According to the NY Times, SPAM sales are up while just about everything else in the world economy from consumer spending to SUV sales is on the serious decline. 

Excerpt below:

The workers make Spam, perhaps the emblematic hard-times food in the American pantry.

Through war and recession, Americans have turned to the glistening canned product from Hormel as a way to save money while still putting something that resembles meat on the table. Now, in a sign of the times, it is happening again, and Hormel is cranking out as much Spam as its workers can produce. –full story

So, the conclusion is that SPAM makes great recession food!  If only, in Korea, it weren’t so darn expensive!

If you were so lucky to get a SPAM gift set recently, or have been bold to ask the parents for a few cans sent in a care package, here’s a quick recipe for SPAM kimchi bokkeumbap  (kimchi fried rice) recipe:

Serving size: 2-3

Time: 15 minutes

Ingredients: 

1. diced SPAM (half can for the health conscious and one full can for the nihilists)
2. fistful of well fermented kimchi, diced
3. some white sugar
4. cooked rice  (You can microwave two containers of packaged rice)
5. vegetable oil–preferably something light like grapeseed or soybean or heavy like sesame oil
6. options: diced shrimp, carrots, ham, hotdogs, ham, bulgogi (beef), you name it
7. finishing options: fried egg, scallions

Directions:  Dice the SPAM and saute with cut pieces of kimchi in oil.  Sprinkle sugar to balance the sour flavor of kimchi, but only a little bit!  Add optional ingredients such as carrots or ham at this point.  Fry until you hear sizzling and the SPAM looks crisp or shiny.  Add cooked rice and mix well.  Add more kimchi or kimchi liquid to enhance color and texture.   Tip: Adjust amount of oil and temperature to preserve moisture as you cook.  Top with fried egg (sunny side) and chopped scallions.

For the basics on Kimchi Fried rice check out these two resources:

The Kimchi Bokkeumbap Wiki

Or, this video:
                       
 

–Ratemyhagwon

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