity that it became ingrained into the Hawaiian culture.
It’s no wonder Spam became such a sought-after ingredient. It’s convenient, cheaper than other meats, super versatile, and super delicious! It’s loved by both adults and kids alike!
What is Spam Fried Rice?
Hawaiian Spam fried rice was one of the most popular dishes that came out of the war. It is classic fried rice (pan-fried rice with vegetables), mixed in with cubed spam (in place of other meats).
But the beauty of fried rice is that you can cook it with almost anything you have left over in the fridge!
This is actually how the dish came about – as a way to get rid of all those pesky leftovers and too-small-to-make-anything-out-of portions.
Take Spam, or any leftover meat, like pork or chicken, cut them into smaller pieces, throw them all into a large skillet or wok with rice, fresh or frozen veggies, and stir fry! Many people also choose to scramble eggs and add them in as well.
Spam already has a salty taste to it, but you can always season the dish with additional salt or soy sauce. But try to go easy on sauces, as they can take away the signature crispiness of fried rice.
What does spam fried rice taste like?
Spam fried rice has a light, fluffy, and slightly crumbly texture, with pops of very flavorful and savory Spam. All of this is balanced out with the delicate taste of vegetables.
The Spam itself has a flavor similar to bacon, or a salty ham. It has a moist and spongy texture, with a crispy outside when cooked.
What ingredients do you need to make Hawaiian style spam fried rice?
- Spam – low sodium to reduce sodium intake.
- Neutral Cooking Oil – high temp neutral cooking oil such as vegetable oil, safflower oil, grapeseed oil.
- Rice – short or medium-grain rice. Cauliflower rice for a healthier, low-carb version.
- Black Pepper – fresh or pre-ground.
- Onion – chopped.
- Green Onion – chopped.
- Toasted Sesame Oil – use toasted sesame oil (dark and rich in color). Check to make sure it is not a sesame oil blend.
What other ingredients to put in spam fried rice?
- Frozen Peas
- Carrots
- Corn
- Eggs
- Green Beans
- Broccoli
How to make spam fried rice?
Our version uses cauliflower rice (for a healthier, low-carb option), but you are free to substitute this with any rice you prefer!
Cook Spam on high heat until browned, and set aside.
In the same pan, you’ll be adding oil, cauliflower rice (or your preferred rice), and chopped onions.
Cook on high heat for a couple of minutes, add the cooked Spam back in, season with black pepper, toasted sesame oil and garnish with chopped green onions and enjoy!
Pro Tip – You don’t have to cook rice! Leftover rice or day-old rice is the best. Also, cold rice tends to keep the texture crispier and prevents that dreaded sogginess that wet rice grains tend to bring.
And keep that heat on high to keep the ingredients crispy!
What goes with spam fried rice?
This can easily be a main dish on its own, but if you want something to break up the saltiness, you can pair it with a salad, some steamed mixed vegetables, or even kimchi.
And if you like that kind of spicy bite with your meal, we would even recommend a drizzle of sriracha on top of the rice!
What is the nutrition information for this Hawaiian spam fried rice recipe?
- 393 Calories
- 17g Carbohydrates
- 9g Fiber
- 18g Protein
- 28g Fat
- 70mg Cholesterol
- 1607mg Sodium
- 20mg Potassium
- 6mg Calcium
- 0mg Iron
- 61ui Vitamin A
- 1mg Vitamin C
Looking for other healthy fried rice recipes?
- Japanese Beef Fried Rice
- Garlic Chicken Fried Rice
- Lime Chicken Fried Rice
- Kimchi Chicken Fried Rice
- Garlic Shrimp Fried Rice
Now, let’s get making this Spam Fried Rice recipe!
- Prepping Time 2M
- Cook Time 8M
- Total Time 10M
- Net Carb/Serv ~6g
- Servings 1 Bowl
Ingredients
Spam
- 4 oz Spam (about 1/3 of the can)
- 1 tbsp Neutral Cooking Oil
Fried Rice
- 2 Cups Cauliflower Rice (or rice of choice)
- 1/8 tsp Black Pepper
- 1/8 Whole Onion
- 1/2 Stalk of Green Onion
- 1/2 tbsp Toasted Sesame Oil
Directions
1) Gather all the ingredients.
2) Finely dice green onions, onions, spam (about 1/4 x 1/4 inch cubes) and set aside.
3) In a Teflon frying pan, add neutral cooking oil on high heat. Once oil is up to temp, add diced spam and cook for 2-3 minutes until you get a nice brown crust on the spam. Transfer to holding bowl.
4) In a large Teflon fry pan, add frozen cauliflower rice and cook for 2-3 minutes or until preferred tenderness is attained.
5) After 2-3 minutes, add back spam and lightly season with black pepper. Mix well and continue to cook for an additional 1 minute.
6) Lastly, add a splash of Toasted Sesame Oil and mix in the green onions, transfer to serving bowl and enjoy hot!
Hope you enjoy your Spam Fried Rice!
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Spam Fried Rice
Ingredients
Spam
- 4 oz Spam about 1/3 of the can
- 1 tbsp Neutral Cooking Oil
Fried Rice
- 2 Cups Cauliflower Rice or rice of choice
- 1/8 tsp Salt
- 1/8 tsp Black Pepper
- 1/8 Whole Onion
- 1/2 Stalk Green Onion
- 1/2 tbsp Toasted Sesame Oil
Instructions
- Gather all the ingredients.
- Finely dice green onions, onions, spam (about 1/4 x 1/4 inch cubes) and set aside.
- In a Teflon frying pan, add neutral cooking oil on high heat. Once oil is up to temp, add diced spam and cook for 2-3 minutes until you get a nice brown crust on the spam. Transfer to holding bowl.
- In the same Teflon frying pan, add neutral cooking oil on high heat. Once oil is up to temp, add cauliflower rice and onion. Stir often and cook for 2-3 minutes or until desired texture is reached.
- After 2-3 minutes, add back spam and lightly season with black pepper. Mix well and continue to cook for an additional 1 minute.
- Lastly, add a splash of Toasted Sesame Oil and mix in the green onions, transfer to a serving bowl and enjoy hot!
Video
Nutrition
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I’m shocked that there are NO comments on this recipe! I am not a big fan of cauliflower this and that on a low carb diet. I have only a few cauliflower dishes I approve of. This one is now my #1 favorite one. It had NO cauliflower taste! The spam really rocks, and gives it such great flavor. Who would have known spam! Of all ingredients! This had really great flavor…..even my keto apprehensive husband liked it. Make sure your cauliflower rice is DRY. No moisture.
Hi Carri! Glad you liked the recipe and yes, spam carries ALOT of flavor!
How is this 21 carbs?
Hi Suzanne! It’s because the NF numbers are pulled from a database and sometimes they are incorrect. I went ahead and manually adjusted it so it’s correct now.