the word ‘fusion’ may have fallen out of favour, but i love nothing more than when food sits at the intersection of two cultures, bringing different ideas and histories together, and people from diverse backgrounds. hong kong style cafes, or cha chaan tangs, are a beautiful example of intersectional cuisine at its homiest and most satisfying.
i have so many memories of slow afternoons at cha chaan tangs in toronto with my dad. ma may not have approved of the sugary drinks, buttery buns and white bread ham & egg sandwiches, but it was always my decadent little haven with paps.
this dish is a breakfast staple at most cha chaan tangs: macaroni noodle soup, with salty, pan-fried spam and a yolky fried egg. throw in some quick-cooking vegetables for an unfussy and filling meal.
when making this dish at home, use high-quality, homemade chicken stock as it is the base of everything. and yes, i am unironically asking you to use high-quality chicken stock with spam, but if that’s not your thing, feel free to sub it with another cold cut or even peameal bacon.
Serves 2
Ingredients
1 cup dried gluten-free macaroni
neutral-tasting cooking oil, like canola or grapeseed
4 slices of spam
2 large eggs
s + p, to taste
1 L chicken stock (check the label if using storebought for surprise glutens)
1 tsp. tamari
1 tsp. xo sauce, shrimp paste or chili oil
1 tsp. sesame oil
1/4 cup frozen green peas or corn
4-6 heads baby bok choy, roots cut off and rinsed
fried garlic, to garnish
cilantro and/or scallions, to garnish
Instructions
Bring a small pot of salted water to a boil and cook pasta until al dente, following package instructions. Drain and set aside.
Heat a dash of oil on medium heat in a small skillet and fry slices of spam until golden brown. Transfer to a plate and fry eggs sunny-side up or over easy. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
In another pot, combine chicken stock with ingredients from tamari to sesame oil and bring to a gentle simmer. Blanch green peas and bok choy for a couple of minutes, until just cooked through. Add cooked macaroni to heat through and serve. Garnish with spam, fried egg, fried garlic, chopped herbs and extra chili oil.