Fried Rice with Spam and Pineapple is a combination of the savory, salty goodness of Spam with sweet and tangy pineapple, all blended to make a perfect tropical taste of fried rice. This comforting and satisfying main dish is a staple on Hawaiian menus. It takes 15 minutes to make and this fried rice is already a complete meal.
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Ingredients and Substitutions
- Cooked Rice - Leftover rice is the best to make any frier rice preferably medium-grain or long-grain white rice and not sticky rice that's been chilled in the fridge to let it slightly dry out. My favorite rice for any fried rice recipes are Jasmine and Basmati rice.
- Canned Spam - You can easily find this at any Grocery Store nationwide. It is savory and salty and using it to make fried rice will balance its flavor. If you have a hard time taking out the spam from the can, poke a hole at the bottom of the can to release some pressure.
- Pineapple - Fresh pineapple during its season is the best. It is sweet and juicy with a slightly tangy taste, perfect to balance the saltiness in spam. Canned dice or tidbits of pineapple are okay to use too.
- Vegetables - Use fresh, cooked, or frozen vegetables you love. Chop them into dice. If using cooked veggies, add them at the very end to just heat them up and stir to combine.
- Eggs - A good source of protein aside from the spam.
- Soy Sauce - Flavor enhancer to add umami flavor to any savory and tasty fried rice recipe. The aroma of soy sauce, during the stir-frying process, adds depth and complexity to the fragrance of the fried rice.
Instructions
Prepare all your ingredients. Cook your rice ahead of time. If you are using fresh pineapple, carefully remove the skin with the eyes in strips downward with a sharp knife and chopping board. Then slice it into dice for this recipe. Dice up your spam and carrots if using fresh. Whisk your eggs, minced garlic, and chopped green onions.
Step 1. Heat a wok or skillet, pour a cooking oil, and scramble the whisk eggs. Using your spatula, break them into small pieces. Once cooked, take them out and set them aside.
Step 2. In the same wok, add 2 tablespoons of cooking oil. Saute the garlic until aromatic.
Step 3. Cook the diced spam in the same wok for a few minutes or until it is slightly caramelized.
Step 4. Toss in the mix of vegetables and pineapple. Stir fry for 2-5 minutes, cook longer if using frozen veggies.
Step 5. Add the leftover rice and soy sauce. Stir fry for another 3 minutes.
Step 6. Add the scrambled eggs back to the skillet, and mix until everything is well combined. Taste and adjust the seasoning according to your taste. Sprinkle green onions before serving Enjoy!
Storage Tips
Storage - After your spam fried rice is cool, you can transfer it to a container with a lid. You can make this delicious fried rice ahead of time for meal prep. Keep them in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. You can freeze the fried rice too. Freeze it for up to 3 months in a freezer-friendly container or bag. Thaw in the refrigerator overnight.
Reheating Tips - Reheat your Hawaiian spam fried rice in a small frying pan with a drizzle of cooking oil over medium heat. Let the oil heat up then add the fried rice and heat until warm through.
Helpful Tips
- Use day-old rice that has been refrigerated overnight for a firmer texture and it won't become mushy during cooking.
- Prep your ingredients in advance to make the cooking process easy and smooth. You can chop the veggies, spam, and pineapple in advance and store them in the fridge before cooking.
- Use high heat when cooking fried rice or any stir-fry dishes. This will help to cook your ingredients faster and evenly to prevent them from becoming soggy.
- Use any leftover veggies from your refrigerator to add to your fried rice. Add the steamed or cooked vegetables at the very end of the cooking process to avoid overcooking them.
- When stir-frying, constantly move the ingredients around the pan with a spatula or wooden spoon to prevent sticking and ensure even heat distribution.
- If you are using fresh pineapple, you can use the pineapple skin to make this Pineapple Tepache Drink to save your pineapple skin from going to waste.
- If you love more fried rice recipes, check out our Filipino Garlic Fried Rice, Mushroom Vegetable Fried Rice, and Kimchi Tuna Fried Rice.
- Check out these recipes if you want more recipes with pineapple - Chicken Adobo with Pineapple, Glazed Pineapple Chicken, Mango Pineapple Pico de Gallo, and Mango Pineapple Tomato Salad.
Why I Think You Will Love This Recipe
- Easy to make
- Delicious, healthy, and tasty
- With minimal ingredients
- Budget-friendly meal
- It's a complete and satisfying dish.
Your Questions and the Answers
Some secrets to making delicious fried rice are: a well-seasoned wok, using high heat while cooking, and your rice should be cold and medium-grain or long-grain and dry.
While using leftover rice is recommended for the best texture, you can use freshly cooked rice. Just make sure it has cooled completely and dried out a bit before using it in the recipe.
Yes, you can use canned pineapples such as pineapple tidbits or pineapple chunks for convenience. Drain the pineapple juice or save it to marinate meat as a tenderizer. Try this Chicken Tocino where I use pineapple juice. Also, canned pineapple is shelf-stable.
To control the saltiness of your fried rice, try to taste the dish before adding soy sauce. Start by using less soy sauce and taste as you go. Using a low-sodium soy sauce can help reduce the salty flavor.
Spam is a brand of salty processed canned pork introduced in 1937 and gained popularity worldwide after its use during World War 11. Spam is sold in 41 countries after 2003. Hawaii has the highest consumer of this product, using it as an ingredient in Hawaiian cuisine.
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Fried Rice with Spam and Pineapple
Equipment
Ingredients
- 3 cups leftover rice
- 1 can spam diced
- 1 cup pineapple diced
- 4 tablespoons cooking oil
- ½ cup carrots fresh or frozen
- ½ cup peas fresh or frozen
- 1 tablespoon soy sauce
- 2 large eggs
- ¼ cup green onions chopped
Instructions
- Prepare the ingredients. Dice the pineapple, spam, carrots, and minced the garlic. Whisk the eggs in a small bowl.
- Heat a wok or skillet over medium heat. Pour 2 tablespoons cooking oil and scramble the eggs. Tear them in small pieces. Set aside.
- In the same wok, add 2 tablespoons of cooking oil. Saute the garlic until aromatic.
- Cook the diced spam in the same wok for a few minutes or until it is slightly caramelized.
- Toss in the mix of vegetables and pineapple. Stir fry in high heat for 2 minutes, cook them longer if using frozen vegetables.
- Add the leftover rice and soy sauce. Stir fry for another 3 minutes.
- Add the scrambled eggs back to the skillet, and mix until everything is well combined. Taste and adjust the seasoning according to your taste. Sprinkle chopped green onions before serving. Enjoy!
Notes
Recipe Notes:
- Double this recipe if you plan for meal prepping for a week or if you are feeding more than 4 people.
- Use day-old rice that has been refrigerated overnight for a firmer texture and it won't become mushy during cooking.
- Prep your ingredients in advance to make the cooking process easy and smooth. You can chop the veggies, spam, and pineapple in advance and store them in the fridge before cooking.
- Use high heat when cooking fried rice or any stir-fry dishes. This will help to cook your ingredients faster and evenly to prevent them from becoming soggy.
- Use any leftover veggies from your refrigerator to add to your fried rice. Add the steamed or cooked vegetables at the very end of the cooking process to avoid overcooking them.
- When stir-frying, constantly move the ingredients around the pan with a spatula or wooden spoon to prevent sticking and ensure even heat distribution.
- If you are using fresh pineapple, you can use the pineapple skin to make this Pineapple Tepache Drink to save your pineapple skin from going to waste.
- After your spam fried rice is cool, you can transfer it to a container with a lid. You can make this delicious fried rice ahead of time for meal prep. Keep them in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. You can freeze the fried rice too. Freeze it for up to 3 months in a freezer-friendly container or bag. Thaw in the refrigerator overnight.
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