In my “How the World Eats Spam” series, I had to include a classic American spam-based dish. I chose chicken fried spam, which is exactly what it sounds like, and—spoiler alert—it’s delicious!  

This recipe comes from Monique, who is from Los Angeles, California in the United States. Monique tells us that chicken fried spam is actually a struggle dish, made when you don’t have a lot of food in the dish. However, she also thinks this dish tastes like something special, which is remarkable that human ingenuity and creativity yielded this delight of a meal! Monique created chicken fried spam when she didn’t have much money. Spam was always on her shelf due to its shelf stability, as she liked to have it on hand in case of emergency. This canned meat is widely available throughout the United States, but the country seems evenly divided about whether they enjoy spam. Regardless, Monique managed to create a mouthwatering meal from spam, batter, and seasoned flour. 

I took a leaf out of Monique’s book and served my chicken fried spam over spicy ramen noodles with an egg. It was absolutely scrumptious, and I couldn’t get enough. The fact that this so-called struggle meal was deliciously spicy and flavorful was inspiring, and I really enjoyed the cooking and eating experiences.  

Monique and I agree that you should try chicken fried spam because it’s different, and you can’t buy it in a restaurant. The use of spam is ingenious, and it was so filling and yummy. The seasoned flour really makes all the difference in terms of flavor, and laying the final product across a bed of ramen and egg yolk was the pièce de resistance. 

At the end of the day, food is not just about fueling your body but also your soul. Chicken fried spam did just that, and I hope you try it!