Sink your teeth into bánh mì, Vietnam's iconic sandwich that perfectly balances French colonial influence with Vietnamese ingredients. Crisp-crusted baguettes with uniquely light interiors (thanks to rice flour) cradle savory pork, pickled vegetables, fresh herbs, and zesty condiments. Born as Saigon street food in the 1950s following French occupation, this portable feast delivers an irresistible combination of flavors and textures in every bite.
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Ingredients
4 to 6 Vietnamese baguettes – the fresher the better
1 to 1.5 lb homemade pork belly or 1 to 1.5 lb grilled pork
2-3 crunchy cucumbers (Persian cucumbers are ideal)
Vietnamese pate (optional)
Homemade Vietnamese pickles / Đồ chua – as much as you'd like
1 medium yellow onion thinly sliced (optional)
8 to 12 sprigs cilantro
Maggi or soy sauce to taste
1 to 2 medium jalapeños thinly sliced
freshly ground black pepper to taste
Directions
Toast baguettes to warm, but not so crispy that they fall apart when you split them.
Wash all the veggies and slice to prep.
Slicing with a mandoline will keep everything uniform.
Cut baguettes in half but leave the back part uncut so the loaf stays intact.
Add mayo and/or pate to the bottom.
Layer the meat and veggies.
Add a few shakes of Maggi or soy sauce, and a few grinds of pepper to taste.
Servings
6
Nutrition Facts
Nutrition Per Serving (1 sandwich) - Calories: 450; Total Fat: 24g (Saturated Fat: 8g); Cholesterol: 65mg; Sodium: 890mg; Total Carbohydrates: 38g (Dietary Fiber: 2g, Sugars: 5g); Protein: 22g
*Nutrition information is provided as a general estimate only. Nutrient information is not available for all ingredients, and is based on available nutrient data. Variations may occur based on ingredient brands and preparation methods.
💬 Uncle Dave says...
A bánh mì is Vietnamese baguette sandwich filled with meat and vegetables---pork, cilantro, cucumbers, pickled carrots and daikon---and often dressed with condiments including pâté, red chili, and mayonnaise. The baguette first made its way to Vietnam via French occupation in the mid-19th Century, after which the bánh mì originated as a Saigon street food in the 1950s. Its bread dough includes rice flour (originally intended as a substitute for more expensive wheat flour), which results in its fluffy center.
More about the politics of the bánh mì from The Politics of Cuisine on
Instagram.
🧑🍳 The Cook:
Dave Ferguson
🔑 Keywords:
POC,
Vietnam,
sandwich,
pork,
Asian,
French,
baguettes
🗂️ Categories: 🥡
Asian Food, 🐖
Pork, 🥪
Sandwiches 📚 Cookbooks:
The Politics of Cuisine,
The TFR Cookbook
bánh mì was added on January 30, 2023 and last updated on March 29, 2025.
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