Can Craft: Spam Hash & Egg
Can Craft is a Tablecrafter series on creating presentable food from preserved, processed, and canned food.
Getting a constant supply of fresh ingredients to our kitchens is more challenging than it sounds. While some people can set aside a routine run to to the market for replenishment, most of us are hammered with pressing schedules and stuck with more durable, less fresh food. Enter canned food.
Universally despised, feared, and loved in equal measure, Spam kicks off Can Craft. But *gasp* that’s a genetically modified, processed, mysterious horror! It is, and that’s the point of this series: how can we cook well when this is all we can cook with?
Because of Spam’s convenience, it grew in popularity during the second world war as soldier fuel. Its reach was so wide that junk mail from dethroned Nigerian princes have to thank their namesake for sharing the same qualities of being both ubiquitous and inescapable.
Now among breakfast options, hash may not possess the grace of an omelette, but it makes up for it through resourcefulness. The hash shines in its ability to turn junk into a beautiful plate of flavor, color, and texture. Cooked with eggs, aromatics, and golden, crispy potatoes, this is a no-nonsense comforting dish that stands the test of time, across many cultures.
Recipe: Spam Hash & Egg
Yield: 2 servings
Time: 30 minutes (10 for prep / 20 for cooking)
Complete Ingredients
• 1 can Spam, cubed (1cm)
• 1 zucchini, cubed (1cm)
• 1 cup potatoes, cubed and peeled (1cm)
• 1 tbsp flat leaf parsley, chopped for garnish
• 1 small white onion, sliced thinly
• 1 egg
• 1 tbsp vegetable oil
• Salt & pepper, to taste
Procedure
- Boil the potatoes in salted water for 6–8 minutes, or until they are almost cooked. Strain and set aside.
- In a skillet over medium heat, add the oil and potatoes. When they just begin to caramelize, add the Spam.
- When the Spam and potatoes are almost completely browned, add the onions and zucchini. Continue to cook until the vegetables are completely cooked through, about 5 minutes.
- Create a well in the center of the pan and crack in the egg. Season with salt and pepper. Cover with a lid for 4 minutes. Sprinkle over the parsley and serve hot.
While Spam remains a cult classic by itself, turning this wartime delicacy into a handsome breakfast takes only half an hour. Instead of serving sliced lunchmeat on its own, try to experiment with the flexibility that the iconic Spam can offer.
If you’ve successfully created this dish, send us a photo to hello@tablecrafter.com or tag us on Instagram. We’d love to see your work!
