Spam and Apple Onigiri

Preparation

Rice Prep

(Based on Morimoto's method.) Rinse rice multiple times until the water is mostly clear. Drain in a mesh strainer and let dry, about 15 minutes. Cook rice according to rice cooker instructions, (1:1.5 ratio is typical). In a small saucepan, combine rice vinegar mixture ingredients and cook over moderate heat, stir to dissolve sugar. Transfer rice to a very large mixing bowl, sprinkle 1/2 cup of vinegar mixture onto the rice by drizzling onto a flat rice spatula and wave around to distribute evenly. Use spatula to slice the rice throughout to incorporate vinegar (don't use a mixing motion as this makes the rice mushier) while fanning the rice to keep it dry. Cover rice with a damp towel to keep warm.

Make Filling

Take spam and slice into six even pieces horizontally. Heat a cast iron with oil on high and cook spam for about 4 minutes, flip once halfway through. While the spam is cooking, mix the glaze ingredients together. When the spam is ready you'll have a nice brown crust on both sides, turn the heat to medium and pour the glaze in. Cook the spam for another 3 minutes, flipping halfway through. Take the spam onto a work surface and chop into 1/4 inch pieces and set aside. Thinly slice an apple so you'll have around 3–4 slices per onigiri, thinly slice scallions and place in a small bowl, set both aside.

Assemble Onigiri

Take a shallow bowl about 5 inches wide and line with plastic wrap about double the size of the bowl. Flatten an even layer of rice roughly 1/4-1/2 inch thick throughout the base of the bowl to make a circle. Place a spoonful of spam into the middle, along with 3-4 very thinly sliced apples, and a generous pinch of scallions. Sprinkle a good shakes worth of furikake. Carefully make a rice ball by grabbing the edges of the plastic wrap and enclosing the filling ingredients with the rice to form a ball. Once the filling is enclosed, twist the top of the plastic wrap until it squeezes the rice ball tightly and seals the ingredients in. Untwist the plastic wrap and use to create desired onigiri shape.

Cook, Serve

Heat a nonstick pan with oil and place onigiri onto it. Take a silicon brush and lightly glaze the top and bottom of the onigiri and cook on high to create a brown crust, about 2 minutes each side. When the onigiri has cooled, wrap in nori, garnish with more furikake and serve.