Flavorful Vietnamese Street Toast: Banh Mi Recipe
Flavorful Vietnamese Street Toast: Banh Mi Recipe
Enjoy Exotic Flavors at Home! How to Make Vietnamese Sandwich Banh Mi
This Banh Mi sandwich, which I often made on hot summer days when I missed Vietnam, is something I’ve been enjoying frequently these days as well, perhaps because the weather has turned cooler and I find myself dreaming of travel. Although I’ve never been to Vietnam myself, I absolutely love Vietnamese food and it’s a country I truly wish to visit someday. Shall we get started on this simple-to-make, delicious Banh Mi sandwich?
Main Ingredients- 3 Baguette loaves
- 1/2 Cucumber
- 50g Cilantro
- 2 Korean chili peppers (cheongyang-gochu)
Spicy & Sweet Pork Marinade- 400g Pork (shoulder or belly)
- 1.5 Tbsp Fish sauce
- 1 Tbsp Soy sauce
- 1 Tbsp Oyster sauce
- 1 Tbsp Sugar
- 1 Tbsp Minced garlic
- Pinch of minced ginger
- Pinch of black pepper
Crispy Daikon Radish & Carrot Pickles- 1/3 Daikon radish
- 1 Carrot
- 100ml Vinegar
- 100ml Sugar
- 100ml Warm water
- 1 Tbsp Salt
- 1 Tbsp Fish sauce
Creamy Sandwich Sauce- 2 Tbsp Mayonnaise
- 2 Tbsp Sriracha sauce
- 400g Pork (shoulder or belly)
- 1.5 Tbsp Fish sauce
- 1 Tbsp Soy sauce
- 1 Tbsp Oyster sauce
- 1 Tbsp Sugar
- 1 Tbsp Minced garlic
- Pinch of minced ginger
- Pinch of black pepper
Crispy Daikon Radish & Carrot Pickles- 1/3 Daikon radish
- 1 Carrot
- 100ml Vinegar
- 100ml Sugar
- 100ml Warm water
- 1 Tbsp Salt
- 1 Tbsp Fish sauce
Creamy Sandwich Sauce- 2 Tbsp Mayonnaise
- 2 Tbsp Sriracha sauce
- 2 Tbsp Mayonnaise
- 2 Tbsp Sriracha sauce
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
Prepare the Pork Marinade: In a bowl, combine the fish sauce, soy sauce, oyster sauce, sugar, minced garlic, minced ginger, and black pepper. Mix well to create the marinade. Lightly pat the pork dry with paper towels to remove excess moisture. Add the pork to the marinade, cover with plastic wrap or place in a zip-top bag, and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes, or ideally overnight for a deeper flavor.
Step 2
Shred the Vegetables for Pickles: Finely julienne the daikon radish and carrot into uniform strips. Aim for a medium thickness – too thick and they won’t absorb the flavors well, too thin and they might become mushy. Ensure even cuts for consistent texture.
Step 3
Season the Pickles: In a separate bowl, toss the julienned radish and carrot with 1 tablespoon of salt and let them sit for about 5 minutes to draw out moisture. Squeeze out any excess liquid, then add the fish sauce and sugar. Mix thoroughly to coat the vegetables.
Step 4
Brine the Pickles: Combine the vinegar, warm water, and the seasoned radish and carrot from step 2 in a clean container. Stir well. Let this mixture sit in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes to allow the flavors to meld and the vegetables to become delightfully crisp and tangy.
Step 5
Pro Tip: Preparing the pork marinade and the pickles in advance will significantly speed up the Banh Mi assembly process. Having these flavorful bases ready makes creating this delicious sandwich a breeze!
Step 6
Cook the Pork: Heat a little oil in a pan over medium-high heat. Add the marinated pork and stir-fry quickly until it’s cooked through and slightly caramelized. The marinade will reduce and coat the pork beautifully.
Step 7
Prepare the Fresh Ingredients: Thinly slice the cucumber and Korean chili peppers on an angle (bias cut). Wash the cilantro thoroughly and pat it dry. Feel free to adjust the amount of cilantro and chili peppers to your personal preference.
Step 8
Toast the Baguette: Preheat your oven to 180°C (350°F). Lightly mist the top of the baguette loaves with water using a spray bottle. This helps create a crisp crust. Place them in the preheated oven and bake for about 8-10 minutes until golden brown and fragrant. The aroma of freshly baked bread is simply irresistible!
Step 9
Make the Sandwich Sauce: In a small bowl, mix together the mayonnaise and sriracha sauce until well combined. This spicy and creamy sauce adds a wonderful depth of flavor to the Banh Mi.
Step 10
Assemble the Banh Mi: Now that all your components are ready, it’s time to bring everything together! Let’s assemble this delicious sandwich layer by layer.
Step 11
Spread the Sauce: Carefully slice the toasted baguettes in half lengthwise. Generously spread the prepared sandwich sauce on the inside of both halves of each baguette. This sauce will soak into the bread, making it extra moist and flavorful.
Step 12
Fill the Sandwich: Layer the cooked pork generously onto the bottom half of the baguette. Top with slices of cucumber, the crisp daikon and carrot pickles, fresh cilantro, and a few slices of Korean chili pepper. Remember, you can omit or adjust the cilantro and chili peppers based on your taste. Your delicious Banh Mi sandwich is now ready to be enjoyed!
