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A finished Japanese-style Spam onigiri on a small white square plate, showing layers of rice, sweet tamagoyaki, and a thick slice of pan-fried Spam wrapped with a strip of nori

Spam Onigiri (Japanese Rice Ball with Spam, Tamagoyaki & Nori)

Japanese-style Spam onigiri layered with sweet tamagoyaki and a squiggle of Kewpie mayo, shaped using the empty Spam can as a mould. Quick, satisfying, and a bento favourite.
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 20 minutes
Servings: 4 onigiri
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Japanese

Ingredients
  

  • 1 can Spam or Spam-style luncheon meat about 250g
  • 2 cups cooked Japanese short-grain rice slightly warm
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 tsp sugar for the tamagoyaki
  • salt a pinch, for the tamagoyaki
  • neutral oil for the pan
  • Kewpie Japanese mayonnaise to taste
  • 2 sheets toasted nori each cut into 4 strips

Method
 

  1. Beat the eggs with sugar and salt. Cook in a tamagoyaki pan, rolling the egg into layers, then slide out and cut into 4 slices.
  2. Slice the Spam into 4 even slices about 1cm thick. Pan-fry in a dry pan over medium heat for 2–3 minutes per side until golden. Reserve the empty can.
  3. Wash the empty Spam can. Line with plastic wrap. Pack lightly with warm rice — about 1/4 to 1/3 of the can height. Lift out using the wrap. Repeat to make 4 rice blocks.
  4. On a fresh sheet of plastic wrap, lay a strip of nori, then a rice block on top. Pipe a squiggle of Kewpie mayo on the rice. Top with a slice of tamagoyaki, then a slice of fried Spam.
  5. Wrap the nori around the Spam, then tighten the plastic wrap around the whole onigiri. Let rest for 1–2 minutes, then unwrap and serve.