This was my winning entry for the the UK Spam recipe competition 2020. My strapline: (tagline): 'Pretty pink pieces of Spam contrast beautifully with vibrant green spinach in this spicy pasta dish'.
Ingredients (serves 4)
300g spaghetti
1 x 200g tin of Spam
250g washed baby spinach leaves
250ml milk (or milk & cream)
2 cloves of minced or grated garlic
2 tsp chilli flakes (I used Aleppo)
Olive oil to drizzle
Method
Ingredients (serves 4)
300g spaghetti
1 x 200g tin of Spam
250g washed baby spinach leaves
250ml milk (or milk & cream)
2 cloves of minced or grated garlic
2 tsp chilli flakes (I used Aleppo)
Olive oil to drizzle
Method
- Cook the spaghetti in boiling salted water until ‘al dente’.
- While the spaghetti is cooking, make the spinach puree. Blend together the raw baby spinach and the milk (or milk and cream, for a richer sauce). I use a stick blender and gradually add handfuls of spinach to the milk, blending as I go. Place in a microwaveable bowl and set aside.
- Cut the spam into four slices and place on a plate. Use a fork to mash and shred the Spam into small pieces.
- Place a non-stick frying pan over a medium heat and fry the Spam pieces until slightly crispy. There is no need to add oil. Add the garlic and chilli flakes and fry for another 30 seconds.
- Drain the spaghetti. Microwave the spinach mixture on high for 2 minutes. Add the spaghetti and Spam and mix well. Reserve some pieces of Spam to scatter over the finished dish.
- Serve with chilli flakes scattered over and a drizzle of olive oil.
