Chicken Banh Mi Sandwich

Chicken Banh mi sandwich is a Vietnamese sandwich filled with grilled chicken and fresh vegetables. You can make this banh mi sandwich easily at home.

Banh mi sandwich is a popular street food from Vietnam

Street food from various countries always attracts tourists. Street food is increasingly in demand by tourists, not only foreign tourists but also local tourists. It is the same term as Vietnamese Banh Mi.

Banh Mi has a strong influence on the typical French baguette dish. The origin of the Vietnamese sandwich dish came when the French people in Vietnam want to eat their own food. In the past, Vietnamese people ate bread like the French by adding butter or cheese. After the French left Vietnam, they began to make some mixed cuisine between French and Vietnamese cuisine.

In Vietnam, banh mi is from the word banh which means bread and mi, namely wheat. The name banh mi is also an adaptation of the French word “pain de mie”, which means soft white cake. People in Vietnam usually eat this sandwich for breakfast.

You can find banh mi sellers along the downtown streets in Vietnam. While the sandwich is warm, you can wrap it in wrapping paper to make it more practical for you to eat. Even though this sandwich looks like an ordinary sandwich, the Vietnamese flavor remains. That’s because of the distinctive taste of the sauce and cilantro.

Due to the modification of the recipe, the Vietnamese people have various fillings for this sandwich. So you can try the other fillings in this recipe if you are tired of eating the same meat. Here are some types of filling for banh mi:

1. Pork roll

One of the most common fillings is the pork roll (cha or cha Lua). Before people pack it into rolls, they grind this pork. After that, they wrap it in banana leaves or aluminum foil. After the pork is wrapped, they will cook it by steaming or stewing it.

2. Sour pork

Another variant of pork filling uses tamarind pork (nem Chua). This square-shaped tamarind pork is usually eaten as a snack garnished with raw garlic. Raw pork skin and meat mixed with yeast, vinegar, garlic, fish sauce, salt, sugar, and black pepper. The pickled pork absorbs all the flavor and becomes sour and garlicky.

3. Grilled chicken

Another filling that is often used is grilled chicken. It is brown meat marinated in Vietnamese style before cooking. Again, pork remains the most popular, but chicken and beef are also receiving more attention.

4. Sardines

If you enjoy sardines with pizza, then you’ll be happy to have sardines in your banh mi. The bones were left behind, but the fish was still cooked. Although locals used to enjoy these toppings more, they are now becoming increasingly popular with tourists.

5. Pate

Pate is the filling and seasoning in banh mi. Chicken and duck pate was used as spreads. Some places also offer it as a main ingredient.

6. Vegetarian

For anyone who’s vegetarian, vegan, or would rather not eat meat on their sandwiches, there are options for you too! Called chay in Vietnamese, tofu strips, grated tofu, and a ham substitute made from vegetables are delicious alternatives. Salmon or creamy processed peanuts are used instead of pork. Wheat gluten can also be used as a substitute for tofu, which is good for gluten-free diners, this is not the best idea

In this recipe, I use chicken fillet instead of pork for the meat. For the vegetables, I use lettuce and arugula. For the pickle, I mix the shredded cabbage and julienne-cut carrot and tossed it in a sugar and vinegar mixture. Although the original Bahn Mi uses daikon, I substitute it with cabbage. It is still very delicious.

How to make a banh mi sandwich?

Make pickles first. In a big bowl, mix shredded cabbage, julienne cut carrot, 1 tsp salt and ½ tbsp of sugar. Set aside for 15 minutes until the water comes out from cabbage and carrot. Then dissolve the rest of the sugar into a white vinegar then pour it into a cabbage and carrot mixture. Set aside.

In a small bowl mix well soy sauce, worcestershire sauce, sesame oil, oyster sauce, a pinch of salt, and ketchup.

In a medium bowl, add chicken thighs and sauce mixture. After that, marinate for 30 minutes.

After 30 minutes, heat non-stick pan on medium heat. Add the chicken thighs in a frying pan until both of the sides golden brown. After that, set aside for 10 minutes. Then cut the chicken thighs into small pieces.

Cut the baguette using a bread knife with a serrated edge in the middle of the baguette. Shave and remove the inside of the baguette using a spoon.

Spread butter inside of the baguette. Place sliced chicken, pickle (thinly), ketchup, mayonnaise, lettuce and arugula following with the order.

Chicken banh mi sandwich is ready to serve.

Enjoy!

What’s filling do you choose for yout banh me? Is it chicken like I did?

Let me know you enjoy this recipe with your feedback. You can comment below or find me on Pinterest and Instagram. I want to see your banh mi too. Ciao!

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