Braunschweiger Banh Mi Recipes

GRILLED SHIITAKE AND TOFU BANH MI

Steps:

• Prepare a grill for medium-high heat. Put the tofu between 2 plates, and weight the top plate down with about 4 pounds (3 large cans or a large, heavy skillet) for about 20 minutes to remove excess moisture.
• Meanwhile, whisk together 1/2 cup of the vinegar, 1/2 cup water, the sugar and 1/2 teaspoon salt in a medium bowl until the sugar and salt dissolve. Add the carrots and cucumbers, toss to coat and chill until ready to serve.
• Whisk together the mayonnaise and Sriracha in a small bowl; set aside.
• Pat the tofu dry, and cut it into 8 1/2-inch-thick slices. Grate the garlic into a large bowl, and stir in the hoisin, the remaining 3 tablespoons vinegar and the oil. Add the mushroom caps, and stir to coat. Lightly oil the grill grates.
• Shaking off any excess marinade, put the mushroom caps on the grill. Grill them for about 1 minute, rotating them once to char more of the cap, then flip and cook until almost tender, 30 seconds to 1 minute more. Transfer the mushrooms to a platter, and sprinkle lightly with salt and pepper.
• Toss the tofu in the marinade, then grill, marinade-side down, for 2 minutes. Flip, and grill the second side for 2 more minutes. Transfer the tofu to the platter.
• Open the rolls, and grill, cut-side down, until just toasty, about 2 minutes.
• Smear each half of a roll with 1 heaping tablespoon of the mayonnaise mixture. Put 2 pieces of tofu on each roll, then shingle the mushrooms, overlapping slightly, on top. Top with some of the carrot-cucumber salad, drained, and a shower of cilantro leaves. Close the rolls, pressing gently. Halve them on the diagonal, and serve.

DUCK BANH MI

Steps:

• Cut baguettes into 6-inch long pieces. Split open baguettes, giving you tops and bottoms for each piece. Spread mayonnaise on the tops and bottoms. Add 3 to 4 thin slices jalapeno to the bottom. Place the desired amount of Duck Confit on top of that, then top with Pickled Slaw. Top with 3 to 4 thin slices cucumber and a sprinkling of cilantro.
• Preheat the oven to 250 degrees F.
• Break down the duck by removing the legs, thighs, breast and wings. Discard the carcass (or reserve for a stock). Place the duck pieces in a deep roasting pan and cover with the lard, smoothing it over the duck with a spatula or gloved hands. Add the chopped garlic, peppercorns, salt and bay leaves. Roast for 4 hours, then transfer the pan to the top shelf of your fridge. Let cool completely, 4 to 6 hours. Once cooked, pull meat from the bones, shredding it as you remove it, and discard the bones.
• Meanwhile, place vinegar, sugar, chile flakes and sliced garlic in a pan over medium heat. Let slowly boil until reduced to a third of the original amount, about 1 hour. Remove from heat.
• Warm a large frying pan over medium heat. Add the shredded duck until it is heated to approximately 145 degrees F, 6 to 8 minutes. Add 1/2 cup sweet chile sauce and cook, stirring continuously to prevent the chile sauce from burning, until the duck is heated to 165 degrees F, 2 to 3 minutes more.
• Slice the jicama, carrot, daikon and onion into thin matchsticks. Warm the rice vinegar and sugar in a pan over medium heat until it begins to boil. Remove from heat, then add the vegetables and cover. Let sit for 1 hour.

THE NO.1 COLD CUT COMBO BANH MI

Steps:

• For the pâté: On a hot flat top or griddle, add the ground pork and sprinkle liberally with salt and pepper. Sear until golden brown and fully cooked. Transfer to a big bowl. Grease the flat top with a little bit of oil, then add the chicken livers and sprinkle liberally with more salt and pepper. Sear until medium-rare. Add the chicken livers to the bowl with the pork. Add the shallots, garlic and a little bit of oil to the flat top. Cook until the shallots are soft and translucent. Transfer to the bowl along with the pork fat, five-spice powder, 2 tablespoons salt and 2 tablespoons black pepper. Mix thoroughly. Transfer the mixture to a food processor, then purée until smooth. Stir in 1/2 cup coarsely ground black pepper. Store in a nonreactive container in the refrigerator.
• For the ham hock terrine: In a large pot, add the ham hocks and 3 gallons water. Bring to a simmer. Cook until the meat is falling off the bone, about 3 hours. Transfer the ham to a large bowl and let cool. Strain and reserve the ham stock. Pick and discard the cartilage, bones and tough meat from the hocks. Dice the fat, then julienne the skin and return to the bowl. Set aside.
• Stir the gelatin into 15 grams cold water in a bowl and let sit for 5 minutes.
• In a pot, bring 4 cups reserved ham stock to a simmer. Remove from the heat and stir in the gelatin. Pour the stock over the ham meat, fat and skin. While warm, transfer the meat mixture to a 400-size hotel pan or large roasting pan and press with another pan to weigh down. Refrigerate overnight to set.
• For the pickled vegetables: In a 12-quart clear container, combine the sugar, vinegar and salt. Whisk to combine until the salt and sugar dissolve. In a large, nonreactive container, mix the carrots and daikon until evenly distributed. Distribute the vegetable mixture into three 12-quart, clear plastic containers. Evenly pour the vinegar mixture over the vegetables. Toss the vegetables and press down so that they are all submerged under the pickling liquid. Pickle, refrigerated, at minimum 30 minutes and at most 1 week.
• To assemble and serve: Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
• Toast the baguettes until super crispy on the outside and steamy and warm on the inside, 3 to 4 minutes. Split the baguettes, then slather the entire inside with mayonnaise. Spread the bottom of each sandwich with 1 ounce pâté. Start evenly layering from bottom to top of each sandwich in this order: cucumber, 1 to 2 slices bologna, 1 to 2 slices ham hock terrine, 1/2 cup pickled vegetables, cilantro, jalapeño, 3 dashes soy sauce and a few cracks of black pepper. Close the sandwiches, cut in half, and eat right away!

VIETNAMESE-STYLE SANDWICH: BANH MI

Steps:

• Make the slaw: In a small saucepan, combine the water, sugar, and vinegar and bring to a boil. Transfer the vinegar mixture to a bowl and cool. Add the carrot and daikon, mix well, and season with salt. Set aside to marinate for 30 minutes or store in the refrigerator up to overnight.
• Meanwhile, make the seasoned pork: Heat the oil in small nonstick skillet over medium heat. Add the onion and cook, stirring, until soft. Add the pork, seasoning, garlic, and pepper and cook, stirring, until just cooked through, about 2 to 3 minutes. Remove the heat and set aside covered with foil to keep warm.
• Make the sandwiches: Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Slice the baguettes open lengthwise, and slather the insides with mayonnaise. Arrange the baguettes on a baking sheet and bake until hot and crusty about 5 minutes. Remove the baguettes from the oven and immediately fill each with some of the seasoned pork. In each sandwich, arrange 2 slices each of the pork roll and salami, 1 teaspoon soy sauce, 1/2 tablespoon cilantro, 1 slice cucumber, ground pepper, and chili oil, if using. Serve immediately with the slaw on the side.