Growing up in an Italian-American family, Spam was not a staple - but as a student of American gastronomy, it was something I had to try in the early aughts, when seemingly every hip NYC restaurant had a Spam sandwich on their menu. And so as bougie as that sounds, my first time eating Spam, was in a semi-fine dining situation. It’s okay—I can admit that. I knew then, as I know now, that Spam can be delicious.
The new Struggle Meals episode is on YouTube now, and I send one can of low-sodium Spam straight into Greek territory. Spam already brings plenty of salt, and the tzatziki gets seasoned too, so the low-sodium version keeps the finished gyro balanced and gives the oregano, cumin, coriander, cayenne, and thyme room to come through. I cut the Spam into thin matchsticks for maximum surface area, then let the spices coat every side. Once those strips hit a hot pan, I want real color. Browning equals flavor, and pale Spam has no place in this gyro.
