Thick-cut ham (ham steak)Easy to find
Same weight, cubed or sliced
Less salty and less fatty — add a pinch of salt at the end if needed.
▼ salty▼ rich
Ingredient guide
Canned ham 통조림햄
Canned cooked pork, sold in Korea under brand names such as Spam, Tulip and generic "luncheon meat". Since the postwar years it has been a staple of budae-jjigae (army stew), gimbap and fried rice. It is salty and rich, so it is usually sliced thin and pan-fried or simmered.
Taste
Salty, savory and a little sweet.
What to look for
Any canned ham works: Spam, Tulip, or a store-brand luncheon meat. Many brands offer lower-sodium versions. It contains pork, so see the swaps if that does not suit you.
Storing it
Keeps in the pantry until opened. Refrigerate leftovers and use within a few days.
How to find Canned ham, anywhere
Works in any country — look for these names, in these kinds of shops.
Names to look for
- canned ham
- luncheon meat
- Spam
- Tulip
- 통조림햄
- 스팸
Show this at the shop통조림햄
Where to look
- Any supermarket, in the canned meat aisle
- Korean and Asian grocery stores carry the Korean versions
- Online grocers
Watch out for
- Flavored or smoked varieties change the taste of a stew — plain or classic is the safest.
- It is already salty; taste before adding more soy sauce or salt.
Can't find Canned ham? Use this instead
Honest swaps, with amounts per unit of the original and how the dish will change.
Sausage or hot dogsEasy to find
Same weight, sliced
Smokier and meatier.
▲ smoky
Where to buy it near you
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