Easy Spamsilog Recipe

When I was living alone in my tiny Makati apartment, broke and homesick, Spamsilog became my go-to comfort meal. I'd buy cans of Spam in bulk from the grocery downstairs and always kept leftover rice in my small fridge.

The sizzle of Spam hitting the hot pan and the smell of garlic frying instantly made my little space feel like home. This recipe is exactly how I perfected it during those solo cooking days: simple, satisfying and absolutely delicious.

Spamsilog combines crispy spam, fragrant garlic fried rice, and a perfectly runny egg into one amazing plate that'll fill you up.

Why You'll Love This Recipe

This classic Filipino breakfast will become your new comfort food obsession! Spamsilog combines three simple ingredients into one satisfying meal that's crispy, savory, and absolutely delicious. It's perfect for busy mornings when you want something hearty and flavorful without spending hours in the kitchen.

The combination of salty spam, fragrant garlic rice, and a perfectly runny egg creates the ultimate comfort food experience that will keep you coming back for more.

Ingredients

• 2 cups leftover steamed rice (day-old works best)
• 1 can (12 oz) Spam or any luncheon meat
• 2 eggs
• 2 tablespoons minced garlic
• 3 tablespoons cooking oil
• ½ teaspoon salt
• Fresh tomatoes or cucumber for serving (optional)

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Day-old rice is key because it's drier and fries better without getting mushy. The garlic adds that signature Filipino flavor that makes sinangag so aromatic. Spam provides the salty, umami-rich protein that pairs perfectly with the rice, while the sunny-side egg adds richness and ties everything together with its creamy yolk.

Equipment

• Large non-stick pan - prevents the spam from sticking and ensures even browning
• Medium frying pan - for cooking the garlic fried rice separately
• Spatula - essential for breaking up rice clumps and flipping spam
• Paper towels - to drain excess oil from the spam
• Sharp knife - for slicing the spam evenly
• Cutting board - safe surface for slicing

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How To Make

1. Remove the spam from the can and slice it into ¼-inch thick pieces. Pat the slices dry with paper towels to remove excess moisture, which helps achieve better browning.
2. Heat 1 tablespoon of oil in your large non-stick pan over medium-high heat. When the oil shimmers, carefully place the spam slices in the pan, leaving space between each piece to avoid overcrowding.
3. Fry the spam for 3-4 minutes on the first side until golden brown and slightly crispy. Flip each slice and cook for another 3-4 minutes until both sides are beautifully caramelized.
4. Transfer the cooked spam to paper towels to drain excess oil. The spam should have a nice golden crust while remaining tender inside.
5. In your medium frying pan, heat 1 tablespoon of oil over medium heat. Add the minced garlic and stir constantly for about 30 seconds until fragrant and just starting to turn golden.
6. Add the leftover rice to the pan with the garlic. Use your spatula to break up any clumps and toss everything together, coating the rice with the garlic oil.
7. Continue stirring and tossing the rice for 5-7 minutes until it's heated through and slightly crispy. The rice should look dry and each grain should be separated.
8. Season with salt and cook for another 2-3 minutes, tasting and adjusting seasoning as needed. The rice should be fragrant and have a slight toasted flavor.
9. In a clean pan, fry your eggs sunny-side up with the remaining oil. Cook until the whites are set but the yolks remain runny for the authentic spamsilog experience.
10. Serve immediately by plating the garlic fried rice alongside the crispy spam and topped with the fried egg. Add fresh sliced tomatoes or cucumber on the side if desired.

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Tips from Lola's Kitchen

• Use day-old rice that's been refrigerated - it fries better and won't get mushy
• Don't overcrowd the spam in the pan or it will steam instead of getting crispy
• Keep the garlic moving in the pan to prevent burning - burnt garlic is bitter
• Score the spam lightly before frying to prevent it from curling up
• Save some spam oil to add to your rice for extra flavor
• Break up rice clumps with your hands before adding to the pan for easier cooking

Substitutions

• No leftover rice: Cook fresh rice and spread it on a tray to cool and dry for 30 minutes
• No spam: Use any canned luncheon meat, corned beef, or even bacon
• No fresh garlic: Use 1 teaspoon garlic powder, but add it with the rice to prevent burning
• Healthier option: Use turkey spam or chicken luncheon meat
• Vegetarian version: Replace spam with thick-sliced firm tofu or tempeh

Troubleshooting

• Rice is mushy: Your rice was too wet - next time use drier, day-old rice
• Spam won't crisp: Pat it completely dry before frying and don't overcrowd the pan
• Garlic burns: Lower your heat and keep stirring - burnt garlic ruins the whole dish
• Rice sticks to pan: Add a bit more oil and keep it moving constantly
• Bland flavor: Add more salt to the rice and consider using some spam drippings

Storage & Reheating

• Storage: Keep components separate in the fridge for up to 3 days
• Reheating rice: Use a pan with a little oil to restore crispiness, not the microwave
• Reheating spam: Pan-fry briefly to restore the crispy exterior
• Meal prep: Cook rice and spam ahead, fry eggs fresh when serving
• Freezing: Rice can be frozen for up to 1 month, but texture may change

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FAQ

Related

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Easy Spamsilog Recipe (Filipino Breakfast Comfort Food)

Spamsilog is the ultimate Filipino comfort breakfast - crispy pan-fried spam, fragrant garlic fried rice, and a sunny-side up egg served together on one satisfying plate. This popular "silog" combination transforms simple pantry staples into a hearty, flavorful meal that's both filling and nostalgic. The salty, caramelized spam pairs perfectly with aromatic garlic rice while the runny egg yolk ties everything together, creating a complete breakfast that's ready in just 25 minutes.

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Cook Time 15 minutes mins

Total Time 25 minutes mins

Course Breakfast

Cuisine Filipino

Servings 2

Difficulty Easy

Ingredients

 

1x2x3x

• 2 cups leftover steamed rice day-old works best
• 1 can 12 oz Spam or any luncheon meat
• 2 eggs
• 2 tablespoons minced garlic
• 3 tablespoons cooking oil
• ½ teaspoon salt
• Fresh tomatoes or cucumber for serving optional

Instructions

 

• Remove the spam from the can and slice it into ¼-inch thick pieces. Pat the slices dry with paper towels to remove excess moisture, which helps achieve better browning.
• Heat 1 tablespoon of oil in your large non-stick pan over medium-high heat. When the oil shimmers, carefully place the spam slices in the pan, leaving space between each piece to avoid overcrowding.
• Fry the spam for 3-4 minutes on the first side until golden brown and slightly crispy. Flip each slice and cook for another 3-4 minutes until both sides are beautifully caramelized.
• Transfer the cooked spam to paper towels to drain excess oil. The spam should have a nice golden crust while remaining tender inside.
• In your medium frying pan, heat 1 tablespoon of oil over medium heat. Add the minced garlic and stir constantly for about 30 seconds until fragrant and just starting to turn golden.
• Add the leftover rice to the pan with the garlic. Use your spatula to break up any clumps and toss everything together, coating the rice with the garlic oil.
• Continue stirring and tossing the rice for 5-7 minutes until it's heated through and slightly crispy. The rice should look dry and each grain should be separated.
• Season with salt and cook for another 2-3 minutes, tasting and adjusting seasoning as needed. The rice should be fragrant and have a slight toasted flavor.
• In a clean pan, fry your eggs sunny-side up with the remaining oil. Cook until the whites are set but the yolks remain runny for the authentic spamsilog experience.
• Serve immediately by plating the garlic fried rice alongside the crispy spam and topped with the fried egg. Add fresh sliced tomatoes or cucumber on the side if desired.

Tips from Lola's Kitchen

• Use day-old rice that's been refrigerated - it fries better and won't get mushy
• Don't overcrowd the spam in the pan or it will steam instead of getting crispy
• Keep the garlic moving in the pan to prevent burning - burnt garlic is bitter
• Score the spam lightly before frying to prevent it from curling up
• Save some spam oil to add to your rice for extra flavor
• Break up rice clumps with your hands before adding to the pan for easier cooking

Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

The Story Behind Spamsilog

Spamsilog is more than just a breakfast dish - it's a delicious piece of Filipino culinary history that tells the story of resourcefulness and adaptation. The term "silog" comes from combining "sinangag" (garlic fried rice) and "itlog" (egg), creating a breakfast formula that has become deeply embedded in Filipino food culture. When you add "spam" to the beginning, you get the beloved combination that has fed countless Filipino families for generations.

The dish gained massive popularity during the post-World War II era when canned goods became more accessible and affordable in the Philippines. Spam, originally introduced by American forces, quickly became a household staple because of its long shelf life and satisfying taste. Filipino home cooks embraced this foreign ingredient and made it their own, pairing it with traditional garlic fried rice and eggs to create a complete, filling meal.

What makes spamsilog so special is how it represents Filipino ingenuity in the kitchen. Using leftover rice from the previous day's meal, families could create a brand new dish that was both economical and delicious. The garlic fried rice, or "sinangag," transforms plain rice into something aromatic and flavorful, while the runny egg adds richness and helps bind all the flavors together.

Today, spamsilog is a staple in Filipino breakfast culture, served everywhere from street-side carenderias to upscale restaurants. It's become comfort food that transcends social classes, equally loved by students cramming for exams, office workers grabbing a quick breakfast, and families gathering for weekend meals. The beauty of spamsilog lies in its simplicity and the way it can instantly transport you to the warmth of a Filipino kitchen, no matter where you are in the world.

This classic Filipino breakfast will become your new comfort food obsession! Spamsilog combines three simple ingredients into one satisfying meal that's crispy, savory, and absolutely delicious. It's perfect for busy mornings when you want something hearty and flavorful without spending hours in the kitchen. The combination of salty spam, fragrant garlic rice, and a perfectly runny egg creates the ultimate comfort food experience that will keep you coming back for more.