Hawaii Cheap Eats - Musubi

One of the best things to do when visiting a new place is to try the local food. In Hawaii that is a combination of mostly Asian, Portuguese, and Polynesian foods. 

One of the local favorites is musubi. You can find it at Pine Tree Cafe for $4.50 each or you can make it yourself. During a recent trip to Walmart I priced the ingredient list. It is actually cheaper to buy it from Pine Tree but the experience is worth buying the ingredients.

Musubi - serves 4 $4.70 each

• Spam $3.98
• Sushi Rice $4.88
• Shoyu (soy sauce) $2.28
• Furikake $4.28
• Nori $3.28

Cook your rice. I found heat and serve rice dishes that cook in the microwave. If you are using a rice cooker start that first. Open the Spam and cut into 4-5 slices horizontally. Heat a pan over medium heat and add the Spam. Heat on each side for 2 minutes then add 2-3 tablespoons of shoyu. Heat an additional 2 minutes per side or until browned.

If you don't have a musubi mold you can use the Spam can. Use a knife to remove the bottom of the can. Add enough rice to cover the bottom of the mold and press down firmly. Add one slice of Spam, a generous dash of furkikae, and more rice. Press firmly. Remove the mold. Cut your nori into 1-2 inch strips. Place the musubi on the nori and wrap with the ends on the bottow. 

Repeat for each musubi. Serve warm or wrap in plastic to take to the beach.