Easy Banh Mi: Melbourne's Street Food Gem
This recipe guides you through creating a classic Vietnamese Banh Mi sandwich, featuring flavorful marinated pork, crisp pickled vegetables, fresh herbs, and a savory pate spread, all nestled in a crusty baguette.
Ingredients
- 1 large baguette fresh and crusty
- 200 g pork loin or belly thinly sliced
- 2 tbsp fish sauce
- 1 tbsp soy sauce
- 1 tbsp sugar
- 1 tsp minced garlic
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 1 large carrot julienned
- 1 small daikon radish julienned
- 1/4 cup rice vinegar
- 1 tbsp sugar
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 2 tbsp pate or liver spread
- 2 tbsp mayonnaise
- 1/2 cup fresh cilantro chopped
- 1/2 cup cucumber sliced into thin strips
- 1 jalapeño thinly sliced optional
Instructions
- First, prepare the pickled vegetables. In a bowl, combine julienned carrot and daikon radish. In a separate small bowl, whisk together rice vinegar, sugar, and salt until dissolved. Pour over the vegetables and let sit for at least 15 minutes, or ideally 30-60 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Marinate the pork. In a medium bowl, combine the thinly sliced pork with fish sauce, soy sauce, sugar, minced garlic, and black pepper. Mix well and let marinate for at least 10 minutes while you prepare other ingredients.
- Cook the pork. Heat a pan or grill over medium-high heat. Add the marinated pork and cook for 5-7 minutes, stirring occasionally, until cooked through and slightly caramelized. Set aside.
- Prepare the baguettes. Slice each baguette horizontally, but not all the way through, creating a pocket. Lightly toast the baguettes if desired, for extra crispness.
- Assemble the Banh Mi. Spread pate on one side of the baguette and mayonnaise on the other. Layer with the cooked pork, drained pickled carrots and daikon, cucumber strips, fresh cilantro, and jalapeño slices (if using).
- Serve immediately and enjoy your homemade Banh Mi street food gem!
Notes
For a vegetarian option, substitute pork with marinated tofu or sautéed mushrooms. Adjust chili to your spice preference. A good quality baguette is key for authentic texture. You can also make the pickled vegetables and pate ahead of time to save time. For an authentic flavor boost, seek out Maggi seasoning sauce.