Spam Kimchi Fried Rice: Delicious Home-Style Recipe with Oyster Sauce
Forget Frozen! Make Flavor-Packed Spam Kimchi Fried Rice with Oyster Sauce
Have you ever bought frozen Spam Kimchi Fried Rice only to find it lacking in Spam and overly oily? We’ve all been there! Now, you can easily recreate that deliciousness at home with fresh ingredients and a burst of umami from oyster sauce. This recipe perfectly balances savory Spam and tangy kimchi for a truly irresistible dish that will have you clearing your plate in no time. Let’s get cooking!
Main Ingredients
- Well-fermented Napa Cabbage Kimchi: 1.5 cups (finely chopped)
- Spam (small can): 1 (diced)
- Scallion (green part): 1/4 (finely chopped, for scallion oil)
Seasoning
- Soy Sauce: 1.5 Tbsp
- Gochugaru (Korean chili powder): 1 Tbsp
- Oyster Sauce: 1 Tbsp (add 0.5-1 Tbsp more to taste)
- Sesame Seeds: A pinch (for garnish)
- Soy Sauce: 1.5 Tbsp
- Gochugaru (Korean chili powder): 1 Tbsp
- Oyster Sauce: 1 Tbsp (add 0.5-1 Tbsp more to taste)
- Sesame Seeds: A pinch (for garnish)
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
The secret to delicious kimchi fried rice starts with well-fermented kimchi! To retain its crispness and refreshing taste, lightly rinse the Napa cabbage kimchi under running water, squeeze out excess moisture, and then finely chop it into bite-sized pieces. If your kimchi is too sour, a tiny pinch of sugar can help balance the flavor.
Step 2
Next, let’s prepare the Spam for that savory and rich flavor. Dice the Spam into pieces similar in size to your chopped kimchi. For a leaner taste, you can briefly blanch the diced Spam in hot water or boil it for about 1 minute to remove excess grease.
Step 3
Now, let’s get stir-frying! Heat a pan over medium heat and add 1-2 Tbsp of cooking oil. Add the finely chopped scallions and stir-fry for about 1 minute until fragrant, creating a flavorful scallion oil. This step is crucial for enhancing the overall aroma of your fried rice.
Step 4
Once the scallion oil is fragrant, add the chopped kimchi to the pan. Stir-fry the kimchi for about 2-3 minutes until it becomes slightly translucent. Cooking the kimchi thoroughly mellows its sourness and brings out its natural sweetness, making it even more delicious.
Step 5
When the kimchi is tender and well-fried, add the diced Spam to the pan. Continue to stir-fry, mixing the kimchi and Spam together until the Spam starts to turn slightly redder.
Step 6
After stir-frying the Spam for a moment, add 1 Tbsp of Gochugaru (Korean chili powder). Mix well and continue to stir-fry, ensuring the chili powder is evenly distributed. Stir-fry over medium-low heat to prevent the chili powder from burning.
Step 7
Time for the soy sauce to add depth of flavor! Pour 1.5 Tbsp of soy sauce along the side of the pan. Tilt the pan slightly so the soy sauce sizzles and caramelizes a bit. Once you can smell the toasted soy sauce aroma, quickly mix it with the other ingredients and stir-fry together.
Step 8
Once the soy sauce is well incorporated, add a bowl of cooked rice (about 200g). Gently break up the rice with your spatula, being careful not to mash the grains, and stir-fry until the rice grains are separate and slightly toasted. Now, add 1 Tbsp of oyster sauce. Taste and adjust seasoning by adding another 0.5-1 Tbsp if needed. Oyster sauce adds a wonderful umami and glossy finish.
Step 9
Everything is well combined and the irresistible aroma fills your kitchen – you’re almost done! Before turning off the heat, sprinkle a pinch of sesame seeds for a nutty finish, a flourish we call ‘sesame styling’. If you don’t have sesame seeds, feel free to skip this step. Enjoy your delicious Spam Kimchi Fried Rice!
