I nicked a can from Speedy’s stock of SPAM and made this cheesy SPAM bake for brunch yesterday. What is it — a strata or a quiche? Neither, actually. A strata is assembled as layers — generally bread, milk and eggs, then cheese on top. A quiche has a crust into which the egg and milk mixture is poured.
This baked dish has no layers and no crust. What does it have?
SPAM, of course. And cubed bread.
Then a mixture of milk and cream cheese.
Bread, milk and cheese are mixed with eggs, mustard, paprika and garlic.
The SPAM cubes are stirred in.
A baking dish is buttered liberally to avoid the baked dish from sticking to the bottom and sides.
The SPAM-bread-milk mixture is poured into the buttered dish.
Cheese go on top before baking.
Thirty minutes later, the cheesy SPAM bake is ready.
Cheesy SPAM Bake
Print PinIngredients
- 6 slices white bread
- can of SPAM (I used bacon flavored SPAM)
- 1 and 1/2 cups milk
- 250 grams cream cheese
- 3 eggs
- 1 tablespoon mustard
- 2 generous pinches of paprika
- 1 teaspoon chopped garlic
- 2 tablespoons softened butter
- 1 cup grated cheddar cheese (or whatever your favorite cheese is — I do recommend that you use a salty cheese, however)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375F.
- Cut the bread and SPAM into half-inch cubes.
- Place the milk and cream cheese in a bowl. Heat on HIGH in the microwave for a minute and a half. Beat lightly to bread up the cream cheese.
- Place the bread in a large bowl. Pour in the cream cheese and milk mixture. Add the eggs, mustard, paprika and garlic. Stir to combine. Add the SPAM cubes. Stir.
- Butter the bottom and sides of a baking dish (mine is 13" x 9").
- Pour in the bread and SPAM mixture. Smoothen the surface to spread evenly.
- Spread the grated cheese over the entire surface.
- Bake for about 30 minutes or until slightly risen, fluffy and the top is nicely browned with toasted spots.
- Rest for about five minutes before cutting into squares or rectangles.
- Serve the cheesy SPAM bake warm.
The difference between whipped cream and whipping cream, and how to whip whipping cream
Abram
05/11/2011 at 2:06 pmThis is very popular in Minnesota (U.S.), where people really like to make casseroles. Minnesotans would add more eggs, call it an egg bake, and eat it for breakfast. I have cousins there, and this is one cousin’s favorite food!
Connie
05/11/2011 at 2:12 pmThere’s something comforting about baked casseroles. :)
frenchadobo
05/11/2011 at 3:02 pmi’m going to give it a try. will substitute spam with other brand though because spam is not available here in paris. this dish is something like a savoury pudding ! it looks very appetizing with the top nicely browned. It is a good idea for picnics !
Connie
05/11/2011 at 3:03 pmSmoked ham will be good too. :)
marya
05/11/2011 at 6:38 pmmy son is a spam monster! thank you for this!
Connie
05/11/2011 at 7:23 pmSo is my husband hahaha So more SPAM recipes coming up! :)
Dexie
05/11/2011 at 11:17 pmThis will be great for weekend brunch. We love Spam, :)
Connie
05/11/2011 at 11:33 pmAnother SPAM lover! :D
emyM
05/12/2011 at 1:11 pmThis is a favorite pot-luck dish of my co-workers here
in California but I’ve never seen Spam used.I will
surprised them and cook this at our next international
pot-luck.
Most of them use 6-10 eggs{oopps}and add grated potatoes or frozen spinach.Americans love to cook casseroles because it’s easy to make and use crockpots frequently.
Lani
05/15/2011 at 5:01 amhi, connie! long time, no read! i made a similar dish once where the recipe called for letting the unbaked concoction rest and rise in the fridge overnight prior to baking. it was REALLY fluffy!
these “breakfast casseroles” are a staple at our church brunches here in new jersey. i’ve tasted them made w/ every kind of breakfast meat and they’ve all been delicious. thanks for sharing!
Yhonna Kwan
09/16/2011 at 11:51 amI really had to make this because my husband and I are Spam-lovers, and I had one last can in my pantry. Thus, before my husband and kids were awake this morning, I was busy doing the Spam bake. It came out right for me and my husband’s liking. We each had 2 slices of this Spam dish. It was so filling that we didn’t need rice nor a second dish for breakfast, which we usually do.
It didn’t go well with my morning coffee, though, and I thought a cold drink or even wine would be the best pair for this (am I right?). I am also thinking of making this as a side dish for grilled chicken or any grilled meat. Or would it be too heavy already?
Thanks for another nice dish, Ms. Connie!
Connie
09/16/2011 at 5:02 pmFruit juice, I think, would make a good pairing with this. :)
Eva Saguil
04/09/2012 at 10:12 amConnie,
Thanks for sharing you recipe on Fluffy Spam Bake. I brought it to our
Easter brunch potluck at church today. I am proud to say that it was a hit. What I did was bake it in muffin pans for individual portions. Thanks again for the recipe.
Connie Veneracion
04/09/2012 at 10:11 pmGood to know it was liked :)