Bánh mì (“bread” in Vietnamese”) sandwich is fusion at its best, as it combines Vietnamese-Asian flavors with French ones. It became a popular street food in Saigon around the 50’s, and from there its popularity spread around the world.
The sandwich consists of assorted meats or pâté, mayonnaise, cucumber, cilantro, chili and pickled carrots and Daikon radish – all layered in a crusty baguette. All these ingredients together create a mouthwatering combination of textures and flavors. Every bite combines sweet, savory, tangy and hot flavors, along with the freshness of cucumber, cilantro and pickles – and the result is totally addictive.
My go-to version for this tasty sandwich, was one with braised pork belly, which was served in a small restaurant in Manhattan. Alas, the chef has left, and what is now served there is no longer what I crave. Other places I’ve tried were also not as pleasing.
So, I had no choice but to try to create my own version, and you can see the result here. While this version is definitely not authentic, it still worked well for me. Try it and enjoy.
Notes:
* Daikon radish is a mild flavored white radish, which looks like a large parsnip. It is used often in Asian cuisines, both fresh and cooked. It can be found in Asian markets, and in some supermarkets.
* Admittedly, as is the case with other types of radish, Daikon radish produces a somewhat unpleasant aroma when pickled. However, as it is an important part of the combination of flavors in this sandwich, I urge you to look beyond that and still make it.
* Chicken thighs can substitute the pork belly. In this case, cooking time should be shorter.
* While many versions suggest spreading the bread with mayonnaise, I prefer not to use it, as the filling is quite fatty as is. However, feel free to use it if you wish.
Pickled Carrots and Daikon Radish
Makes: 4 cups
Prep time: 15 minutes
Marinating time: 3 days and up to two weeks
Ingredients:
4 cups water
2 Tbs salt
3 Tbs sugar
¾ cup rice wine vinegar
2 cup packed julienned carrots (from about 3 medium)
2 cups packed julienned Daikon radish (from 1 medium)
1. Boil ½ cup of the water; add the salt and sugar, and stir to dissolve. Add the rest of the water and vinegar, stir well and keep at room temperature until using.
2. Peel and julienne the carrots and radish, and transfer into pickling jars. Pour the marinade liquid on top and seal. Keep in the fridge for at least three days before using, and up to two weeks.
Braised Pork Belly
Makes: 4
Prep time: 15 minutes
Cooking time: 1 hour
Marinating time: overnight
Ingredients:
0.9 Lbs (400 grams) pork belly
1 Tbs oil
1 Tbs sugar
1 cup water
¼ cup soy sauce
2 cloves garlic, sliced
1” (2.5 cm) ginger, sliced
2 Star Anise
2 tsp each: Hoisin sauce, Gochujang (Korean sweet and spicy sauce), date syrup (or brown sugar)
A few drops of hot sauce to taste
¼ cup rice wine vinegar
1. Cut the pork belly into large cubes and pat dry. Heat the oil in a large pan over medium-high heat, and fry lightly on all sides. Transfer to a plate.
2. Discard most of the fat in the pan, add the sugar and let caramelize. Add the water and soy sauce, and mix until the caramel dissolves.
3. Add the rest of ingredients, mix well and add the meat. Bring to a boil, cover the pan and reduce the heat to low. Simmer for about 1 hour, mixing occasionally, until the meat is tender and the sauce thickens. Taste and adjust seasoning if needed.
4. Bring to room temperature and keep in the fridge, covered, overnight.
5. When ready to use, discard the fat layer that accumulated on top, and reheat over medium heat.
For assembling the sandwich
1 fresh baguette, cut into four and sliced open
Braised pork belly
Chopped jalapenos
1 cucumber, sliced thin lengthwise
Pickled carrots and Daikon radish
Washed and dried cilantro leaves
1. Toast the baguette lightly in a hot oven to crisp it up.
2. Divide the pork belly, with some of the sauce, between the baguette pieces.
3. Top with chopped jalapenos, sliced cucumber, a generous handful of the pickles and cilantro. Serve immediately.
This is a monumental sandwich, Ronit! I am not a sandwich person, but my husband will certainly appreciate this kind of a tower, if I make it with chicken thighs. Thank you for sharing!
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Thank you Dolly! I hope your husband will enjoy this tasty sandwich. It’s really different and so full of flavors and textures. 🙂
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My pleasure, dear Ronit.
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Cool! We have a Vietnamese sandwich shop just a few blocks away, so we have things like this often – but I’ve never made one at home … and I love pork belly!
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Thank you Jeff, I’m glad you liked my version. I also enjoyed this sandwich at the restaurant until recently, when the chef left and it wasn’t as good, so something had to be done! I’m glad I gave it a try, as now I can have it more often! 🙂
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I went to a demonstration once where the chef made these sandwiches and we got to sample them. Your recipe looks very similar, she was stressing how important the ingredients were and good bread was a must. I wonder if I still have the recipe/info. I don’t remember jalapenos but I would definitely give my thumbs up for that ingredient.
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Thank you Judi, I’m glad you liked my version. The demonstration sounds very interesting. There are many versions to choose from, but no doubt the bread and the other ingredients (especially the pickles), are important to get the right combination. Wherever I had this sandwich, it always had jalapenos, or other fresh chilies. This also adds so much flavor to the blend.
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It’s been awhile since I attended the demo at Zingerman’s Bakehouse. I know the pickles were a big deal too. Good sandwich – I would enjoy one now 🙂
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Wish I could send you some! It’s really such a unique combination of flavors. Totally addictive! 🙂
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Having lived in Australia most of my life it naturally seems somewhat strange to see people do not each such every day . . .this is how usual it is here ! Northern European born as I am I would not dream of having anything bar an open sandwich every morning with my coffee – and a banh me with a few extra flavours I may not ordinarily use, quite fits the bill . . . pork belly is oft used but by no means the reason for the usual morning convenience . . .
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That’s the beauty of discovering different cuisines and cultures. 🙂
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What do you suggest as alternative for those who do not eat pork?
Otherwise looks delicious.
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Thank you Shirley, I’m glad you liked the sandwich. It is indeed quite delicious. As I mentioned under Notes – chicken thighs can substitute the pork. 🙂
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Looks incredibly delish. One question: is pork belly as salty as bacon?
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Thank you Gail, I’m glad you liked this tasty sandwich. Pork belly, at least the one I’ve used, is not salted at all. It actually has quite a bland flavor, so it benefits from such bold flavored sauce.
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Good to know. Thanks. 🙏🏻
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Reblogged this on Crackling Pork Rinds.
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YUMM‼
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Thank you Dawn! 🙂
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🥰
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Very appealing to eyes 👍
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Thank you Jyo, I’m glad to hear! 🙂
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Banh mis are great.
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Couldn’t agree more! 🙂
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I pinned this one to definitely try it soon, thank you for developing the recipe, looks fantastic!
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Thank you Irene, I’m glad you liked my version. I hope you’ll enjoy it. I’ll be happy to read your comments. 🙂
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Ok, I’ll report back
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this looks very tasty but i would definitely try it with chicken, not being a pork kind of girl at all. Pickled veg are so trendy right now, aren’t they? and tasty too. cheers Sherry
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Thank you Sherry, I’m glad you liked the sandwich. It would be quite tasty with chicken as well. Pickles are indeed so good! 🙂
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Oh my, this looks sooo yumyyy!! I loved that you braised pork belly in gochujang 🙂
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Thank you Jin, I’m glad you liked my version. Gochujang is still new to me, but I find it blends so well with such dishes. Definitely going to explore it more! 🙂
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That looks and sounds really delicious!
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Thank you, I’m glad you liked the sandwich. It was indeed very delicious. 🙂
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My mouth was watering just reading about that pork belly… delicious 🙂
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Thank you, I’m glad you liked the dish. It was very tasty! 🙂
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I ate this dish in vancouver, in a baguette, so good!!!
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Glad it brought back tasty memories! 🙂
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This is still “saved” in my save file, but I’ve yet to try it. I don’t know why! Slips my mind. It would definently be a big hit with my family❗They love all the flavors in it. I’m going to try this week. Truthfully…seriously…I really wish you were my neighbors damn it ‼ 🥺 I’d pay you for them! I don’t suppose you live in Arizona? 🥰 it’s not that it seems hard, it’s more about this darn excessive heat aka typical Arizona summer. BUT…I’ll make a list & do this!
🥵😅🤔🏜🌞🔥🌡🥖🥪🐖🥕🥒 at least within the next 2 weeks 😉
Thanks for sharing. Blogged very good, easy instructions w/pictures to boot.
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lol Thank you Dwan, I’m glad you find the recipes and photos easy to follow.
I’m in New York, so not even remotely close to Arizona! Summer on the East Coast was quite hot, so I can only imagine how hotter it must have been for you. I’m sure once the weather cools down a bit, cooking will be an enjoyable task once again. I hope you’ll enjoy this tasty sandwich. I’ll be happy to read your comments. 🙂
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🥰
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