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.
Method
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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.
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Marinate the sliced pork in the fish sauce, brown sugar, soy sauce, garlic, sesame oil and pepper for 30 minutes.
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Grill or pan-fry the pork over the highest heat for 2 to 3 minutes per side, until charred at the edges and caramelised.
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Warm the baguettes in a hot oven for 4 minutes so the crust crackles, then split them lengthways without cutting all the way through.
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Pull out a little of the soft crumb from the top half to make room for the filling.
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Spread pâté on the bottom half and mayonnaise on the top.
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Layer in the pork, then a generous handful of drained pickles, cucumber batons, coriander and chilli.
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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.