For More Flavorful Fried Rice, Make It Hawaiian Style With 2 Canned Ingredients

A bowl of white rice is integral to many cultures around the world and serves as a filling side that's inexpensive, easy to make (once you get the hang of it), and adds sustenance. It's not usually something you think of as flavor-packed, perhaps until the next day when you can turn it into fried rice. If you want to take that fried rice a notch futher, add some Spam and chopped canned pineapple to create a complete meal with Hawaiian flavor. The salty, umami Spam and sweet, tangy pineapple bind with rice for a flavor-packed dinner made with pantry staples. If you appreciate the sweet-salty taste of Hawaiian pizza, this combination will hit a similar spot.

The most common can size of Spam is 12 ounces, and the full can will be enough to make itself the star ingredient in a bowl of Hawaiian fried rice. If that's what you want, feel free to experiment with other Spam flavors, too. But to get that salty flavor without it overpowering other ingredients, you can cut the block of meat and use only half the can in your fried rice. As for the canned pineapple, about half a cup should add a sweet brightness without making the dish cloying. Once you toss in the pineapple, its own juices and sugars will caramelize and mix with the pork fat. Add the rice (to prevent mushy or sticky fried rice, use day-old rice that's been in the fridge overnight) and let the mixture coat it completely.

You could stop here to keep things simple. Rice, Spam, and pineapple together are plenty flavorful. It makes a convenient leftover work lunch. For dinner, however, you can take the time to add more to the pan. Crack an egg in a bowl with a splash of fish sauce and whisk it all together before scrambling it in the pan with the rice. A little oyster sauce, soy sauce, minced garlic, and a pinch of freshly grated ginger kick up the aromatics further. Now you've got a searing skillet of Hawaiian-style Spam and pineapple fried rice with deeper flavors ready for plating. If you have kids at home, they may already be standing next to you with bowls in hand.

The rice with Spam and pineapple engages the tastebuds, while the sauces, garlic, and ginger delight the nose and add more depth. Now you just need a little something for visual presentation. Chopped green onion is the most common garnish for this sort of dish. If you did your prep ahead of time — and you should — cook the whites of the onion in the pan with the rest of the ingredients but save the green stems for the garnish. Add a sprinkle of the Japanese powerhouse ingredient, furikake, for a final touch and just like that, you've gone from a humble bowl of plain white rice to a savory and vibrant Hawaii-inspired meal that began with two cans from your pantry.