Kinda Cajun Spam with Polenta

Believe it or not, this dish makes SPAM edible. If I were to do a classy version, however, I'd use Andouille. Note: SPAM has tons of salt, so I didn't salt anything else. If you use a good sausage or chicken, you'd have to salt to taste.

The Polenta

Heat a little olive oil in a large, heavy pan.
Add a heaping teaspoon of cumin seeds and let them sizzle for a few seconds.
Add two crushed garlic cloves and one large yellow onion, diced.
Heat, stirring, until the onion is soft and translucent.
Add three and a half cups of water and a half cup of apple cider.
Bring to a boil and carefully stir in a cup of polenta (corn grits).
Cook, stirring, until you have boiled out as much liquid as possible. When the polenta has cooled slightly, you want it crumbly enough to eat with a fork.

The SPAM

Grind together two teaspoons each of black peppercorns, fennel seeds, cumin seeds, and mustard seeds, along with one dried red chili pepper or just add about a quarter teaspoon of cayenne into the ground mixture.

Cut the spam into thin strips and roll them in the rub. Fry until "blackened" and crusty.

The Finish

Cut into strips one half red bell pepper, one half orange bell pepper, and one half poblano. Saute in olive oil until slightly softened. Add one large apple, sliced, and saute briefly. Toss in the SPAM, add two tablespoons of apple cider and cook down, stirring.

Serve over polenta. Cover with freshly chopped cilantro and garnish with black grapes.

You will not believe how good the apples and grapes taste with the polenta

Comments

[Scott P]

WOW! Can't wait to see the recipe.

[gail]

Ask and ye shall receive. It's up now.

[Diana]

It's a coverup. I can't see the spam.

How's the family?

[gail]

Admittedly, they didn't eat much of the Spam, but only because it was too fatty, not because of the taste. The spices really flavored it well.

[Julie]

You could put cilantro on a pile of dog sh*t and I'd eat it.

[gail]

That's tomorrow night.

[Julie]

Count me in!!!

[Scott P]

So Julie, you're going to Gail's for a chamber pot luck tomorrow?

Nice job, Gail!

[Jake]

So you're saying you CAN make a silk purse from a sow's ear ? Hmmmm.. You CAN ..a.. polish a turd, so to speak.. This is going to force me to rethink everything I thought I 'knew' about life..

[gail]

Actually, I put a savory rub on the turds.

[Jake]

Survival Spice?

[gail]

Nope. I didn't want the southwestern flavor. I used fennel, mustard seed, cayenne, and cumin.

[gail]

Oh, and black peppercorns

[HA HA HA]

i wuldn sauté the finish if i we're you. tyuogh cusdtomars them fins.

[gail]

I'm not down on the Suomi.