spicy caramelized spam + scallion pasta
 
Prep time
Cook time
Total time
 
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Makes: 2 big servings
Ingredients
  • 2 T butter
  • small bunch scallions (about 5-6), finely chopped, plus extra for serving
  • salt and pepper
  • 6 oz (half can) spam
  • ½ T sugar
  • ½ T sesame oil
  • generous pinch crushed chile flake
  • hot cooked pasta of your choice (about ⅓ pound precooked weight)
  • ¼ cup reserved pasta cooking water
  • furikake, for serving
Instructions
  1. Cook pasta until al dente according to package instructions; drain and set aside, reserving ¼ cup cooking water. (I like bow ties for this, but orecchiette would be awesome, too.)
  2. Heat butter in a medium saucepan or Dutch oven over med-high flame until just frothy. Add chopped scallions, season with salt and pepper, and sauté until bright green, 2-3 mins.
  3. Meanwhile mash spam with a potato masher until crumbly (about the texture of ground pork). Add spam, sugar, sesame oil and chile flakes to pan and cook until spam is browned and crisp in places and scallions are deeply golden and caramelized.
  4. Add pasta along with a splash of the reserved cooking water (start with a tablespoon or two -- we're just looking to help things cling together) and cook another minute to allow everything to meld and heat through.
  5. Serve pasta (either piping hot or at room temp) topped with more chopped scallions and plenty of furikake. Enjoy!
Notes
This pasta dish comes together super fast, is ridiculously flavorful (and, ok, a little indulgent) -- and is guaranteed to make even the wariest of eaters a big ol' fan of spam. It's great served piping hot, but I've eaten leftovers enough times to note that it's great at room temp -- or even cold, straight from the fridge -- too, which makes it kinda perfect for picnics of potlucks. Yum!
Recipe by the pig & quill at https://thepigandquill.com/spicy-caramelized-spam-scallion-pasta/