SPAM Orzo Recipe
SPAM Orzo Recipe - I'm always looking to develop and try new recipes so this morning I started thinking about ways to use SPAM. I recently restocked my pantry and found I need new ways to use cans of SPAM I bought on sale. Like many people, and the State of Hawaii as a whole, I really enjoy the taste of SPAM.There are almost 20 varieties of SPAM and I can honestly say that I've only enjoyed the Classic. Well over seven billion, that's billion with a "B", cans of SPAM have been sold to date. SPAM was first introduced by Hormel Foods Corporation in 1937.
According to its label, SPAM'S basic ingredients are pork shoulder meat, with ham meat added, salt, water, modified potato starch as a binder, sugar, and sodium nitrite as a preservative. Natural gelatin forms during cooking in its tins on the production line.
Hawaii consumes more SPAM than any state in our union -- in total, 7 million cans a year. 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.
Over the years I've made what I call 'Red Rice' which uses leftover ham in a tomato based sauce over white rice ... therefore turning it into red rice. If you do a search for 'Red Rice' you'll find millions of hits but I don't know where I first found a recipe for my version of 'Red Rice'. Not having any leftover ham around I decided to substitute SPAM. Then, I noticed that I've ran out of white rice. Upon further exploration of my cupboards I discovered that I had some Orzo left from a previous recipe. So I figured: ... why not throw together my 'Red Rice' recipe but use SPAM and Orzo.
Orzo, which means "barley" in Italian, is used most traditionally in soups, but this very versatile, rice-shaped pasta has been widely adapted by chefs in Italy and America for both main courses as well as side dishes.
Ingredients: ½ pound orzo > 1 can Classic SPAM diced > 1 cup chopped celery > 1 cup chopped red onions > 4 oz canned mushrooms > handful of sliced black olives > chopped green onions > 14 oz tomato sauce > 14 oz chopped stewed tomatoes > 1 tsp crushed garlic > 1 tsp seasoned salt > ½ tsp black pepper > 2 TBSP extra virgin olive oil.
Directions: Sauté celery & onions in olive oil till translucent > mix all ingredients except orzo in a large skillet > bring to boil and lower to a medium simmer > simmer SPAM and ingredients for 30 minutes > boil orzo according to directions > Drain orzo and add to sauce > Serve with a side of green salad and toasted roasted garlic bread.
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