What is the origin of spam musubi, a Hawaiian dish?
I love spam musubi...basically spam sushi. It is made with some rice(some people use sushi rice)' a 1/4" slice of spam, and some teriyaki sauce...it is wrapped with a sheet of nori. This is the basic recipe.
How was this first conceived? I know that the Hawaiians are the biggest consumers of spam (chicken/egg problem? Did the creation of spam musubi help the Hawaians become the second largest consumers (Guam is first) of spam? :) ). There's also a large presence of Japanese on the islands. You can see that the environment is essentially set up for some sort of fusion of the two cultures.
Who was the first to conceive this dish?
Best Answer
Spam became prevalent in the US occupied Pacific islands during World War 2 since fresh meat was difficult to procure at the time. Since it was a primary food staple, it was incorporated into various dishes, and has remained a popular food. Spam musubi is just an an extension of this. Making do with the meat available to create a tasty dish, obviously influenced in this case by Japanese culture.
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Quick Answer about "What is the origin of spam musubi, a Hawaiian dish?"
Barbara Funamura, a Japanese-American woman from Hawaii, is credited with having invented Spam musubi, a slice of grilled Spam on top of a block of rice, wrapped together with nori.Is Spam musubi Japanese or Hawaiian?
Barbara Funamura, a Japanese-American woman from Hawaii, is credited with having invented Spam musubi, a slice of grilled Spam on top of a block of rice, wrapped together with nori.How did spam come associated with Hawaiian cuisine?
The true root of the island's love for SPAM\xae products goes back to World War II, when the luncheon meat was served to GIs. By the end of the war, SPAM\xae products were adopted into local culture, with Fried SPAM\xae Classic and rice becoming a popular meal.When did Spam musubi originate?
Its Origins According to reports, the inventor of the spam musubi was a Mrs. Mitsuko Kaneshiro. She first made it for her children. But then she started selling them out of a local drug store in Honolulu during the 1980s to make some money.Why Do Hawaiians eat Spam musubi?
According to the SPAM website, the island's love affair with Spam began in World War II, when GIs were served the salty luncheon meat because it didn't require refrigeration and had a long shelf life. The Hormel Corporation, which manufactures Spam, provided 15 million cans to Allied troops every week.Why We Eat: Spam Musubi
More answers regarding what is the origin of spam musubi, a Hawaiian dish?
Answer 2
I've found some good info here.
According to author Ann Kondo Corum, Mitsuko Kaneshiro first made spam musubi for her children, but then started selling them out of City Pharmacy on Pensacola Street in Mo'ili'ili. By the early 1980s, she was selling 500 a day
Answer 3
The garden island news paper Kauai has a story about a lady named Barbara Funimura that first made them over 30 years ago for her restaurant Joni-Hana. They later with friends created what we call "musubi makers"
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