Vietnamese · Lunch

Bánh Mì

A crackling baguette filled with pâté, mayonnaise, cold cuts or grilled pork, pickled carrot and daikon, cucumber, coriander and chilli. The finest sandwich colonialism ever accidentally produced.

4.8(2,411)Rated 4.8 out of 5 from 2411 reviews 35 min total Serves 4 servings Easy
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Bánh Mì — vietnamese lunch recipe, served and ready to eat
Ingredients and preparation for bánh mì
Ingredients and preparation for bánh mì

Method

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  1. Dissolve the sugar and salt in the warm water, add the vinegar, and pour over the carrot and daikon. Leave at least 1 hour, or refrigerate up to 3 weeks.

  2. Marinate the sliced pork in the fish sauce, brown sugar, soy sauce, garlic, sesame oil and pepper for 30 minutes.

  3. Grill or pan-fry the pork over the highest heat for 2 to 3 minutes per side, until charred at the edges and caramelised.

  4. Warm the baguettes in a hot oven for 4 minutes so the crust crackles, then split them lengthways without cutting all the way through.

  5. Pull out a little of the soft crumb from the top half to make room for the filling.

  6. Spread pâté on the bottom half and mayonnaise on the top.

  7. Layer in the pork, then a generous handful of drained pickles, cucumber batons, coriander and chilli.

  8. Sprinkle a little Maggi seasoning over the filling, close the sandwich, press firmly, and eat immediately.

Chef’s Tips

  • The baguette must be light and crackly, not dense and chewy — a Vietnamese-style loaf with a thin crust is ideal.
  • Do not skip the pâté. It provides the savoury depth the whole sandwich is built on.
  • Make a big jar of pickles; they keep for weeks and improve everything.

Pairing Suggestions

  • Vietnamese iced coffee or a cold lager
  • Serve with a bowl of phở for the full experience
  • Finish with fresh mango

Storage & Reheating

Assemble to order — the bread softens within 20 minutes. Pickles keep 3 weeks; cooked pork keeps 3 days.

Nutritional Highlights

Per serving, calculated from the ingredient list. Treat these as an estimate — brands and cuts vary.

712Calories
36gProtein
72gCarbs
32gFat
5gFibre
18gSugar
1620mgSodium

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