Hearts of Spam

I screwed up and did not get a photo of the finished (fried) product. Our guests were at the door and I needed to get our snacks served up.

On New Year’s day we had as our guests for a brief afternoon visit, several of the best friends a person could ever have, Lew and Leslie, Sandy and Mark, and Pat and Peter. I wanted to make something special for them and went with a recipe I actually learned from Lew many years ago: Hearts of Spam. Oh, I know what you’re thinking so just stop it! My method of blanching the “meat” reduces both the fat content and some of the distinctive taste and saltiness. These little treats are both fun to serve and are a great conversation piece. “Spam? I wouldn’t touch that with a 10-foot pole.” “How digusting!”

Did you know Spam came on the market in 1937, the year Lew was born? I can’t remember if Spam was something my mother ever trotted out. After all, it’s pretty cheap, and with reduced fat and sodium it’s even fair to say it has some nutritional value (not to mention the trailer-park-trash satisfaction of eating it).

Consider this required eating for the losers at Charades at your next party.

You can make a dipping sauce if you wish. I decided to use up some miso paste and mixed it with yogurt (use mayo if you want). Proportions: approximately 1 part miso to 4 parts yogurt, or to your taste.

Hearts of Spam (makes 12 pieces)
1 - 7 oz. can Spam
2 tsp olive oil

Bonus round: Spam dip
Equal amounts of miso paste and yogurt mixed together.

Cut the Spam on the diagonal. Make V-shaped notches in each of the wide ends. Cut into “hearts”.

Bring a saute pan of water to a boil. Remove from heat and slide in the Spam slices. Cover and let steep for 10 minutes. Remove and dry well.
Heat the oil in the same sauté pan. Fry the hearts of a few minutes per side, allowing them to brown slightly. Serve warm with any dip if you wish (horseradish mayo would be great).

The Spam and Velveeta Fajita

I love the alliteration of the title!

I got this idea a few days while bantering about food via email exchanges. In Denver I’m known for doing whacky things with Spam. I happen to like Spam, but rarely eat it. I know, I know, some of you are figuratively looking down your noses at me right now. Takes this as an edible spoof, which is exactly what it is intended to be.

I kept telling Peter the main ingredients were to be secret. Finally, just before starting to cook, I spilled the beans. Turns out he absolutely loved it.

Our weather is so hot right now that I debated about doing this. On the other hand, the majority of ingredients are the condiments – at room temperature. So I made my decision to proceed.

I recommend the cast iron skillet because then you serve it in a manner very much like a Mexican restaurant.

This calls for a limerick.

There is a great thing known as Spam,
Which can stand in quite well for some ham.
Add to it: Velveeta,
Tortilla or pita.
Jalapeno will give it some wham.

The Spam and Velveeta Fajita (for 2)
1 12 oz. can Spam
1 6 oz box Velvetta, diced
sour cream
1/2 green bell pepper, cut into strips
½ medium red onion, sliced
1 ½ avocados
1 small tomato, chopped fine
½ tsp garlic powder
lime juice
salt and pepper
lettuce, shredded
1 jalapeno, unseeded, sliced into super thin rounds
1 tbsp olive oil
4 (or more) flour tortillas

Slice the Spam lengthwise into ¼” slabs.

Heat a pan of water to the boiling point. Turn off the heat and drop the Spam into the water. Let stand 10 minutes. Remove Spam and allow to cool. Cut across into ¼” batons.

Put the sour cream into a small bowl.

Mash the avocado with some lime juice, salt and pepper. Stir in chopped tomato. Put the avocado, lettuce, jalapeno, Velveeta, and the bowl of sour cream onto a suitably large platter. Take it to the dinner table and place it where your companion and you can both easily reach it.

Heat the olive oil at medium in a cast iron skillet. Add onion and bell pepper and sprinkle with a little salt and pepper. Saute until just softened, 3-4 minutes. Add batons, increase heat to medium high and toss the mixture until the Spam begins to color. Take the pan directly to the table and place it on a trivet.

While the Spam cooks, wrap 4 tortillas in a kitchen towel. Microwave for 30 seconds.

Sit down, assemble, and eat.