A spicy Hawaiian fusion bite

Nashville hot chicken meets Hawaiian Spam musubi in this crispy, cayenne-coated creation. Recipe creator Julia Vuong developed this inventive version inspired by Spam Jam, Hawaii's annual festival celebrating the iconic canned meat.

Bread and fry the Spam

Coat eight Spam slices in an egg-flour batter, then dredge in panko breadcrumbs. Deep-fry at 350 degrees for one to two minutes per side until golden brown, then drain on paper towels.

Make the Nashville hot sauce

Mix cayenne pepper, brown sugar, chili powder, honey, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, garlic salt and black pepper. Stir in one-half to three-quarters cup of the hot frying oil until combined, then brush over the fried Spam slices.

Prepare the sweet soy glaze

Combine soy sauce, mirin and sugar in a saucepan. Simmer for about five minutes until the mixture slightly reduces. This glaze adds a sweet-savory layer to balance the heat.

Assemble and wrap

Place nori on a board, add rice with a musubi mold, brush with glaze, sprinkle furikake, press down, top with Spam, then fold nori edges around. Serve immediately with pickles and ranch, or refrigerate up to three days.

Adjust heat to taste

Control the spice level by adjusting the amount of cayenne pepper in the Nashville sauce. Serve with creamy ranch dip on the side to cool down the heat and complete the Hawaiian-Southern mashup.

“Adjust the heat by adjusting the amount of cayenne pepper and serve it with a side of creamy ranch for the ultimate mash-up bite.”