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Monday, July 27, 2009
One of my guilty pleasures is luncheon meat. As a child, my mother would sometimes serve me Spam sandwiches as an after-school snack. Just fried slices of Spam in between two slices of white bread. In the army, fried slices of luncheon meat were a frequent and not unwelcome option, served with rice, with noodles, and well, with just about whatever they were dishing out each day. I was thrilled to discover, after moving into a new office, that a coffee shop around the corner offers luncheon meat sandwiches as a breakfast option. But the best incarnation of luncheon meat that I have ever come across, and I’m damn upset I’ve only discovered this recently, is Spam fries. Yup, luncheon meat chopped up into long skinny fries, fried until they’re crispy on the outside, and served with one or more dips. Disgustingly, sinfully, ridicously good. I had these with some friends one night over drinks at Wild Oats, the bar owned and run by Willin Low, and I just about fell off my chair. Within minutes of them being served–Willin serves his with a Kaffir Mayo–all conversation came to halt. When it finally started again, all we could talk about were these amazing fries, about how great they were, how unhealthy they were, how they revived childhood memories, how we really shouldn’t eat more than a just a couple, but damn, weren’t they just addictive. Now, I know some of you are saying, “What? Luncheon meat? Eeeeeeeew, gross!” But seriously, while I know that “canned, precooked chopped pork shoulder meat with ham meat added, salt, water, sugar, and sodium nitrite to help keep its color” sounds less than appealing, it really does taste pretty darned good. And, you know what they say, don’t knock it until you try it. Ever since my first Spam fry, I’ve been pestering Willin for his recipe. Of course, when he gave it to me, I had to laugh. The recipe really is as simple as deep-frying skinny pieces of luncheon meat until they’re nice and golden-brown — or in the case of luncheon meat, reddish-brown. The recipe is below. I hope this brings you as much artery-clogging pleasure as it has me. Willin Low’s Luncheon Meat Fries with Kaffir Mayo Heat oil to about 185 degrees c. In the mean time, in a processor, add egg, lime juice, salt and pepper and process for about 15 sec, add the olive oil in a drizzle and then in a thin steady stream. Chop the kaffir lime leaves finely and mix well with the mayo. Set aside. Cut luncheon meat to strips about the size of fingers (or fries). Deep fry the “fries” in batches to ensure that the oil temperature does not drop drastically. Remove the fries when the colour is dark brown (the entire “fry” should be very crispy and right in the middle just a little moist.) Serve with the kaffir mayo!        Posted by Chubby Hubby 
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That has got to be one of the most delicious thing I have ever seen.
Posted by: Teresa | 27 July 2009 @ 2:21 am
Oh…. no…. A thousand times… wait. Make that a yes!
Luncheon meat really does bring back memories. As a kid, my memories were contained in a lunchbox filled with white rice, an egg, a slice of luncheon meat and a hotdog. You can’t go more old school than that.
I wouldn’t mind me some modern day spam fries indeed.
Posted by: rabbittrick | 27 July 2009 @ 8:07 am
Tried these tonight. Good stuff. My father in-law preferred it over the steak we had tonight.
Posted by: Wade | 27 July 2009 @ 12:00 pm
How about fried luncheon meat and egg between two slices of bread? That’s my all-too-often indulgent and artery-clogging breakfast….
Posted by: Chris | 27 July 2009 @ 12:51 pm
I am speechless… how on earth do people think of this?! I am so going to try this out at my next party!
Posted by: køkken69 | 27 July 2009 @ 9:25 pm
I am sure my 4yo niece would love this!
Posted by: Emy | 27 July 2009 @ 11:31 pm
just when you thought spam couldn’t be any worse for you than it already was. this looks awesome! what a great idea!
Posted by: gaga | 28 July 2009 @ 5:40 am
Woah, great for emergencies! Like on days when I run out of ideas for parties or dinner. My family will thank you for this!
Posted by: blur ting | 28 July 2009 @ 12:47 pm
Just the smell alone brings back memories!!!
My sister (chemistry major at uni) has banned this from her house. Good thing I don’t live there!!!!
Posted by: Corrine | 28 July 2009 @ 2:48 pm
i say that if you’re gonna go, just go with a happy belly…or clogged arteries in this case
spam fries…great idea! didn’t know why nobody has ever thought of it…better late than never. btw, since we’re on the topic…has anyone tried making curry with luncheon meat? sooooper!
Posted by: princess ci | 28 July 2009 @ 5:10 pm
That is absolutely bloody GENIUS!!! Hats off to Mr Low! One of my favourite recipes is Spam Jambalaya.
Posted by: Moya | 28 July 2009 @ 7:48 pm
That sounds absolutely dericious, but I think my favorite is still teriyaki spamusubi mmmm.
Perhaps you can twist spamusubi into a nice upscale version for our reading and experimental pleasure next time? =)
Posted by: Emily | 28 July 2009 @ 8:55 pm
I was always a little ashamed of my occasional longing for “mystery meat”. Its good to see this post
So even chubby hubby suffers the same illness 
Posted by: Sheryi | 28 July 2009 @ 9:30 pm
I am not the biggest Spam fan but these look delicious. I think I will have to give these a try. I think the choice of dip will really help make them absolutely delicious.
Posted by: Bill Medifast | 29 July 2009 @ 3:08 am
That has got to be the most delicious looking dish I’ve seen in a while.
Posted by: Kirk | 29 July 2009 @ 5:02 am
Princess Ci,
My mum used to make a stir fry with luncheon meat, diced potatoes, onions, chilli powder & curry leaves.. yum.. thanks for the trip down memory lane.. Can’t wait to leave the office so that I can buy my first can of luncheon meat in 20 years.
Posted by: Cupcake Queen | 29 July 2009 @ 10:09 am
Amazing! will try this at home lol
Posted by: Simon | 29 July 2009 @ 11:13 am
Yay! Thanks for not being a snob on Spam!
My two young boys love it when I make ‘ham’ & cheese sandwich (ham = luncheon meat slices sauteed in a little butter).
Posted by: CucumberPandan in Jakarta | 29 July 2009 @ 1:48 pm
Yum! My husband’s gonna love this one..:)
Posted by: Funkynomad Eats | 30 July 2009 @ 10:28 am
Luncheon meat (esp Maling brand) was my staple food when I was young, as my mum wasn’t much of a cook. It was soo simple and versatile that I turned to it all the time. Hot steamy white rice, white fried luncheon meat slices, or chopped up luncheon meat in omelette, or in stick-fries form like CH recommends. All great! In fact, my hubby and I celebrated and cooked our 1st meal in our brand new kitchen as newly weds with LUNCHEON MEAT FEAST! haha…
Posted by: Adeline | 30 July 2009 @ 12:18 pm
crap. spam fries?! that’s amazing. i’m not a fan of spam but it does take me back to spam sandwiches back in the day
Posted by: diva | 30 July 2009 @ 9:28 pm
I was so inspired by your entry that I made tofu fries — along similar preps, for my niece.
That’ll replace her french fries from now on!
Posted by: Emy | 1 August 2009 @ 7:06 pm
Spam is always a happy memory
Will definitely try this.
Posted by: weekendgourmet | 2 August 2009 @ 3:22 pm
having grown up in Minnesota, near Spam HQ, I struggle with thinking that anything spam related could bring conversation to a halt for the reasons you mentioned, but as you never led me wrong before, I may have to give it a try.
Posted by: OysterCulture | 3 August 2009 @ 3:41 am
Just wanted to clarify the mayo recipe. Is it the whole egg or just the egg yolk which is called for?
Posted by: val8700 | 3 August 2009 @ 12:31 pm
hmmm … I don’t know if its just your photo making it look so good but I’m now dying to try it. I think I’ll add some toasted bread sticks to my luncheon meat fries though just so it won’t be so gelat.
Posted by: My Caddy | 4 August 2009 @ 4:22 pm
This is something I would have never thought of to make. Looks absolutely, delicious? Must try it so I can say I did.
Posted by: Owyn | 4 August 2009 @ 10:12 pm
I think “sinfully good” does a good job of summing up anything with Spam. I can’t wait to try out this recipe! Thanks!
Posted by: Jessica | 7 August 2009 @ 1:55 am
Enjoyed the post. Wow, I never would have thought I’d come across a recipe for spam fries! Definitely have to try this one out. Haha, this sounds better than deep-fried Twinkies! Have you considered setting up a http://www.proprofs.com/polls/ poll for your readers? I find it pretty useful and it’s always fun to vote!
Posted by: Meghan Porter | 10 August 2009 @ 4:39 am
A great idea by the restaurant to make a lot of money. Spam is cheap!
But Chubby Hubby dude, I would have expected something smarter. What’s next? Durian-flavoured-deep-fried Mars bars?
Posted by: Mike | 16 August 2009 @ 12:40 pm
YEAH! white bread + luncheon meat!!! i hd for breakfast too when i was a kid! usually it went a fried egg! cant hv enough.
i love your invention too!
Posted by: lululu | 22 August 2009 @ 4:16 am
Tried making it, it was finger lickin good! i used onion dip instead. it’s super easy to make and perfect to enjoy with a pint of icy cold beer!
Posted by: Jess | 29 August 2009 @ 10:56 am
I read somewhere that bread makes you sleepy!
Posted by: Dich | 5 September 2009 @ 2:52 am
Hey.. recipe looks good! Just wondering, I thought Maling Luncheon Meat was banned in singapore?
Posted by: Grace | 20 September 2009 @ 11:11 pm
I didn’t know spam could take this form.. but it actually looks edible here. I don’t what my husband would think.. I’d probably just lie and tell him it was carrots. HA!
-Sylvia
Posted by: Sylvia | 3 July 2010 @ 11:42 pm
Wow.. just wow. I really really have to give these a go. They look so good, but I don’t know if I will be able to stop at just a couple.
Posted by: Hannah David | 6 July 2010 @ 1:21 pm