Bánh Mì

Prep: 30 mins

Cook: 15 mins

Difficulty: Intermediate

Servings: 4 Servings

Bánh mì literally translates to bread in Vietnamese, so the Vietnamese baguette is the most iconic part of this sandwich — cotton-soft in the middle and with a paper-thin crust on the outside. In Vietnamese diaspora communities like the ones I grew up in (New Orleans and Orange County, California), there are entire bakeries dedicated to this one baguette like the James Beard award-winning bakery Dong Phuong in New Orleans. The bread, and eventually what would become bánh mì, was born out of French colonialism in Vietnam. Its origins stem from the French cold-cuts sandwich, but was adapted for portability with cheaper ingredients and with flavors unique to Vietnamese cuisine.

Ingredients

8 ounces carrots (2 medium), peeled and grated on the large holes of a box grater (about 2 cups)
8 ounces daikon radish, peeled and grated on the large holes of a box grater (about 2 cups)
1 teaspoon kosher salt
2/3 cup water
1/3 cup granulated sugar
1/3 cup distilled white vinegar
1 small shallot, minced (about 1/4 cup)
1/4 cup granulated sugar
2 tablespoons minced garlic (about 8 cloves)
2 tablespoons fish sauce
1 tablespoon neutral oil, such as canola
1 tablespoon soy sauce or Maggi seasoning
2 teaspoons freshly ground black pepper
1 1/2 pounds boneless pork shoulder, butt or roast, cut across the grain into 1/4-inch thick strips
Cooking spray
4 (9-inch) "baguette" rolls from a Vietnamese or Asian market, or 4 French or Italian sandwich rolls
4 tablespoons mayonnaise, preferably Kewpie
4 tablespoons pork or chicken pâté (optional)
1 medium jalapeño, cut crosswise into 1/4-inch thick rounds (optional)
Soy sauce or Maggi seasoning
4 (about 9-inch long, 1/4-inch thick) cucumber spears
16 sprigs fresh cilantro

Instructions

Place 8 ounces peeled and grated carrots and 8 ounces peeled and grated daikon in a fine-mesh strainer set in the sink or in a bowl. Sprinkle with 1 teaspoon kosher salt, and toss and massage the salt into the vegetables with your hands. Squeeze out as much excess liquid as you can. Discard the liquid and transfer the vegetables to a 24-ounce canning jar or medium heat-proof bowl.
Heat 2/3 cup water, 1/3 cup granulated sugar, and 1/3 cup distilled white vinegar in a small saucepan over medium-high heat until sugar is dissolved, about 2 minutes.
Pour over the vegetables and make sure they are fully submerged in the brine. Cover and let sit at room temperature for at least 1 hour before using.
Stir 1 minced small shallot, 1/4 cup granulated sugar, 2 tablespoons minced garlic, 2 tablespoons fish sauce, 1 tablespoon neutral oil, 1 tablespoon soy sauce, and 2 teaspoons black pepper together in a large bowl or gallon zip-top bag. Add 1 1/2 pounds sliced boneless pork shoulder and toss to coat. Cover the bowl or seal the bag. Refrigerate for at least 1 hour or up to overnight.
Arrange an oven rack in the upper third of the oven and heat the oven to 375ºF. Line a rimmed baking sheet with aluminum foil and fit a wire rack on top. Coat the rack with cooking spray. Arrange the marinated pork into a single layer on the rack (it’s okay if the rack is crowded).
Roast until the pork is almost cooked through and registers 140ºF, about 10 minutes. Turn on the broiler and broil until the pork is charred in spots, 2 to 5 minutes per side. Let cool slightly while you toast the bread and assemble the sandwiches.
Reduce the oven temperature to 375ºF. Split 4 Vietnamese baguettes in half with a serrated knife. Close the bread back up, then wrap in aluminum foil. Bake until the outside is lightly crispy to the touch, 5 to 7 minutes.
Assemble each sandwich: Open up the bread again. Spread 1 tablespoon of the mayonnaise on the cut side of the bottom half. Spread 1 tablespoon of the pâté if desired on top of the mayonnaise. Top with about 4 jalapeño slices if desired, 1/4 cup of the pickles (drained), 1/4 of the pork slices, and a few dashes soy sauce. Top with 1 cucumber spear and 4 fresh cilantro sprigs. Close the sandwich with the top of the baguette and cut in half with the serrated knife if desired.