Pro Tips

**Chef's Tips & Troubleshooting:**

- Make sure the pan and oil are hot before adding ingredients for the best sear.

- Fry in batches to avoid overcrowding — lowering the temperature makes food greasy.

- Score the pork skin in a crosshatch pattern for maximum crispiness without cutting into the meat.

- Use bone-in pork cuts for richer broth in soup-based preparations.

Cooking Tips

Pat the meat completely dry with paper towels before frying — moisture is the enemy of crispiness. Use a thermometer to maintain oil temperature at 350–375°F (175–190°C). If the oil is too cool, the food absorbs grease; too hot and it burns on the outside before cooking through.

Ingredient Substitutions

Pork alternatives: Chicken thighs work well in most pork recipes (they stay moist like pork does). For a leaner option, use turkey breast or firm tofu. Short on time? A pressure cooker (Instant Pot) can reduce cooking time by roughly half for most braised and stewed Filipino dishes. Reduce liquid slightly since less evaporates.

Storage & Reheating

Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3–4 days. The flavors often deepen overnight, making leftovers even more delicious. Crispy dishes are best enjoyed fresh — they lose their crunch when stored. If you must store leftovers, reheat in an air fryer or oven at 375°F (190°C) for 5–7 minutes to restore crispiness. Avoid microwaving crispy dishes — the steam makes the coating soggy. Use a toaster oven or stovetop skillet instead. Reheat on the stovetop over medium-low heat, adding a splash of water or broth if the sauce has thickened during storage. Microwave in 30-second bursts, stirring between each.

Crispy Spam Steak

Crispy Spam Steak

Metro Manila, NCR

Spam steak deep-fried until golden and crunchy — crispy on the outside, tender on the inside. Served with a tangy dipping sauce.

Prep: 10 min Cook: 20 min Total: 30 min Medium Serves 4

Instructions

  1. Remove the Spam luncheon meat from the can and slice into serving pieces.
  2. Meanwhile, heat the cooking oil in a deep frying pan.
  3. Combine the garlic powder and egg. Beat until both ingredients are well incorporated. Set aside.
  4. Combine flour and cornstarch. Mix well and set aside.
  5. Dip each sliced Spam in the beaten egg then dredge in flour. Do this step twice to make the coat thicker.
  6. Fry the Spam coated with flour and cornstarch 3 to 4 slices at a time. The number of slices to cook at a given time will depend on the size of your pan: the wider the pan, the more slices you can cook at the same time. Cook one side in medium heat until the color turns medium brown and the texture becomes crispy. Turn the Spam slice over to cook the other side.
  7. Take off the Crispy fried Spam steaks from then pan. Place in a plate lined with paper towel.
  8. Serve with ketchup.

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Pro Tips & Troubleshooting

**Chef's Tips & Troubleshooting:**
- Make sure the pan and oil are hot before adding ingredients for the best sear.
- Fry in batches to avoid overcrowding — lowering the temperature makes food greasy.
- Score the pork skin in a crosshatch pattern for maximum crispiness without cutting into the meat.
- Use bone-in pork cuts for richer broth in soup-based preparations.

Cooking Tips

Pat the meat completely dry with paper towels before frying — moisture is the enemy of crispiness.
Use a thermometer to maintain oil temperature at 350–375°F (175–190°C). If the oil is too cool, the food absorbs grease; too hot and it burns on the outside before cooking through.

Substitutions

Pork alternatives: Chicken thighs work well in most pork recipes (they stay moist like pork does). For a leaner option, use turkey breast or firm tofu.
Short on time? A pressure cooker (Instant Pot) can reduce cooking time by roughly half for most braised and stewed Filipino dishes. Reduce liquid slightly since less evaporates.

Storage & Reheating

Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3–4 days. The flavors often deepen overnight, making leftovers even more delicious.
Crispy dishes are best enjoyed fresh — they lose their crunch when stored. If you must store leftovers, reheat in an air fryer or oven at 375°F (190°C) for 5–7 minutes to restore crispiness.
Avoid microwaving crispy dishes — the steam makes the coating soggy. Use a toaster oven or stovetop skillet instead.
Reheat on the stovetop over medium-low heat, adding a splash of water or broth if the sauce has thickened during storage. Microwave in 30-second bursts, stirring between each.
R

Tita Liza Reyes

Heirloom Recipes & Modern Adaptations

Tita Liza Reyes is a contributor to the UlamDaily editorial team. A retired school teacher from Batangas with over 30 years of home cooking experience, she helps document and adapt heirloom recipes from across the Philippines for today's kitchen.

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