Japanese Rice - Spam Sandwich – Our Post - Workout Family Favorite (VIDEO)

At our house, this sandwich isn't just a meal—it’s a tradition. A comforting stack of steamed rice, ham/spam, cheese, a fried egg, roasted seaweed, and sesame seeds… simple ingredients that come together like magic.

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Happy kids in the kitchen

My kids make it all the time when they're hungry. No recipe needed—they know it by heart now.

They actually learned it from our wonderful neighbor, who’s been to Japan many times. Fluent in Japanese and full of generous spirit, they love sharing pieces of their travel and culture with us—especially after we’ve all worked up a sweat together in their home gym video called “Dean’s Boot Camp”. There’s nothing like finishing a tough workout and being handed this warm, satisfying sandwich. It’s salty, melty, savory, slightly crunchy and just the right amount of nourishing.

What’s in It in this rice-spam sandwich?:

• Steamed short-grain rice

• Crispy fried egg

• Slice of spam (pan-seared or ham)

• Slice of cheese (provolone or cheddar)

• Roasted nori (seaweed)

• Thai basil leaves

• Sesame seeds (toasted for extra flavor)

• Optional but highly recommended: a drizzle of okonomiyaki sauce (which my kids adorably call omiyakiyaki sauce)

  
  

Assembly – the Kids’ Way:

1. Press warm rice into a layer (a square or triangle works best).

2. Add the cheese, spam, and a hot fried egg.

3. Sprinkle sesame seeds on top.

4. Drizzle with okonomiyaki sauce if you're feeling fancy.

5. Cover with more rice and gently shape it into a sandwich.

6. Wrap with a strip of roasted seaweed.

7. Eat immediately or wrap in parchment and save for later!

 It is delicious touch—to serve with okonomiyaki sauce (my kids’ gave a cute name “omiyakiyaki” is adorable!) adds that sweet-savory punch that makes everything taste better.

Why You’ll Love This Japanese Rice Sandwich

This spam sandwich is everything you want in a quick, comforting bite—gluten-free, easy to make, and totally satisfying. With no bread in sight, it's perfect for those avoiding gluten or just looking for something different.

Japanese Rice - Spam Sandwich

The warm, sticky rice holds together beautifully, the crispy egg and melty cheese bring comfort, and the seaweed wrap adds that irresistible umami crunch. Whether you're feeding hungry kids, recovering from a workout, or just craving a savory snack, this sandwich delivers every time—with just a few pantry ingredients and no fuss.

Why We Love It:

It’s become a post-workout ritual and a go-to hunger fix. It's easy, filling, and a little cultural bridge right from our kitchen. Thanks to our neighbor, this Japanese rice sandwich now feels like part of our family story.

Why I Believe Kids Should Cook – From Innichka Chef

Cooking isn't just about food — it's about confidence, creativity, and connection. When kids cook, they learn to trust their hands, use their senses, and express themselves in a beautiful, hands-on way. I’ve seen how proud my boys are when they make their own sandwich or stir a pot of rice — their eyes light up, and they know they’ve done something real.

Cooking with kids is important!

I believe every child should grow up knowing how to feed themselves with love and care. Cooking teaches patience, responsibility, and joy — not to mention, it's a delicious way to spend time as a family. Let them crack the eggs, stir the batter, sprinkle the sesame seeds. It might get messy, but the memories last forever.

— Innichka Chef

Let's make it...

Prep time: 5 minutes

Making time: 10 minutes

Total time: 15 minutes

Author: Inna of innichkachef.com 

Yield: 2 portions

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup cooked sticky rice (short-grain Japanese rice)

• 1 can of spam, sliced (about 8–10 slices, you will only need 2 slices)

• 1 tbsp olive oil (to fry eggs and sear spam slices)

• 2 sheets nori (seaweed)

• 2 fried eggs

• 4 leaves Thai basil (optional)

• 2 slices cheese of your choice (we used Havarti cheese in the video)

• Toasted sesame seeds (we used black sesame seeds in the video)

• Optional: cucumber, letters or avocado

• Optional sauce: Omiyaki-yaki sauce, Kewpie mayo, or Sriracha mayo

Directions

• Prepare the sticky rice: Make sure your sticky rice is cooked and slightly cooled. You’ll need about 1/2 cup.

• Slice the Spam: Cut the Spam into about 8–10 slices. For this sandwich, you will use 2 slices.

• Heat the pan: Add 1 tablespoon of olive oil to a skillet and heat over medium heat.

• Fry the eggs: Crack the eggs into the pan and fry until the whites are set and the yolks are cooked to your liking. Remove and set aside.

• Sear the Spam: In the same pan, sear the Spam slices for 2–3 minutes on each side until golden brown and slightly crispy. Remove from pan.

• Assemble the sandwich:

  • Place a sheet of nori on cutting board.

  • Layer one Spam slice, a fried egg, a slice of cheese, 1/4 cup of cooked rice, sprinkle with sesame seeds, lay two leaves of Thai basil and any optional ingredients like cucumber, lettuce, or avocado.

  • Drizzle with your choice of sauces (Omiyaki-yaki sauce, Kewpie mayo, or Sriracha mayo). We forgot about this step in the video so we drizzled after we assembled the sandwich.

  • Wrap the sandwich make sure its hold everything together.

• Serve immediately and enjoy!

Japanese Rice - Spam Sandwich

Find more inspiring sandwich ideas right HERE — made with love, creativity, and a little kitchen magic!