🖊 Malaysian SPAM-wiches

Guan Chua on tinned ham and how you can cook with it

My earliest memory of canned luncheon meat (a.k.a Spam) was as a 7 year old primary school kid growing up in Malaysia. One of my childhood friends opened his Thundercats plastic lunch box and there it was in all its glory - pan-fried in thin cut slices till slightly caramelised and served over Indomie ‘Mi Goreng’ instant noodles. Said friend shared a bite of that Spam Indomie umami bomb combo with me and the rest was history.

But it gets better. A couple weeks later, out came some finger sandwiches from that same magical lunch box. Thick cut slabs of luncheon meat, fried till beautifully golden brown and stuffed between slices of Gardenia white bread with a smear of Maggi brand sweet chilli sauce. My Chilli Tuna sandwich and Ninja Turtles lunchbox didn’t stand a chance.