The chosen subject for the instructional diagram is based on making Spam Musubi. It is a dish that was invented by a Japanese-American woman from Hawaii. It is presented as a slice of cooked Spam (salty processed, canned pork) placed over a block of rice, and wrapped with a sheet of seaweed (nori), which is referred to as musubi (meaning rice ball), influenced by Japanese culture.
The origin of Spam dates back to 1937 when it was first manufactured in the United States, which then gained popularity during World War 2 in 1941. It was first introduced when the American troops were deployed to many Asian countries such as Japan, Guam, Korea, and the Philippines.
The mass destruction during the war led to massive food shortages across those countries, which resulted in Spam becoming one of the necessities in surviving, as they were some of the only food rations that were sent to the incarceration camps where those people were detained.
In later years, a Japanese-American woman named Barbara Funamura from Hawaii invented Spam musubi. From then, the dish gradually gained its way and continued to be incorporated in local dishes and can typically be seen in many Asian cuisines. Despite its success, Spam became a symbol of sadness and suffering for cultures that were affected by the war.
Main Ingredients
Equipment
