Glazed Korean Rice Cake Skewers with Spam

Name: Glazed Korean Rice Cake Skewers with Spam
Total time: 45 min
Ingredients: 1/2 teaspoon instant dashi (see Note); 1/4 cup gochujang (see Note); 2 tablespoons honey; 2 tablespoons rice vinegar; 2 teaspoons soy sauce; 1 teaspoon toasted sesame oil; 1 pound 3-inch-long Korean rice cakes (see Note); 8 ounces Spam, cut into 1-inch cubes; 2 shallots, quartered through the root end; 1 zucchini, cut into 1-inch pieces; 1 red bell pepper, cut into 1-inch pieces; 3 tablespoons canola oil; Kosher salt; Black sesame seeds, chopped cilantro and crushed peanuts, for serving

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These Korean street-food-inspired kebabs from chef Sohui Kim of Insa in Brooklyn involve skewering Korean rice cakes (which taste like thick noodles) with Spam and crunchy vegetables.

By

Sohui Kim

Updated on June 1, 2016

Glazed Korean Rice Cake Skewers with Spam — Photo: © Eva Kolenko

Total Time:

45 mins

Yield:

4 to 6

Ingredients

1/2 teaspoon instant dashi (see Note)
1/4 cup gochujang (see Note)
2 tablespoons honey
2 tablespoons rice vinegar
2 teaspoons soy sauce
1 teaspoon toasted sesame oil
1 pound 3-inch-long Korean rice cakes (see Note)
8 ounces Spam, cut into 1-inch cubes
2 shallots, quartered through the root end
1 zucchini, cut into 1-inch pieces
1 red bell pepper, cut into 1-inch pieces
3 tablespoons canola oil
Kosher salt
Black sesame seeds, chopped cilantro and crushed peanuts, for serving

Directions

In a medium bowl, whisk the dashi with 1/4 cup of water until dissolved. Whisk in the gochujang, honey, rice vinegar, soy sauce and sesame oil.
In a large pot of salted boiling water, cook the rice cakes until al dente, 3 to 4 minutes. Drain well and rinse under cold water. In a large bowl, toss the rice cakes with the Spam, quartered shallots, the zucchini, bell pepper and canola oil and season with salt. Alternately thread the rice cakes, Spam and vegetables onto eight 14-inch-long metal skewers.
Light a grill. Grill the skewers over moderately high heat, turning once, until the rice cakes are lightly browned and the vegetables are softened slightly, about 8 minutes. Baste with the gochujang sauce and grill, basting frequently, until glazed and charred, about 5 minutes longer. Transfer the skewers to a work surface and brush with more gochujang sauce. Arrange on a platter and garnish with sesame seeds, cilantro and peanuts. Serve warm, passing any remaining sauce at the table.