This fresh Vietnamese baguette roll with golden crust is exceedingly crispy and crunchy. As for the Thịt Nướng (grilled meat), I used the intensely flavorful grilled lemongrass pork that was slightly on the fatty side so it turned out nice and tender with charred aromas. Spread the baguette with some mayo or butter and fresh cilantro, jalapeno slices and most importantly, the pickled carrots and daikon, you’re on your way to a very substantial meal. This is another great summer recipe to try as the aromas of the grilled lemongrass pork beckons from afar.
Out of all the bánh mì varieties, my personal favorite is Bánh Mì Thit Nuong with grilled lemongrass pork. What’s yours?
Banh Mi with Lemongrass Pork
This fresh Vietnamese baguette roll with golden crust is exceedingly crispy and crunchy. As for the Thịt Nướng (grilled meat), I used the intensely flavorful grilled lemongrass pork that was slightly on the fatty side so it turned out nice and tender with charred aromas.
Ingredients
- 2 lbs boneless pork butt
- (cut into 1/4-inch thick slices, 8-inch length by 2 1/2-inch width)
- 4-6 8-inch baguette rolls, sliced lengthwise in the center
- 1/2 bunch cilantro leaves
- 5 Jalapeno chilies, deseeded and thinly sliced
- Pickled carrots and daikon (store-bought or homemade)
- Mayonnaise
- Lemongrass Pork Marinade:
- 1/2 cup minced lemongrass
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 3 tablespoons fish sauce
- 1 1/2 tablespoons ground black pepper
- 5 shallots, peeled and minced
- 3 cloves garlic, peeled and minced
- 2 tablespoons roasted sesame oil
- 2 tablespoons peanut oil/regular cooking oil
- 2 tablespoons sweet soy sauce
Instructions
- Lightly pound the pork slices with a mallet/back of the kitchen knife. In a bowl, mix all the Marinade ingredients well. Put in the pork slices and marinade for about 1-2 hours/overnight. Discard excess marinade before use.
- Preheat grill until ready to use. Gently arrange marinated pork slices onto the grill. Grill until the pork is nicely charred on both sides and meat is thoroughly cooked. If use indoor broiler oven, broil for 5-7 minutes on each side or until the meat is completely cooked and nicely charred.
- Remove lemongrass pork from grill and assemble the baguettes with mayonnaise spread, and then put the sliced Jalapeno chilies, a slice of grilled lemongrass pork, and finish off with a handful of pickled carrots and daikon and cilantro leaves. Serve a whole baguette or cut the baguette into half.
Pickled carrots and daikon
- Julienne the carrots and the daikon radishes. Cut them first crosswise into 2 1/2 inch long segments. Then cut 1/4-inch thick slices lengthwise. Stack the slices and cut them again into 1/4-inch thick batons.
- 1 cup plus 4 teaspoons of sugar
- 2 teaspoons salt
- 2 1/2 cups white vinegar
- 2 cups warm water (warm enough to easily dissolve sugar) bring to a boil and pour over carrots and daikon
Recipe adapted from Rasa Malaysia
Photo: Mastermaq / CC BY-SA
