Gemutlichkeit Spamwich

“Gemutlichkeit” (guh-MOOT-luh-kite) is German for friendliness, which gives Lisa Dziadulewicz’s Gemutlichkeit Spamwich a leg up in aloha spirit as the Wisconsin native journeys here for the Waikiki Spam Jam Festival on Saturday.

Dziadulewicz, a mother of four from Sheboygan, Wis., won the Spam cooking contest at the Wisconsin State Fair last year, then went on to win the Great American Spam Championship. Part of her prize was a trip to Hawaii.

Her sandwich of panko-crusted pan-fried Spam on a pretzel roll is based on schnitzel — thin, breaded pork or veal cutlets — in a tribute to her home state’s German heritage.

8 ounces bacon, diced

1 cup diced yellow onion

1 cup flour, divided

2/3 cup cider vinegar

1/3 cup sugar

Salt and pepper, to taste

4 cups thinly sliced mixed green and red cabbages

12 pretzel rolls, halved

1/2 cup vegetable oil

3 large eggs, beaten

1-1/2 cups panko (Japanese breadcrumbs)

2 (12-ounce) cans bacon-flavored Spam, cut in 6 slices

1/4 cup sweet spicy mustard

Heat oven to 300 degrees.

Cook bacon over low heat until crisp; drain on paper towels and set aside.

Saute onion in skillet with 2-3 tablespoons of bacon drippings. Cook over medium-low heat until softened, about 5 minutes. Sprinkle with 1 tablespoon flour. Cook and stir 2 minutes. Add vinegar and sugar, stirring until sugar dissolves. Season with salt and pepper. Add cabbage and stir until slightly wilted, about 1 minute. Add reserved bacon. Remove from heat.

Lightly brush pretzel rolls with oil and place face-side down on baking sheet. Lightly toast rolls in oven, 5-10 minutes; set aside.

Pour remaining oil in large, nonstick skillet (enough to cover bottom of pan) and heat over medium. Place remaining flour, eggs and panko into 3 separate pans. Dip each slice of Spam first in flour, then egg, then panko. Saute slices in skillet until golden on both sides. Place in warm oven and hold until all slices are done.

Spread bottom half of each bun with mustard. Top with Spam slice and cabbage slaw. Cover with top bun. Makes 12 sandwiches.

Approximate nutritional analysis, per serving 580 calories, 35 g fat, 10 g saturated fat, 95 mg cholesterol, 850 mg sodium, 51 g carbohydrate, 2 g fiber, 11 g sugar, 17 g protein

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WAIKIKI SPAM JAM

The festival takes place 4 to 10 p.m. Saturday on Kalakaua Avenue. Visit spamjamhawaii.com. For more, see Friday’s TGIF.