Hyungsik’s Fried Rice
Making Park Hyungsik’s Simple and Delicious Military Fried Rice
Try making ‘Hyungsik’s Rice’ at home, which became a hot topic after being introduced on the MBC program ‘Real Men’! Although it didn’t quite make it as an official menu item, losing out to Defconn’s Dakgalbi Mandu, it transforms into a delicious meal when stir-fried with a touch of kimchi. Let’s make this unique fried rice recipe inspired by military cuisine.
Main Ingredients
- 1 can Spam or Luncheon Meat
- 1 Egg
- 1 piece Dashi Stock Granules (e.g., Hondashi or Coin Dashi)
- A little Seaweed Flakes
- 1.5 bowls Cooked Rice (preferably cold)
Seasoning and Others
- A little Canola Oil or Cooking Oil
- A little Kimchi (optional)
- A little Canola Oil or Cooking Oil
- A little Kimchi (optional)
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
First, dice the Spam or luncheon meat into bite-sized cubes. This is also great as a side dish for children and adds a savory flavor to the fried rice.
Step 2
While watching the TV show ‘Real Men,’ I bought ‘Hondashi’ from the supermarket – it’s what the celebrity Park Hyungsik loved at the military mess hall. Seeing the soldiers’ brave lives and reflecting on my son’s upcoming military service makes this dish feel especially meaningful.
Step 3
Heat a pan with a very small amount of canola oil or cooking oil. Stir-fry the diced Spam until it’s golden brown. Since the Spam releases its own oil, you don’t need much added oil. Once the Spam is nicely browned, crack in one egg and quickly stir-fry it like scrambled eggs, mixing it with the Spam.
Step 4
After the Spam and egg are well combined, add the cold cooked rice. Using cold rice is key to achieving fluffy, separated grains that make for a tastier fried rice. Break up the rice with your spatula and stir-fry it evenly with the Spam and egg.
Step 5
Once the rice is partially stir-fried, add one piece of Dashi stock granules (like Hondashi) and stir-fry everything together evenly. The umami from the dashi will infuse into every grain of rice, enhancing the fried rice’s overall flavor. It’s surprisingly simple yet yields a special taste.
Step 6
When all the ingredients are well stir-fried, your ‘Hyungsik’s Rice,’ or military fried rice, is ready! It looks rich and appetizing. Serve the fried rice in a bowl and sprinkle with seaweed flakes to your liking for an extra touch of flavor.
Step 7
When I made this military fried rice for my son, who is preparing to join the army, he jokingly asked, ‘Do you really want me to go that badly?’ Of course, that wasn’t my intention, but I wanted him to have delicious food to fuel him during his service.
Step 8
It might look a bit salty in the photos, and indeed, it was a little on the saltier side. Adding more rice helped balance the seasoning. When making fried rice, it’s important to adjust the amount of gochujang or other seasonings based on the saltiness of your kimchi. Alternatively, using more rice is a good way to adjust the saltiness.
Step 9
For Koreans, kimchi is essential for a refreshing taste! Adding kimchi cuts through the richness of the fried rice and provides a slight spiciness. The Hondashi has a distinct savory, almost MSG-like flavor, which is reminiscent of homemade ‘yak gochujang’ (rich red pepper paste). If you enjoy that flavor, you can even add a bit of yak gochujang while stir-frying for an extra delicious twist.
