<p style="letter-spacing:.5px;line-height:33px;color:#26323e;font-family:'freight-text-pro', serif;font-size:21px;">Few things are more American than processed meat in a can. But the appeal of Spam—the porky, salty luncheon loaf produced by Hormel—transcends national borders. If you’re still waiting to be turned on to the wonders of Spam, perhaps the addition of Velveeta, nori, or mushy peas will help it go down easier.</p> <h4 style="margin:0px 0px -6px;font-family:soleil, sans-serif;color:#26323e;font-size:21px;letter-spacing:.2px;">1. SPAM FRITTER // UK 영국 스팸 프리터</h4> <div>   </div> <p style="letter-spacing:.5px;line-height:33px;color:#26323e;font-family:'freight-text-pro', serif;font-size:21px;"><img src="http://images.mentalfloss.com/sites/default/files/styles/insert_main_wide_image/public/244720899_2f03a4d512_b.jpg" class="image__view_mode__full_width" border="0" style="vertical-align:bottom;width:682px;height:auto;" alt="" filesize="63986"><br></p> <p style="letter-spacing:.5px;line-height:33px;color:#26323e;font-family:'freight-text-pro', serif;font-size:21px;">Spam migrated to England during <a target="_blank" href="http://www.eater.com/2014/7/9/6191681/a-brief-history-of-spam-an-american-meat-icon" target="_blank" style="color:#26323e;line-height:25px;display:inline-block;border-bottom:1px solid rgb(241,105,87);">World War II</a>. The product’s long shelf life made it a convenient source of protein for U.S. troops and rationing turned it into a delicacy for the citizens of the places they occupied. Today fresh meat is much easier to come by in the UK, but Brits still have a soft spot in their hearts for the canned stuff. One popular British preparation of the ingredient puts a twist on the classic fish and chips. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.spam-uk.com/recipes/recipe-detail.php?recipe_id=113" target="_blank" style="color:#26323e;line-height:25px;display:inline-block;border-bottom:1px solid rgb(241,105,87);">Spam fritters</a> are made by dredging slices of the meat in batter and frying them up in a pan. The proper British serving suggestion calls for thick-cut chips and <a target="_blank" href="http://www.keefcooks.com/spam-fritters-recipe/" target="_blank" style="color:#26323e;line-height:25px;display:inline-block;border-bottom:1px solid rgb(241,105,87);">mushy peas</a> on the side.</p> <h4 style="margin:0px 0px -6px;font-family:soleil, sans-serif;color:#26323e;font-size:21px;letter-spacing:.2px;">2. SPAMSILOG // PHILIPPINES 필리핀 스팸실록(?)</h4><iframe width="640" height="640" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" style="margin:20px 0px 8px;color:#26323e;font-family:'freight-text-pro', serif;font-size:21px;letter-spacing:.2px;"></iframe> <p style="letter-spacing:.5px;line-height:33px;color:#26323e;font-family:'freight-text-pro', serif;font-size:21px;">Spam rivals <a target="_blank" href="http://mentalfloss.com/article/85948/8-regional-breakfast-favorites-should-go-national" style="color:#26323e;line-height:25px;display:inline-block;border-bottom:1px solid rgb(241,105,87);" target="_blank">scrapple</a> as one of the most unusual meat products to appear on a breakfast plate. In the Philippines, it’s fried up like bacon and served alongside rice and a sunny side up egg. When you put all the components together—Spam, <em>sinangag</em> (fried rice), and <em>pritong itlog</em> (fried egg)—you get <a target="_blank" href="http://www.filipinochow.com/spamsilog/" target="_blank" style="color:#26323e;line-height:25px;display:inline-block;border-bottom:1px solid rgb(241,105,87);">Spamsilog</a>. Tomatoes and cucumbers on the side are optional.</p> <h4 style="margin:0px 0px -6px;font-family:soleil, sans-serif;color:#26323e;font-size:21px;letter-spacing:.2px;">3. SPAM MUSABI // HAWAII 하와이 스팸 무스비 </h4> <p style="letter-spacing:.5px;line-height:33px;color:#26323e;font-family:'freight-text-pro', serif;font-size:21px;"><img src="http://images.mentalfloss.com/sites/default/files/styles/insert_main_wide_image/public/Homemade_Spam_Musubi.jpg" class="image__view_mode__full_width" border="0" style="vertical-align:bottom;width:682px;height:auto;" alt="" filesize="24648"></p> <div class="imagecaption" style="font-weight:600;line-height:normal;font-family:soleil, sans-serif;letter-spacing:1px;color:#26323e;">Chris Hackmann <a target="_blank" href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File%3AHomemade_Spam_Musubi.jpg" target="_blank" style="color:#26323e;">Wikimedia Commons</a> // <a target="_blank" href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0" target="_blank" style="color:#26323e;">CC BY-SA 4.0</a></div> <p style="letter-spacing:.5px;line-height:33px;color:#26323e;font-family:'freight-text-pro', serif;font-size:21px;">If one dish perfectly sums up the mish-mash of cultures that make up Hawaii, it’s <a target="_blank" href="http://www.seriouseats.com/recipes/2008/04/tutorial-how-to-make-hawaiian-spam-musubi-sushi.html" target="_blank" style="color:#26323e;line-height:25px;display:inline-block;border-bottom:1px solid rgb(241,105,87);">Spam musabi</a>. At first glance it resembles traditional sushi with a strip of nori (seaweed) binding together rice and protein. But upon closer inspection you’ll see the protein is actually a slice of crispy, caramelized Spam. On the islands this treat can be found everywhere from school cafeterias to 7-Elevens.</p> <h4 style="margin:0px 0px -6px;font-family:soleil, sans-serif;color:#26323e;font-size:21px;letter-spacing:.2px;">4. SANDWICH DE MEZCLA // PUERTO RICO 푸에르토리코 샌드위치 데 메스클라</h4><iframe width="640" height="640" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" style="margin:20px 0px 8px;color:#26323e;font-family:'freight-text-pro', serif;font-size:21px;letter-spacing:.2px;"></iframe> <p style="letter-spacing:.5px;line-height:33px;color:#26323e;font-family:'freight-text-pro', serif;font-size:21px;">Puerto Rico’s <a target="_blank" href="http://cocinalatina.about.com/od/Postresentremesesydulces/a/Sandwichitos-De-Mezcla.htm" target="_blank" style="color:#26323e;line-height:25px;display:inline-block;border-bottom:1px solid rgb(241,105,87);">Sandwich de Mezcla</a> (or “<a target="_blank" href="http://downtown.wgrz.com/news/home-garden/61350-sandwiches-de-mezcla-my-mothers-legacy" target="_blank" style="color:#26323e;line-height:25px;display:inline-block;border-bottom:1px solid rgb(241,105,87);">the mix</a>”) is an unapologetic celebration of processed goodness. The contents consist of canned pimentos, Velveeta or Cheez Whiz, and Spam all blended together in a food processor. It’s smeared between two slices of white bread and commonly served at parties.</p> <h4 style="margin:0px 0px -6px;font-family:soleil, sans-serif;color:#26323e;font-size:21px;letter-spacing:.2px;">5. GOYA CHANPURU // JAPAN 일본 고야 참푸르</h4> <p style="letter-spacing:.5px;line-height:33px;color:#26323e;font-family:'freight-text-pro', serif;font-size:21px;"><img src="http://images.mentalfloss.com/sites/default/files/styles/insert_main_wide_image/public/2620032073_394c35c95f_o.jpg" class="image__view_mode__full_width" border="0" style="vertical-align:bottom;width:682px;height:auto;" alt="" filesize="47820"></p> <div class="imagecaption" style="font-weight:600;line-height:normal;font-family:soleil, sans-serif;letter-spacing:1px;color:#26323e;">Dominiek ter Heide via <a target="_blank" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/dominiekterheide/2620032073/" target="_blank" style="color:#26323e;">Flickr</a> // <a target="_blank" href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/" target="_blank" style="color:#26323e;">CC BY 2.0</a></div> <p style="letter-spacing:.5px;line-height:33px;color:#26323e;font-family:'freight-text-pro', serif;font-size:21px;">Okinawa is home to a vibrant food scene—one that includes <a target="_blank" href="http://www.saveur.com/okinawa-japan-food-and-hotel-travel-guide" target="_blank" style="color:#26323e;line-height:25px;display:inline-block;border-bottom:1px solid rgb(241,105,87);">soba noodles</a>, <a target="_blank" href="http://www.pbs.org/food/recipes/taco-rice/" target="_blank" style="color:#26323e;line-height:25px;display:inline-block;border-bottom:1px solid rgb(241,105,87);">taco rice</a>, and yes, Spam. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.japanupdate.com/2013/11/brief-history-of-spam-on-okinawa/" target="_blank" style="color:#26323e;line-height:25px;display:inline-block;border-bottom:1px solid rgb(241,105,87);">Goya Chanpuru</a>, made from tofu, egg, bitter gourd, and cubes of Spam, is one of the island’s signature dishes. The American product weaseled its way into the local cuisine through the <a target="_blank" href="http://www.uchinanchu.org/uchinanchu/history_american.htm" target="_blank" style="color:#26323e;line-height:25px;display:inline-block;border-bottom:1px solid rgb(241,105,87);">U.S. military’s occupation of Okinawa</a> during World War II. The history of the stir-fry actually dates back 1000 years, but when <a target="_blank" href="http://www.sbs.com.au/food/recipes/bitter-melon-and-spam-stir-fry-goya-champuru" target="_blank" style="color:#26323e;line-height:25px;display:inline-block;border-bottom:1px solid rgb(241,105,87);">SBS</a> asked a 90-year-old Okinawa native what was used in the dish before Spam she replied, “I don’t even remember.”</p> <h4 style="margin:0px 0px -6px;font-family:soleil, sans-serif;color:#26323e;font-size:21px;letter-spacing:.2px;">6. BUDAE JJIGAE // SOUTH KOREA 한국 부대찌개</h4> <p style="letter-spacing:.5px;line-height:33px;color:#26323e;font-family:'freight-text-pro', serif;font-size:21px;"><img src="http://images.mentalfloss.com/sites/default/files/styles/insert_main_wide_image/public/9527449503_609d124bb6_k%20%281%29.jpg" class="image__view_mode__full_width" border="0" style="vertical-align:bottom;width:682px;height:auto;" alt="" filesize="53805"></p> <div class="imagecaption" style="font-weight:600;line-height:normal;font-family:soleil, sans-serif;letter-spacing:1px;color:#26323e;">Cecil Lee via <a target="_blank" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/27954114@N05/9527449503/" target="_blank" style="color:#26323e;">Flickr</a> // <a target="_blank" href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/2.0/" target="_blank" style="color:#26323e;">CC BY-NC-ND 2.0</a></div> <p style="letter-spacing:.5px;line-height:33px;color:#26323e;font-family:'freight-text-pro', serif;font-size:21px;">In South Korea, Spam is marketed as a <a target="_blank" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rjIKA5Wnw4A" target="_blank" style="color:#26323e;line-height:25px;display:inline-block;border-bottom:1px solid rgb(241,105,87);">luxury product</a> and <a target="_blank" href="http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-24140705" target="_blank" style="color:#26323e;line-height:25px;display:inline-block;border-bottom:1px solid rgb(241,105,87);">given as a gift</a>at holidays. Koreans consume so much of it that their population of 50 million people make up the world’s second largest Spam market (<a target="_blank" href="http://www.npr.org/sections/thesalt/2015/04/08/396759474/spam-in-korea-it-s-not-junk-meat-it-s-a-luxury-treat" target="_blank" style="color:#26323e;line-height:25px;display:inline-block;border-bottom:1px solid rgb(241,105,87);">right behind the U.S.</a>, which has a population of over 300 million). The nation’s most iconic Spam dish is Budae Jjigae, or army stew. There’s a lot going on with this <a target="_blank" href="http://mykoreankitchen.com/army-stew-budae-jjigae/" target="_blank" style="color:#26323e;line-height:25px;display:inline-block;border-bottom:1px solid rgb(241,105,87);">recipe</a>: In addition to Spam, it contains kimchi, chili paste, hot dogs, beans, <a target="_blank" href="http://www.seriouseats.com/2014/10/korean-food-types-of-soups-stews-jjigae-guk-tang.html" target="_blank" style="color:#26323e;line-height:25px;display:inline-block;border-bottom:1px solid rgb(241,105,87);">pre-packaged cheese</a>, and instant ramen noodles. The dish originated during the Korean War when locals were desperate for food. Army rations smuggled out of U.S. bases were tossed together in a pot and spiced with traditional Korean flavors to create the gut-busting meal. The dish, which comes served in a gigantic bowl, is meant to be shared.</p> <h4 style="margin:0px 0px -6px;font-family:soleil, sans-serif;color:#26323e;font-size:21px;letter-spacing:.2px;">7. SPAM AND EGG MACARONI SOUP // HONG KONG 홍콩 스팸 앤 에그 마카로니스프</h4><iframe width="640" height="640" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" style="margin:20px 0px 8px;color:#26323e;font-family:'freight-text-pro', serif;font-size:21px;letter-spacing:.2px;"></iframe> <p style="letter-spacing:.5px;line-height:33px;color:#26323e;font-family:'freight-text-pro', serif;font-size:21px;">Macaroni soup is so ubiquitous in Hong Kong that it’s included on <a target="_blank" href="http://www.foodnetwork.ca/everyday-cooking/blog/made-easy-hong-kong-style-macaroni-soup-for-breakfast-31706/" target="_blank" style="color:#26323e;line-height:25px;display:inline-block;border-bottom:1px solid rgb(241,105,87);">McDonald’s breakfast menus</a>. Traditionally served with a slice of ham, Spam became the starring ingredient when it was introduced by <a target="_blank" href="http://www.realcheapeats.com/stories/asian-spam-dishes-in-nyc-history-of-spam-musubi-spam-fries-budae-jjigae" target="_blank" style="color:#26323e;line-height:25px;display:inline-block;border-bottom:1px solid rgb(241,105,87);">British colonizers</a> in the 1940s. The recipe isn’t overly complicated: <a target="_blank" href="https://food52.com/recipes/32514-hong-kong-style-spam-egg-macaroni-soup" target="_blank" style="color:#26323e;line-height:25px;display:inline-block;border-bottom:1px solid rgb(241,105,87);">canned corn</a> adds some crunch while the egg on top passes it off as a breakfast dish no matter where in the world you're dining.</p>