Flavorful Pork Belly Banh Mi
Flavorful Pork Belly Banh Mi
More Delicious Than Subway! Easy Pork Belly Banh Mi Recipe (Vietnamese Sandwich Recipe)
Hello everyone! Today, I’m going to show you how to make Banh Mi, a beloved street food in Vietnam and Laos, even featured in Lonely Planet’s Top 10 Street Foods worldwide. This Banh Mi is packed with savory pork belly and fresh vegetables, offering a delightful taste experience. Let’s get started!
Main Ingredients- 1 Baguette
- 200g Pork Belly (thinly sliced)
- 1/2 Onion
- 1/3 Carrot
- 1/4 Cucumber
- 1/2 Spicy Green Pepper (e.g., Jalapeño or similar)
- 2 Rice Paper Wrappers (if available, or use thinly sliced cabbage)
- Nuoc Mam Sauce (Fish Sauce), to taste
Fresh Garlic Sauce- 1 Tbsp Sugar
- 1 Tbsp Vinegar
- 1 Tbsp Fish Sauce
- 1 Tbsp Minced Garlic
Pork Belly Soy Glaze- 1 Tbsp Sugar
- 1.5 Tbsp Soy Sauce
- 1 Tbsp Oyster Sauce
- 1 Tbsp Cooking Wine (e.g., Mirin)
- 1 Tbsp Minced Garlic
- 1 Tbsp Sugar
- 1 Tbsp Vinegar
- 1 Tbsp Fish Sauce
- 1 Tbsp Minced Garlic
Pork Belly Soy Glaze- 1 Tbsp Sugar
- 1.5 Tbsp Soy Sauce
- 1 Tbsp Oyster Sauce
- 1 Tbsp Cooking Wine (e.g., Mirin)
- 1 Tbsp Minced Garlic
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
First, let’s prepare the baguette for our delicious Banh Mi. Take one baguette and carefully slice it lengthwise, but not all the way through. Leave about a third of the bottom intact. This creates a pocket to hold all the wonderful fillings and sauces.
Step 2
Now, let’s prep the fresh vegetables that will add crunch and flavor. Thinly slice half an onion. Julienne the carrot (about 1/3 of a carrot). Slice a quarter of a cucumber thinly on an angle. (Tip: about 5 cucumber slices per half baguette looks great!) Thinly slice half a spicy green pepper for a little kick. If you have some cabbage, shred it finely as well.
Step 3
Next, we’ll make the vibrant garlic sauce. In a small bowl, combine 1 tablespoon of sugar, 1 tablespoon of vinegar, 1 tablespoon of fish sauce, and 1 tablespoon of minced garlic. Whisk everything together until well combined.
Step 4
Now for the savory glaze for the pork belly. In another small bowl, mix together 1 tablespoon of sugar, 1.5 tablespoons of soy sauce, 1 tablespoon of oyster sauce, 1 tablespoon of cooking wine (like Mirin), and 1 tablespoon of minced garlic. Stir well to create the glaze.
Step 5
Heat a frying pan over medium-high heat. Add the thinly sliced pork belly (200g) and 1 tablespoon of sugar. Stir-fry until the sugar starts to caramelize and coat the pork. Then, add the sliced onions and julienned carrots, and continue to stir-fry until the vegetables are slightly softened and translucent.
Step 6
Once the vegetables are tender, pour in the prepared pork belly soy glaze. Reduce the heat to medium-low and let the sauce simmer and thicken, coating the pork and vegetables beautifully. Cook until the sauce is almost fully absorbed.
Step 7
It’s time to add the authentic Vietnamese flavor to the baguette! Spread a thin, even layer of Nuoc Mam sauce (fish sauce) on the inside of the baguette. You can easily find fish sauce at most large supermarkets or online. (Tip: be mindful of the amount, as too much can make it salty.)
Step 8
Finally, let’s assemble our Banh Mi! Lay down two rice paper wrappers (or shredded cabbage if you don’t have them), making sure they are well-drained. Layer on the sliced cucumber, shredded cabbage, the delicious cooked pork belly mixture, and the spicy green pepper slices. Drizzle about 2 tablespoons of the fresh garlic sauce over the top. And there you have it – a fantastic Pork Belly Banh Mi ready to enjoy!
