The SPAM Ramen Burger Was Everything I Could Have Hoped For.
You may already know about the SPAM ramen burger, but apparently I’ve been living in the dark ages. For the uninitiated, it’s everything you could hope for: crispy, chewy, bursting with umami, and bursting with flavor. If you’re looking for a non-traditional midweek meal, make your family (or yourself) SPAM Ramen Burgers.
While I would love to be the creator of this pork burger, I’m happy enough to be its humble follower. The idea is to make a couple of ramen burger “buns” and fill them with a fried piece of SPAM and whatever toppings you like. The recipe I used comes directly from the source SPAM , and tops the cutlet with kimchi. I took one bite and was truly impressed. The ramen makes a surprisingly strong bun, and the fermented flavor of the kimchi complements the salty flavor of the fried SPAM pork.
How to make SPAM ramen burgers
The ramen burger “buns” require a couple of steps, but the SPAM part only takes a moment.
1. Prepare the noodles
You’ll start by preparing the ramen noodles as usual. Add a cup of water to a small saucepan along with the seasoning packet and dry noodles. The water will be drained so you don’t have to make it liquid.
2. Form cutlets.
Once the noodles are soft, drain the broth and transfer the noodles to a bowl. Let them cool for about five minutes. Add the egg (this will help bind the noodles later) and toss to coat the noodles evenly. Line two regular bowls with plastic wrap or just lightly grease them. Divide the noodles between two regular bowls. Use the overhang of plastic wrap to wrap the noodles and lightly press them into a patty. Although the recipe calls for using a weight, it’s not necessary: just flatten the noodles with a rubber spatula and place the bowls in the refrigerator. The recipe also says to wait two hours, but I only waited 45 minutes and it turned out fine.
3. Fry the “buns”
Once the noodles are firm, remove the cutlets by removing the plastic wrap. If you didn’t use plastic wrap, carefully loosen the edges with a spatula and scoop out or turn them out. Fry the ramen patties in a greased frying pan until both sides are crispy and browned. Place them on a plate.
4. Fry up the SPAM
In the same pan, fry a piece of SPAM. Place a piece of meat on one of the buns and add the toppings of your choice. The recipe on the SPAM website suggests adding kimchi to it, which I did and highly recommend, but you can go anywhere with this burger. Try a classic American burger with American cheese, tomatoes and lettuce. Keep it simple with mayonnaise and pickles, or go umami with mushrooms and caramelized onions.
SPAM Ramen Burger Recipe
Ingredients:
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1 packet instant ramen noodles
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1 egg
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Butter for coating the pan
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1 piece of SPAM
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Kimchi or other assorted toppings
1. Prepare ramen according to package directions. Drain off excess broth and place noodles in a medium bowl. Let them cool for five minutes. Add the egg and toss the noodles to coat.
2. Lightly oil two soup bowls or line them with plastic wrap. Divide the egg noodles between two bowls. Press and flatten noodles with a rubber spatula to form patties. Place the molds in the refrigerator for an hour to harden.
3. Once the cutlets are firm enough to hold their shape, add enough oil to a small frying pan to coat the bottom. Over medium-low heat, fry the ramen patties until the sides are crispy and lightly browned. Place them on a plate.
4. Fry a slab of SPAM in the same pan until browned. Cover one “bun” with a slice of Spam. Add hamburger toppings and top with another ramen patty. Enjoy immediately.