Spam Musubi Is the Salty, Crispy, Umami-Packed Snack We Love Most of All

One of the best ways to eat the truly versatile (and oh-so tasty) meat known as Spam is in a Spam musubi, of course. If you’ve never had one, all you have to do is picture a sushi roll and a can of Spam having a baby. And if that not-so-elegant description I conjured up is not exactly whetting your appetite, trust me, you’re wrong. Here’s a better picture: A piece of grilled Spam (often marinated with a sweet sauce) atop a block of rice (sometimes seasoned with sesame seeds or furikake) and wrapped with nori.

Spam, originally created in 1937 in Minnesota, really took off during World War II when it became part of soldiers’ diets. Where the troops went, they introduced Spam. It’s believed that Barbara Funamura, a Japanese-American woman from Hawaii, created the Spam musubi.

While Spam musubi has been beloved in Hawaii since then, it has gained even more fans across the United States in recent years due to the reemergence of Spam on menus and in popular culture. So it’s no surprise that there is an actual National Spam Musubi Day (August 8). And why not celebrate the snack? It’s comforting, tasty, umami-packed, and downright delightful.

To mark the occasion, Spam shared some fun takes on the Spam Musubi, which you can see below. Mac and Cheese Musubi? Sign me up.

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Spam Musubi

The classic can’t be beat. And if you’re new to it all, start with this one.

Get the recipe here.

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Spam Musubirthday Cake

This layered masterpiece (created in partnership with VICE and chef Kiki Aranita) includes layers of rice, Spam, and eggs.

Get the recipe here.

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Mac ’N’ Cheese Musubi

For a truly decadent snack, look no further than the Mac ’N’ Cheese must. Macaroni and cheese is added the usual Spam musubi recipe and then it’s coated in breadcrumbs and fried.

Get the recipe here.

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Spam Musubi Crunchy Roll

Similar to the crunchy fried rolls you might find at sushi restaurants, this dish is a regular Spam musubi that’s coated in breadcrumbs and fried, and then topped with sriracha mayonnaise, green onions, Unagi sauce, shrimp chips, and sesame seeds.

Get the recipe here.

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Musubi Burrito

This burrito version of the musubi contains eggs, coleslaw veggies, cucumber, and French fried onions.

Get the recipe here.

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