A staple among many households, it’s hard to deny the greasy goodness of luncheon meat (sorry, they are non-halal) that comes in a can. Sure, they are high in sodium (even though you can get the low-sodium varieties) and have a bad rep from being unhealthy, but of course, moderation is always the key when comes to consuming processed meat. So, if you have (a few) cans of luncheon meat sitting somewhere in your kitchen pantry, here are the 5 easy-to-make recipes you can follow at home.
1) Luncheon Meat Fried Rice
Here’s a classic, comfort meal that you can whip up easily. Having a plate of luncheon meat fried rice isn’t exactly a healthy meal. But hey, it wouldn’t hurt to enjoy it once in a while, right?
Ingredients:
- 2 cups of cooked rice (use overnight rice if possible)
- 1 small onion (sliced)
- 2 cloves of garlic (minced)
- 1 egg
- 200g of luncheon meat (diced)
- 1 tablespoon of oyster sauce
- 1 teaspoon of light soya sauce
- White pepper (you can also use black pepper as an alternative)
- 2 tablespoons of cooking oil (you can use vegetable, peanut or canola oil)
- Some chopped spring onions (optional)
Start by beating the egg with a fork and scramble it in hot oil. Set it aside and then use the same wok (or pan) to fry diced luncheon meat until golden brown. Again, set it aside and sauté both the onion and garlic. Add in the rice and the rest (oyster sauce, light soya sauce and pepper). You can adjust all the seasonings according to taste. Stir-fry them all together until well-combined. Finally, add in the luncheon meat and scrambled egg back into the wok (or pan) and mix them with the rest of the ingredients evenly. Transfer to the plate and serve hot.
2) Eggless Luncheon Meat Carbonara
Running out of bacon or sausages in your fridge? If you are planning to make pasta carbonara, try substituting either of them with luncheon meat. They are just as delicious, with the luncheon meat’s greasy fat pairs well with the creamy pasta sauce.
Ingredients:
- 400g of spaghetti
- 1 small onion (sliced)
- 1/2 can of luncheon meat (cut into strips or cubes)
- 250g of all-purpose cream
- Salt and pepper to taste
Boil a pot of water to cook the spaghetti as usual. Follow the package instructions for the total cooking time. Next, sauté the sliced onion in a pan over medium heat until soft. Stir in the luncheon meat and add cream. Season with salt and pepper and adjust the taste accordingly. Finally, toss in the cooked spaghetti (after draining the water and remember to save some of it). Pour some of the pasta water into the sauce. The added water would help bind the sauce and pasta together as well as thicken it. Serve hot.
3) Luncheon Meat Fries
Why just settle with the same old potato fries when you can try something different for a change? Apart from potatoes, there are other ingredients you can turn into fries, namely luncheon meat. The combination of savoury and crispiness of luncheon meat fries makes them a tummy-filling appetiser.
Ingredients:
- 1 can of luncheon meat (cut into sticks or thick strips)
Heat oil in a deep-fry pan and add in the luncheon meat “fries”. Deep fry them until they become crispy and golden brown. Remove them and set the luncheon meat “fries” on a plate lined with a paper towel to remove excess oil. Then, transfer them again to another plate and serve hot with a dipping sauce of your choice. It can be anything from chilli sauce to ketchup or mayonnaise.
4) Luncheon Meat With Egg Floss
Luncheon meat and egg is like a match made in heaven. Put them together and you can have a simple, fulfilling meal best paired with white rice.
Ingredients:
- 1 can of luncheon meat (diced)
- 3 egg yolks
- 50g of butter
- Some curry leaves
- 2 chillies (red or bird’s eye, chopped)
- 1/2 teaspoon of sugar
- 3 tablespoons of cooking oil
Heat oil in a pan and fry the diced luncheon meat for a few minutes until they become crispy and golden brown. Set them aside on a paper towel-lined plate to remove excess oil. Next, beat egg yolks with a fork. Using the same pan, melt butter and cooking oil over medium-low heat and stir around. Then, add beaten egg yolk into the buttery oil while keep stirring until they turn into floss. Add in the rest of the ingredients (curry leaves, chillies and sugar) and continue stirring them. Finally, add the luncheon meat back into the pan and toss them until well-combined. Transfer them to a plate and serve with white rice.
5) Luncheon Meat Egg Sandwich
Given the versatility of luncheon meat, you can have them for breakfast as well. In the form of a sandwich added with scrambled eggs, that is.
Ingredients:
- 2 slices of luncheon meat
- 2 eggs
- Some butter
- Sliced white bread
- Black pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon of cooking oil
Fry the sliced luncheon meat on both sides in a pan until they become lightly browned. Set them aside and use the same pan to make scrambled eggs using a combination of oil and butter. Scramble them until they are almost set but remains moist. Transfer the eggs to a plate to avoid overcooking them. From there, it’s time to assemble the sandwich! Butter two slices of white bread and layer the pan-fried luncheon meat, followed by scrambled eggs on top and season them with some black pepper. Cover them with bread and cut the sandwich in half or diagonally, whichever way you prefer.
