Spam Musubi Bowl

What Is a Spam Musubi Bowl?

A Spam Musubi Bowl is a deconstructed version of Spam musubi, a popular local snack in Hawaii. Traditional musubi is made with a block of sticky rice topped with cooked Spam and wrapped with a strip of nori.

This bowl has those same basic flavors and textures, but everything is layered in a bowl instead. It is a great option when you want musubi as a full meal, are short on time, or do not have a musubi mold.

Ingredients You’ll Need

• Rice: Calrose or another medium-grain white rice has the slightly sticky texture that works best for this bowl. I season it with a little rice wine vinegar after cooking.
• Spam: I usually use Spam Lite, but regular Spam or another variety will work. Cut it into small cubes so you get plenty of browned edges.
• Teriyaki sauce: The sauce coats the Spam in a sweet and savory glaze. Use a teriyaki sauce you already know you like.
• Nori: Cut roasted seaweed sheets into small pieces so you can get a little in every bite. Full sheets or snack-size seaweed sheets both work.
• Eggs: A sunny-side-up egg is my favorite because the soft yolk mixes into the rice, but you can cook the eggs however you prefer.
• Seasonings and toppings: Salt, furikake, sliced green onions, soy sauce, extra teriyaki sauce, and sriracha mayo add the finishing touches.

For especially sticky rice, use my Sushi Rice Recipe. You can also make Instant Pot Sushi Rice while you prepare the remaining ingredients.

Ingredient Additions and Substitutions

One of the best things about a rice bowl is how easy it is to make your own. Start with the rice and glazed Spam, then use whatever toppings sound good.

• Spam varieties: Try regular Spam, Spam Lite, a lower-sodium variety, turkey Spam, or teriyaki-flavored Spam.
• Rice: Calrose rice gives you the closest texture to musubi, but sushi rice or another medium-grain white rice also works.
• Eggs: Use sunny-side up, over-easy, scrambled, soft-boiled, or a thin omelet cut into strips.
• Vegetables: Add sliced avocado, shredded cabbage, coleslaw, edamame, cucumber, or thinly sliced carrots.
• Pineapple: A reader suggested adding canned pineapple. Drain it well and add it cold, or brown it briefly in the skillet for a sweet and salty combination.
• Spicy toppings: Drizzle the bowl with sriracha mayo, spicy teriyaki sauce, chili crisp, or your favorite hot sauce.
• Nori substitutes: Use roasted seaweed snacks, crumble nori over the top, or leave it out if you do not care for seaweed.
• Furikake substitute: Sprinkle the bowl with toasted sesame seeds and a little extra crumbled nori.
• Extra sauce: Japanese-style mayo, soy sauce, or additional teriyaki sauce can be served on the side.

How to Make a Spam Musubi Bowl

1. Prepare the Calrose rice, or medium grain rice, in a rice cooker or Instant Pot. When the rice is finished cooking, sprinkle with rice wine vinegar and full with a fork.

2. Cut the dried seaweed (nori) into 1-inch squares using kitchen shears or a sharp knife.

3. Dice spam and sauté until the edges start to brown. Reduce heat to low and stir in the teriyaki sauce until the spam is coated. Remove the spam from the pan, wrap in foil to keep warm.

4. Using the same skillet, cook both eggs over medium heat to desired doneness (I prefer sunny-side up). Season with salt to taste.

5. Layer two bowls with rice. Divide spam, nori pieces, and egg between the two bowls as pictured.

6. Add toppings: Sprinkle with furikake seasoning and green onions, and drizzle some sriracha mayo on top.

Recipe Tips

• Start the rice first. You can prepare the nori, Spam, sauce, and toppings while the rice cooks.
• Use medium-grain rice. Calrose rice is soft and slightly sticky, giving the bowl a texture that is closer to traditional musubi.
• Brown the Spam before adding sauce. The Spam will crisp more easily in a dry skillet. Adding the sauce too early can prevent browning.
• Lower the heat before glazing. Teriyaki sauce can burn quickly because it contains sugar. Turn down the heat as soon as you add it.
• Give the Spam room in the pan. Spread the cubes into a single layer so they brown instead of steaming.
• Do not add too much salt at first. Spam, teriyaki sauce, soy sauce, nori, and furikake can all be salty. Taste the finished bowl before adding extra soy sauce.
• Cook the eggs last. They are best served hot, especially if you like the yolks soft.
• Add nori just before serving. This helps it keep some of its crisp texture instead of becoming too soft against the warm rice.
• Cut the Spam into similar-size pieces. Even cubes will brown at about the same rate and make the bowl easier to eat.
• Serve sauces on the side for kids. Everyone can add as much teriyaki, soy sauce, or sriracha mayo as they like.

Frequently Asked Questions

Make Ahead and Storage

You can cook the rice and Spam ahead of time, but I recommend making the eggs and assembling the bowls just before serving.

Store the rice, glazed Spam, nori, toppings, and sauces in separate airtight containers. Keeping the components separate prevents the nori from becoming soggy and makes reheating much easier.

Refrigerate the cooked rice and Spam promptly and use them within 3 to 4 days. For the best texture, reheat the Spam in a skillet until hot. Microwave the rice with a small splash of water and cover it with a damp paper towel to help soften it.

I do not recommend storing an assembled bowl with a runny fried egg. Cook a fresh egg when you are ready to eat, or use a fully cooked egg if you are packing the bowl for later.

Pairing Ideas

This Spam Musubi Bowl is filling enough to serve on its own, but I love it with a scoop of Hawaiian Macaroni Salad. It gives the bowl those Hawaiian Plate Lunch vibes that I love. For dessert, try Haupia, Chocolate Haupia Pie, Hawaiian Guava Cake, or warm Malasadas.

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• Spam Musubi is the traditional handheld version with pressed rice, glazed Spam, and nori.
• Loco Moco is another one of my favorite filling meals from Hawaii.
• Satu’li Bowls are inspired by the bowls served in Disney’s Pandora.
• Steak Fajita Bowls are loaded with seasoned steak, peppers, onions, and rice.
• Teriyaki Chicken Bowls make an easy one-pot family dinner.
• Mediterranean Bowls have chicken, vegetables, feta, and tzatziki over rice.
• Grilled Teriyaki Chicken is another easy way to enjoy the sweet and savory flavors I loved while living in Hawaii.
• Huli Huli Chicken is marinated and grilled with a sticky Hawaiian-style sauce.