Bánh Mì Recipe

Core ingredients

• 1 loaf baguette-style bread
• Julienned carrot
• Julienned daikon radish
• Salt
• Water
• Coconut vinegar or white vinegar
• Sugar

Standard bánh mì fillings

• Cilantro (coriander) leaves and stems
• Super-thin jalapeño slices
• Fresh sliced cucumber

Protein fillings

• BBQ pork
• BBQ chicken
• Sliced pork pâté
• Sliced pork meatloaf
• Sliced ham
• BBQ beef
• Meatballs
• Sliced Chinese/Thai/Vietnamese-style sausage (waxy kind)
• Sardines
• Tripe
• Smoked salmon
• Grilled or fried whitefish
• Textured vegetable protein (wheat gluten, seitan, sueyu, suegai - vegetarian fish fillets)
• Seasoned tofu

Optional additional fillings

• Sliced turnip
• Sliced green onions
• Sliced, patted dry tomatoes
• Sprigs of mint
• Sprigs of basil
• Shredded cabbage
• Sprout mix
• Lettuce

Sauces for sandwich

• Japanese mayonnaise (Kewpie Mayo - squeeze bottle with a baby on front)
• Mayso (mayo and soy sauce)
• Maysocha (mayo, soy sauce, and sriracha chili sauce)
• Maycha (mayo and sriracha)
• Hot Mom (mayo, Lao Gan Ma Chinese hot sauce)
• Any of the above with lime or lemon juice and sugar
• BBQ sauce and mayo

Pickling the vegetables

1. Lightly sprinkle the julienned carrot and radish with salt. Let rest 5 min, then rinse with cold water.
2. Mix equal parts of water, vinegar with sugar. Bring to a boil, cool, and pour over vegetables.
3. Store this mixture in a container in the refrigerator for at least a day before using.

Sandwich assembly

1. Slice a length of baguette lengthwise. Form a trench in each half by either removing the excess bread or compressing it. These depressions are where you will put the filling.
2. Toast the bread if desired.
3. Spread a layer of desired sauce(s) on each half of the bread.
4. Fill the sandwich with any of the desired fillings listed above.
5. Serve.