I realize that this recipe will not appeal to everyone. But for me, it’s a triple whammy with the green cabbage providing bulk and flavor, kimchi which is made from fermented cabbage and usually with a kick and SPAM brings saltiness (I do prefer the lower sodium variety). I don’t eat SPAM very often unless it’s in a recipe I want to try. I love the history behind it too; see link below.
As a matter of fact the Waikiki (O’ahu) SPAM Jam is coming up April 19-May 4, 2025, in case you’re interested! https://www.spamjamhawaii.com/
Korean American is from Eric Kim.
SPAM, Kimchi and Cabbage Stir-Fry
Add ingredients to taste – add more SPAM or kimchi if desired. This recipe as written was delicious!!!
Recipe from Eric Kim, Adapted by Judi Graber
- 1 tbsp. toasted sesame oil
- 6 oz. (or more) SPAM, cut into 1/4-inch pieces
- 1 cup roughly chopped kimchi (drained and set aside) I like to use my kitchen scissors
- 12 oz. green cabbage, cut into 2-inch pieces
- 1/2 large red onion, thickly sliced and cut in half
- 2 tsp. gochugaru (Korean Chili Flakes)
- 2 tsp. low sodium soy sauce
- 1/2 tsp. sugar
- green onion slivers to garnish
- rice for serving (reheat)
Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat and add the sesame oil and SPAM. Cook, stirring occasionally, until slightly crispy around the edges.
Add the kimchi and stir-fry until it starts to caramelize at the edges. Add the cabbage. onion and cook for another few minutes until the cabbage wilts.
Add the gochugaru, soy sauce, sugar and stir to combine. Adjust seasonings; more gochugaru for heat, sugar to balance, soy sauce for salt which I doubt you’ll need. I added kimchi juice, not sure how much.
Serve with your favorite rice.
Recipe by cookingwithauntjuju.com
I like the flavors, especially the Kimchi, in this dish. I may buy spam for the first time and give it a try! 🙂
I like SPAM fried/grilled with crispy edges, but not on its own. Kind of like “poor man’s ham”. It was excellent in this recipe and plan to have it again tonight 🙂 A one pan dish and so easy to prepare – good meal to have once in awhile.
I just saw a commercial for fried Spam tacos. 🌮
Once in awhile SPAM is okay – it is not a stand-alone food but when combined with other flavors it’s not too bad 🙂
Shall be honest. Absolutely love kimchee and use gochugaru all the time – Korean food is extremely popular in Australia 🙂 ! Being older than most commenting here I do know ‘all’ about SPAM – UNNRA and IRO fed it to us political refugees in post WWII Germany all the time . . . but, in this day and age, except out of curiosity, I would not touch this unhealthy UPF with a stick . . . sorry . . . we all have our opinions 🙂 !!!
I feel sorry for you as you obviously have strong negative feelings about SPAM. At least you had something to eat no matter how unhealthy it is. I enjoyed the history behind it and how it still plays an important part in some cuisines. I hope you have a nice day and try to smile 🙂
Heavens, no need to feel sorry – it is just that I have two medical degrees, am still studying natural nutrition at a number of universities and have worked with nutrition for over30 years on a tertiary scale!!! It is just I met SPAM as a child and had no option but to eat it 🙂 !!!
I understand – as a child my father made me sit at the table until I ate my fried egg sandwich which I despised. To this day I will not eat a fried egg, deviled egg, or any egg (occasionally an omelette but usually with egg beaters). I only bake with them! SPAM is a big no-no for me, I try to maintain a healthy diet but because of my blog I try all kinds of food 🙂 I’m a lifetime member of Weight Watchers with a BA in Teaching and a Masters in Library Science with an emphasis on history. So, I guess that sums it up for me…
I remember eating fried spam as a child, usually when money was tight – those were the days! I also remember kimchi from my years in Korea; it was very potent stuff. Never imagined the two of them together but I bet the combined flavors make a very tasty dish –
Thanks Terri! It took me a long time to finally decide to make it. I was pleasantly surprised how good the combination was. I especially like kimchi and look for ways to get it into my diet 🙂 One pan, few ingredients and quick and easy to make!
I think there may have been SPAM around back in the day, and probably these days too, but my mum favoured Camp Pie or Corned Beef in a tin. I think those weirdly-shaped tins had a key that you twirled around to open the tin. Oh the memories!
sherry
Funny, I do remember those keys used to open SPAM – I’m just glad that gloop? is gone which I never cared for. I think I’ve tried the corned beef too – I wonder if it is stil available? 🙂 Good memories for me even though I rarely eat either any more…
This looks incredible. If you’re ever in the Pittsburgh area, check out this place: https://tablefortwopa.wordpress.com/2025/04/14/a-night-at-pocha-by-kye-won/
It’s my go-to for Korean American food!
I will keep the restaurant in mind should I ever get back to Pittsburgh. I like the fusion of two cuisines such as Korean-American 🙂 You get the best from both!
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What a cool mashups of different cuisines – always love such pairings. I haven’t had SPAM in many, many years (I guess since I was a teenager). But since I see SPAM on the shelves quite often, I’m guessing it’s still quite a popular thing.
Thanks – the ingredients worked really well together. SPAM is considered a treat in Korea and my brother, who lives on the Big Island, says its part of the Hawaiian diet as there is a big Asian influence there. A boyfriend in college loved the stuff and would often make a fried SPAM sandwich – that was the last time I had it until I made a post a few years ago. SPAM®- Cooking an American Icon. It’s very much alive and made it to the Smithsonian so… 🙂