• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Home
  • Recipes
    • Appetizers
    • Breakfast
    • Lunch
    • Dinner
    • Sides
    • Snacks
    • Dessert
    • Condiments
    • Reviews
  • About Midwexican
    • Privacy Policy
  • Work With Me!

Midwexican

menu icon
go to homepage
search icon
Homepage link
  • Home
  • Recipes
  • About Midwexican
  • Work With Me!
×

Home » Lunch

Published: Jul 16, 2017 · Modified: Mar 14, 2022 by Tino Marie · This post may contain affiliate links · Leave a Comment

The Best Spam Sandwich Recipe

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Email
  • LinkedIn

This is the Best Spam Sandwich Recipe because it's a Mexican twist that taps into the elements of a traditional torta, which is topped with refried beans, cheese, and fresh or pickled veggies.

Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

Yep. You read that right. Spam Torta. I went there. It's about to get deliciously controversial. If you came here looking for a unique spam sandwich (torta) recipe, you've found the golden ticket.

This is the Best Spam Sandwich Recipe because it's paired with Mexican flavors. And is one seriously unique spam sandwich idea.

Spam is one of those polarizing ingredients that people either love or hate, kind of like cilantro. I hope you fall into the love camp because Spam is right at home on a torta. Because Spam is so rich it really benefits from being paired with fresh and pickled veggies to help provide a lovely flavor balance.

Spam Torta
Jump to:
  • What is a torta?
  • What do you put on a spam sandwich (torta)?
  • How to make a Fried Spam Sandwich (Torta)
  • What else can you put on a fried spam sandwich?
  • The Best Spam Sandwich Recipe

What is a torta?

What is this torta thing you speak of? Essentially it’s a sandwich, only it’s much more than just a sandwich. Picture a plate of Mexican food, like carnitas with all the fixings. You’ve got meat, refried beans, lettuce. And likely sour cream, pico de gallo, pickled jalapenos, avocado. Got it? Now, picture all that on a sandwich. A torta is a big, messy, flavorful Mexican sandwich. A taco in sandwich form. 

What do you put on a spam sandwich (torta)?

What don't you put on a torta is a question with a shorter answer. Since a torta is essentially a sandwich version of a taco, you can put pretty much anything on it - refried beans, avocado, spicy fresh or pickled peppers—and any meat and/or cheese of your choosing. In Mexico, they come in all sorts of varieties. Carnivore or plant-based, you can customize the torta to suit your tastes and dietary needs. Like this carnivore did with this Spam Torta (aka The Best Spam Sandwich Recipe).

The Best Fried Spam Sandwich

Refried beans on a sandwich!? YES. It’s indescribably good and whoever thought of it deserves to have a parade thrown in his or her honor.

Spam, the can-shaped ham, somewhat questionable upon being released from its iconic rectangular container, is transformed into something truly special upon slicing thin and frying to a perfect crisp. It is these beautifully crisp, salty slices of Spam that make this torta so special. Traditional tortas often come topped with sliced griddled hot dogs. So topping a torta with Spam isn't that much of stretch, just a Minnesotan Spam-loving variation. 

Tortas are typically served on bolillo (shown below) or telera rolls, like this guy. It kind of looks like a football.

Bolillo roll
What are Bolillos?

Bolillos (also referred to as lanches) are torpedo-shaped rolls that are similar to a soft baguette. If you can't find bolillos, you can substitute a French baguette.

What are Teleras?

Teleras are more round in shape than bolillos, as well as flatter and softer. They usually have two distinct score marks down the center. If you can't find teleras, you can substitute a Kaiser roll.

How to make a Fried Spam Sandwich (Torta)

Fried spam is the star of this torta and is what makes it stand out from traditional Mexican recipes. While I encourage experimentation with your sandwich toppings, follow this fried spam sandwich recipe for a guaranteed winner.

INGREDIENTS 

*This recipe makes one fried spam sandwich.

  • 1 bolillo roll
  • 3-4 slices Spam, cut about ¼ inch thick
  • 1 tablespoon crema
  • 1 generous spoonful (or two) of refried beans
  • 3-4 slices medium to large-sized tomato, thinly sliced
  • 1 leaf Romaine lettuce
  • 3 slices cheese (I used Manchego)
  • 4-5 slices pickled jalapeno

INSTRUCTIONS 

Fry the slices of Spam in a pan over medium heat, until you’ve achieved the desired level of crispness. Two to three minutes per side is usually sufficient.

Remove Spam slices from pan and let cool on paper towels. Slice the bolillo roll in half and butter the cut sides.

Place cut sides down in the pan, still on medium heat, and lightly toast. You want it to get a little color, but not be super crisp like toast.

Remove from heat. Slather some refried beans (either cool or heated) on one side of the roll. Slather some crema on the other half.

Layer the Spam, Romaine lettuce, tomato, pickled jalapenos, and cheese on that roll (in whatever order strikes your fancy).

Close that torta up and dive right in.

*I recommend making my Easy Seasoned Refried Beans for this glorious fried spam sandwich-making endeavor.

Fried Spam Sandwich
Fried Spam sandwich recipe

Prepare yourself for a large, messy bite.

Salty-crispy-fatty Spam paired with fresh lettuce and tomato, dreamy refried beans, spicy but not too spicy pickled jalapenos, and cooling crema and cheese, sandwiched between fluffy, slightly crusty buns. It’s indulgent but doesn’t weigh you down. 

What else can you put on a fried spam sandwich?

The Best Spam Sandwich Recipe can be customized to suit your tastes and what you might have on hand. Here are a few suggestions.

  • Greens - Romaine is an obvious choice, but mix it up with a spring mix, butter lettuce, or spinach.
  • Cheese - Manchengo is fantastic, but so are a variety of cheddars, pepper jack, mozarella, Monterey, and more.
  • Crema - Sour cream or mayo would also work well here to add that creaminess.
  • Pickled goodies - I love pickled jalapenos here, but you can also add banana peppers, dill pickles, or sliced olives (black or green).
  • Refried beans - If you don't have time to whip up some Easy Seasoned Refried Beans, use canned or slather on some premade bean dip in a pinch.
Fried Spam Sandwich

This is all kinds of wrong (i.e., untraditional, inauthentic, bastardized cuisine, dear Lord there's Spam in it), but this Fried Spam Sandwich (Torta) is so delicious I don't want to be right.

Want to learn more about Tortas?

If you want to learn more about tortas, namely all of the delicious ways you can eat them, I highly recommend Tacos, Tortas, and Tamales by Roberto Santibañez.

If you dig this fried spam sandwich recipe, try pairing it with chips and Citrus Jalapeno Salsa, Spicy Pico de Gallo, or Roasted Garlic Guacamole.

Fried Spam Sandwich

The Best Spam Sandwich Recipe

This is the Best Spam Sandwich Recipe because it's a Mexican twist that taps into the elements of a traditional torta, which is topped with refried beans, cheese, and fresh or pickled veggies.
5 from 2 votes
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 15 mins
Cook Time 6 mins
Total Time 21 mins
Course Main Course
Servings 1

Ingredients
  

  • 1 bolillo roll
  • 3-4 slices Spam, cut about ¼ inch thick
  • 1 tablespoon crema
  • 1 generous spoonful (or two) of refried beans
  • 3-4 slices medium to large-sized tomato, thinly sliced
  • 1 leaf Romaine lettuce
  • 3 slices cheese (I used Manchego)
  • 4-5 slices pickled jalapeno

Instructions
 

  • Fry the slices of Spam in a pan over medium heat, until you’ve achieved the desired level of crispness. Two to three minutes per side is usually sufficient.
  • Remove Spam slices from pan and let cool on paper towels. Slice the bolillo roll in half and butter the cut sides.
  • Place cut sides down in the pan, still on medium heat, and lightly toast. You want it to get a little color, but not be super crisp like toast.
  • Remove from heat. Slather some refried beans (either cool or heated) on one side of the roll. Slather some crema on the other half.
  • Layer the Spam, Romaine lettuce, tomato, pickled jalapenos, and cheese on that roll (in whatever order strikes your fancy).
  • Close that torta up and dive right in.
Keyword fried spam sandwich, fried spam sandwich recipe, spam sandwich, The Best Spam Sandwich Recipe
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest

More Lunch

  • Buffalo Chicken Rice Bowl
  • Jalapeno Creamed Corn
  • Creamy Taco Soup
  • What to do with Leftover Pico de Gallo

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Primary Sidebar

Follow me!

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
Christina from Midwexican

About Christina

I'm a Minnesota native who can't get enough of south-of-the-border flavors. My recipes combine comforting Midwestern eats with bold Mexican and Tex-Mex flavors. If you love comforting food, bold flavors, and - most importantly - tacos! then you'll love what I'm cooking!

Learn more about me →

Holiday Feast!

  • Instant Pot Turkey Breast
  • Turkey Lentil Soup
  • Ranch Cheesy Potatoes with Hash Browns
  • Simple Sauteed Brussels Sprouts
  • Creamed Kale with Cream Cheese (Jalapeno Popper Style!)
  • Mashed White Sweet Potatoes (with Chipotle Honey Butter)
  • White Chicken Porchetta Chili
  • Cruciferous Crunch Salad with Jalapeno Lime Vinaigrette

    Footer

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    About

    • Privacy Policy

    Work With Me!

    • Let's Collaborate!

    Contact

    • Contact

    As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Copyright © 2022 Midwexican

    We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies.
    Do not sell my personal information.
    Cookie settingsACCEPT
    Manage consent

    Privacy Overview

    This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
    Necessary
    Always Enabled
    Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously.
    CookieDurationDescription
    cookielawinfo-checbox-analytics11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics".
    cookielawinfo-checbox-functional11 monthsThe cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional".
    cookielawinfo-checbox-others11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other.
    cookielawinfo-checkbox-necessary11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary".
    cookielawinfo-checkbox-performance11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance".
    viewed_cookie_policy11 monthsThe cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. It does not store any personal data.
    Functional
    Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features.
    Performance
    Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.
    Analytics
    Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.
    Advertisement
    Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads.
    Others
    Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet.
    SAVE & ACCEPT