Spam Ochazuke: A Cozy Home Camping Dish with Pickled Radish Side
Home Camping Delight: Spam Ochazuke using Kawaji No. 1 Rice, served with a Refreshing Pickled Radish Side Dish
With more time spent at home, I found myself craving a unique yet comforting meal. I decided to create Ochazuke, a light and flavorful rice soup, using Spam! I also prepared a simple yet delicious pickled radish side dish to complement it. The subtle sweetness of the rice, especially when chewed, was truly delightful.
Main Ingredients- 200g Spam
- 6 stalks Scallions
- 1 packet Furikake (rice seasoning)
- 1 sheet Dried seaweed (nori)
- 1 Green tea bag
- 1 cup Broth (using a paper cup for measurement)
- 100g Crunchy pickled radish
- 2 Tbsp Gochugaru (Korean chili flakes)
- 2 Tbsp Sesame oil
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
Begin by preparing all the ingredients for both the Spam Ochazuke and the pickled radish side dish.
Step 2
Chop the ingredients.
1) Dice the 200g can of Spam into small, bite-sized pieces, about 1cm cubes. Avoid chopping them too finely, as they might crumble when cooked.
2) Finely chop the fresh scallions.
3) Crumble the dried seaweed by hand or cut it into thin strips with scissors for a delicate garnish.
Step 3
Pan-fry the diced Spam until golden brown and slightly crispy. Cooking it without additional oil allows the flavorful Spam drippings to enhance the dish. Fry until it releases a fragrant aroma, flipping occasionally.
Step 4
Steep the green tea bag in 1 cup of hot water for 2-3 minutes to create a concentrated green tea infusion. For the Ochazuke broth, combine 1 cup of broth with 1 cup of the steeped green tea. A 2:1 ratio of broth to green tea provides a balanced and comforting flavor. (If broth is unavailable, you can use 1.5 cups of water steeped with 1 green tea bag.)
Step 5
Place a generous portion of warm cooked rice into a serving bowl. Arrange the pan-fried Spam pieces and the chopped scallions attractively over the rice. The combination of rice, Spam, and scallions is visually appealing and appetizing.
Step 6
Sprinkle Furikake generously over the rice and top with the crumbled seaweed. Finally, pour the warm Ochazuke broth over the rice until it is partially submerged. Your delicious Spam Ochazuke is now ready to be enjoyed!
Step 7
Prepare the side dish of pickled radish. In a bowl, combine 100g of crunchy pickled radish, 2 Tbsp Gochugaru, and 2 Tbsp sesame oil. Mix well with your hands, ensuring the seasoning is evenly distributed. This simple side dish offers a tangy, spicy, and nutty counterpoint to the Ochazuke.
