Banh Mi (Vietnamese Baguette Sandwich)

Banh Mi, is a popular Vietnamese sandwich, usually made on a wheat and rice flour baguette bread. Inside are thinly sliced carrots, daikon, cucumbers, onions, cilantro, jalapeno peppers -- then filled with a variety of meat or tofu fillings (grilled pork, ham, head cheese, etc.)

There are many types of fillings that can be put into Banh Mi but the most popular version includes cucumbers, pickled carrots and daikon, onion, cilantro, pate, butter, roasted or grilled pork, Vietnamese sausage, ham.  The Banh Mi is a popular Vietnamese fast food because of its low price and delicious taste.  Banh mi are not your ordinary sandwiches; they’re crunchy, filled fusion baguettes, stuffed full of fresh, fragrant and tasty Vietnamese ingredients.  This popular street food originated after French settlers first introduced bread to Vietnam back in the late 18th century.  But as the years progressed and the French rule eventually ended, the Vietnamese began to introduce their own fragrant and spicy flavors, including marinated grilled meats, pickled vegetables, fresh herbs and lots of chili peppers.

Ingredients:

1/2 cup shredded carrot

1/2 cup grated peeled daikon radish

1 tablespoon cider vinegar

2 teaspoons sugar

1/4 teaspoon kosher salt

3 tablespoons chili garlic sauce (such as Lee Kum Kee)

1 1/2 teaspoons sugar

1 (1-pound) pork tenderloin, trimmed

Cooking spray

1/2 teaspoon salt

3 tablespoons fat-free mayonnaise

2 (20-inch) baguettes (about 8 1/2 ounces each)

16 thin cucumber slices (about 1 cucumber)

16 cilantro sprigs

1/4 cup thinly sliced green onions (about 2)

1 seeded and thinly sliced jalapeño pepper

Preparation:

1. Combine the first 5 ingredients; cover and let stand 15 minutes to 1 hour. Drain.

2. Preheat oven to 400°.

3. Combine the chili garlic sauce and 1 1/2 teaspoons sugar; stir well. Place pork on the rack of a small roasting pan or broiler pan coated with cooking spray. Spread 2 tablespoons chili garlic mixture evenly over pork; sprinkle the pork with 1/2 teaspoon salt. Bake at 400° for 20 minutes or until a thermometer registers 155° (slightly pink). Cool; cover the pork, and refrigerate.

4. Combine mayonnaise and remaining chili garlic sauce mixture; cover and refrigerate.

5. Cut each baguette horizontally, cutting to, but not through, other side using a serrated knife. Spread mayonnaise mixture evenly on cut sides of baguettes. Thinly slice pork; divide pork evenly between baguettes. Top evenly with carrot mixture. Arrange 8 cucumber slices and 8 cilantro sprigs on each baguette. Top evenly with onions and jalapeño. Press top gently to close; cut each baguette into 4 equal servings.

In Hawaii there is a local Vietnamese bakery and restaurant named Ba-Le Sandwich and now a huge full scale bakery operation in Honolulu called La Tour.  My favorite type of banh mi is the pate and steamed pork version.  Lots of cilantro, jalapenos, sriracha, mayo, and hosin!  

My favorite pate and steamed pork!!  Heaven in baguette!!

Winnahz!!  I like kaukau!!  :D