Banh Mi recipe
User Reviews
4.9
-
Prep Time
20 mins
-
Pickling
1 hr
-
Servings
4
-
Calories
554 kcal
-
Course
Lunch
-
Cuisine
Vietnamese
Banh Mi recipe
Description
This Banh Mi sandwich uses crusty long bread rolls split from the top, spread with pork or chicken pate and mayonnaise. The filling layers include head cheese or brawn, Vietnamese pork loaf, and sliced roast or grilled pork cold cuts. Fresh cucumber strips and green onions add crispness and mild sharpness, while coriander sprigs contribute a distinctive herbal note.
Pickled carrots, prepared by soaking carrot batons in a mixture of salt, sugar, water, and rice vinegar, add a bright and slightly tangy texture to the sandwich. Chilis provide a fresh heat, tempered by a drizzle of Maggi seasoning, a savory Asian condiment similar to Worcestershire sauce.
Variations include substituting the meats with pork meatballs or shredded cooked chicken. Freshness of the bread is important to maintain the characteristic crunch. This sandwich combines a variety of textures and flavors, making it a balanced and popular Vietnamese street food option.
Storing the sandwich is best done separate from sauces to retain bread crispness. Ingredients like Maggi seasoning can be substituted with blends of soy sauce, fish sauce, Worcestershire sauce, and sugar to approximate the flavor.
Ingredients
- 4 long bread rolls Note 1, crusty
- 6 tbsp pork paté Note 2, or chicken pate
- 6 tbsp mayonnaise (Note 3)
- 4 - 8 lices Thi Nguoi aka head cheese, Note 4, "pink ham" or brawn
- 4 - 8 lices Cha Lua pork loaf Note 5, or chicken loaf, Vietnamese style
- 4 - 8 lices pork cold cuts Note 6, roast or grilled
- 1.5 cups coriander sprigs Note 7, fresh, aka cilantro sprigs
- 2 cucumber finely sliced lengthwise into long strips
- 4 green onion cut into the length of the rolls, stems
- 2 red chilies , finely sliced (or more!) (or less...)
- 2 tsp Maggi seasoning , for drizzling (Note 8)
Pickled Carrots:
- 4 carrot peeled cut into 2-3mm / 1/10" batons, medium
- 1 1/2 cups (375ml) water boiled, hot
- 1/2 cup (100g) white sugar
- 4 tsp salt
- 3/4 cup (185ml) rice wine vinegar (sub apple cider vinegar)
Other Filling Options!
- pork meatballs Note 9, for Banh Mi
- chicken Note 10, shredded rotisserie or poached
Instructions
- Split rolls down the centre of the top (see video).
- Spread 1.5 tbsp pate on one side, then 1.5 tbsp mayonnaise on top.
- Layer in the hams, cucumber slices and green onion.
- Stuff in plenty of carrots and coriander sprigs.
- Sprinkle with fresh chilli - as much as you dare!
- Drizzle with Maggi Seasoning (about 1/2 tsp per roll).
- Close sandwich together and devour!
Variations:
- Banh Mi pork meatballs - for each Banh Mi, use 3 meatballs. Shake off excess sauce, split warm meatballs in half then stuff into Banh Mi in place of the ham.
- Shredded cooked chicken - use in place of ham. I often use store bought rotisserie chicken for convenience!
Pickled Carrots
- Dissolve salt and sugar in the hot water, then add rice vinegar.
- Add carrot, then let stand for at least 1 hour - carrot should be a bit tangy, a bit floppy but still with a soft crunch.
- Drain and use per recipe.
Notes
- Choose crusty French-style baguettes for an authentic texture; reheating the bread briefly can restore crispness if needed.
- Use mild-flavored chicken or pork pate to avoid overpowering the other sandwich elements.
- Head cheese can be substituted with brawn or typical deli head cheese; remove any rubbery casing before slicing.
- Vietnamese pork loaf (Cha Lua) can be replaced with chicken loaf from typical delis if unavailable.
- Roast pork belly cold cuts provide authentic flavor, but supermarket roast pork slices work as a substitute.
- Coriander is essential but may be replaced with garlic chives if disliked.
- Maggi seasoning adds umami depth; a mixture of soy sauce, fish sauce, Worcestershire sauce, and sugar can be used as a substitute.
- Pickled carrots should be well-drained before assembling to prevent sogginess.
- Banh Mi is best eaten fresh to preserve bread crunch; store sauce separately if making in advance.
Nutrition Information
Show DetailsNutrition Facts
Serving: 4Serving
Amount Per Serving
Calories 554 kcal
% Daily Value*
| Calories | 554cal | 28% |
| Carbohydrates | 47g | 16% |
| Protein | 19g | 38% |
| Fat | 30g | 46% |
| Saturated Fat | 7g | 35% |
| Monounsaturated Fat | 1g | 5% |
| Cholesterol | 67mg | 22% |
| Sodium | 1666mg | 69% |
| Potassium | 799mg | 17% |
| Fiber | 5g | 20% |
| Sugar | 10g | 20% |
| Vitamin A | 11080IU | 222% |
| Vitamin C | 45mg | 50% |
| Calcium | 106mg | 11% |
| Iron | 3.3mg | 18% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.
User Reviews
Overall Rating
4.9
You'll Also Love
