How to Make Delicious Tofu Spam Musubi - 3 Ways!
This recipe is a vegan spin of the Hawaiian favorite spam musubi! Enjoy your favorite foods at home and get vacation vibes of Hawaii.
You can usually find musubi at your local Hawaiian BBQ or when in Hawaii. It’s such a popular snack and lunch food you’ll even find them at 711 in Hawaii. This food is similar to the Japanese onigiri rice ball and was actually created by Japanese Americans during World War II.
We'll show you how to make vegan Spam Musubi 3 ways:
1) Original
2) With Egg
3) With Avocado
BONUS - 4th way with Egg & Avocado
For this recipe we used high protein extra firm tofu but you can used smoked tofu, pressed tofu, or even tofu cutlets. If you’re using extra firm tofu I recommend pressing the tofu first by wrapping it in a clean kitchen towel. Place a cutting board and books, cans or a heavy pot on top for added weight. Don’t crush the tofu just enough to press the water out. You’ll want to keep it pressed for about 30 minutes.
You’ll need a rectangle musubi making mold. I got mine from Daiso Japan but you can get them on Amazon as well. You can find all different kinds of them on Amazon from plastic to stainless steel.
This recipe takes about 60 minutes to make about 10 musubi. This recipe goes great with Hawaiian Macaroni Salad! They make the perfect pair.
INGREDIENTS:
Sushi Rice
1 1/2 cups Japanese Short Grain Rice
1 3/4 cups Water
1 Tbs Rice Vinegar
1 Tbs Mirin
1 tsp Water (warm)
1/4 tsp Salt
Spam Marinade
1/4 cup Tamari
1/4 cup Water (warm)
1 Tbs Salt
1 tsp Liquid Smoke
1 tsp Smoked Paprika
1 tsp Rice Vinegar
Other
1 block Extra Firm Tofu (16 oz, sliced)
3 Nori Sheets (cut into strips)
1/2 Avocado (sliced)
1/2 cup Just Egg
1/2 tsp No Egg Seasoning
Furikake
INSTRUCTIONS:
Slice tofu 1/4 inch thick our block of tofu made 10 slices
Depending on your musubi mold you might need to cut the tofu so it fits in the mold
In a wide bowl add the marinade ingredients, whisk until all ingredients are dissolved
Add tofu to the marinade and set aside
Rinse rice under cold water about 3 times or until water runs clear
Cook the rice in a rice cooker or on stove top
If cooking on stove top add water and rice to pot, cover and bring to a boil, reduce to a simmer and cook covered for 15 minutes (don't take the lid off while it's cooking)
While rice is cooking slice avocado: cut in half, remove the seed and skin, slice thinly
Cut nori into strips based on how wide you prefer based on the musubi mold
I like to leave some of the ends exposed but not too much, use kitchen scissors to cut
In frying pan add oil on medium heat, add Just Egg and sprinkle No Egg Seasoning
Use spatula to mix and smooth to cover the entire pan
Once the Just Egg is mostly cooked use a spatula to fold the egg into musubi width (watch our video at the top of the page for a tutorial)
Put egg on cutting board and use mold to cut into musubi size pieces
Once rice is done cooking loosen the rice and add to large mixing bowl
In a small bowl add rice vinegar, water, mirin and salt. Whisk ingredients until dissolved
Add rice vinegar mixture to the rice and mix well, set aside to cool
Now cook the marinated tofu, either pan fry or you can use an air fryer
Use egg pan on medium heat and add plenty of oil pour in some of the marinade
Cook the tofu until it's browned on both sides, this will take about 8 min each side
If using an air fryer cook at 390F for about 12 min
Get one strip of the nori put the musubi mold on top and add rice
Pack down the rice using the musubi mold, rice layer should be about 3/4 inch thick
Remove mold and sprinkle furikake on top of the rice, add a piece of tofu on top
Wrap with a piece of nori, use water or rice to seal the end
Repeat and add either egg or avocado or both on top of the tofu
Eat as a snack, for lunch or with your favorite Hawaiian dish like macaroni salad