Saigon Sub Recipes

VIETNAMESE CHICKEN SANDWICH (BáNH Mì)

Steps:

• PICKLED VEGETABLES: Combine the water, rice vinegar, sugar, and salt and stir until the sugar dissolves. Add the daikon, carrots, and cucumbers to a large mason jar. Pour the pickling liquid over veggies, screw on the lid, and allow the vegetables to pickle in the refrigerator for at least one hour and up to 24 hours in advance.
• CHICKEN: Combine the garlic, fish sauce, soy sauce, sugar, mayo, lime zest, and sriracha (if using) in a medium bowl. Add the chicken, cover, and allow to marinate for at least 20 minutes or up to 24 hours. Cook the chicken on an indoor grill or a skillet until cooked through. The time will vary depending on the thickness of the chicken breasts. Allow chicken to rest for 5 minutes before slicing thinly on the bias.
• ASSEMBLE BANH MI: Toast the baguettes if desired, spread mayonnaise on bread and top with chicken slices, pickled vegetables, cilantro leaves, and jalapeño slices. Serve warm.

SAIGON SUB

Steps:

• Season pork pieces with salt and pepper. Place in a braising pan and add 1/4 cup soy sauce, water, chili garlic sauce, ketchup, and 1/4 cup vinegar. Braise for about 2 1/2 hours, covered, until fork tender. Remove meat with a slotted spoon and "pull" with forks until shredded. Add braising liquid, to taste. Cool.
• Mix the remaining 1/4 cup vinegar, brown sugar, wine and the remaining 2 tablespoons soy sauce. Add the cucumbers and marinate for 10 to 15 minutes.
• Drizzle the olive oil on the bread. Brown lightly, if desired.
• Spread the mayonnaise on the bread and drizzle with hot sauce. Arrange the meat on the bread, top with the lettuce, marinated cucumbers, mint, and cilantro. Slice in half and serve.

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.

BANH MI

Steps:

• Place rice vinegar, water, and sugar into a saucepan over medium heat, bring to a boil, and stir until the sugar has dissolved, about 1 minute. Allow the mixture to cool.
• Pour the cooled vinegar mixture over the carrot, radish, and onion in a bowl, and allow to stand for at least 30 minutes. Drain off the excess vinegar mixture after the vegetables have marinated.
• While the vegetables are marinating, preheat the oven's broiler, and set the oven rack about 6 inches from the heat source. Lightly oil a slotted broiler pan.
• Sprinkle the chicken breast with garlic salt and pepper, and broil on slotted broiler pan, turning once, until the center of the chicken breast is no longer pink and the surface has browned, about 6 minutes per side. Remove the broiled chicken, and slice into bite-size pieces.
• Slice the baguette in half the long way, and pull the center of the bread out of the baguette halves, leaving a cavity for the filling. Place the baguette halves under the broiler to lightly toast, 2 to 3 minutes.
• To assemble the bahn mi sandwich, spread each half of the toasted baguette with mayonnaise, and fill the cavity of the bottom half of the bread with broiled chicken, cucumber slices, pickled carrot, onion, and radish, cilantro leaves, and jalapeno pepper. Squeeze a wedge of lime over the filling, and top with the other half of the baguette.

VIETNAMESE CHICKEN SANDWICH (BANH MI)

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F with rack in middle.
• Shred daikon and carrot in a food processor fitted with medium shredding disk. Stir together vinegar, sugar, and 1/2 teaspoon salt and toss with shredded vegetables. Let slaw stand, stirring occasionally, 15 minutes.
• Meanwhile, heat baguette on rack in oven until crusty, about 5 minutes. Cut off and discard round ends, then split baguette.
• Mix together oil, fish sauce, and soy sauce and brush on cut sides of bread. Spread liverwurst on bottom layer of bread and top with chiles, onion, and cilantro.
• Drain slaw in a colander.
• Arrange chicken, slaw, and lettuce on cilantro. Spread top layer of bread with mayonnaise and cut sandwich crosswise into fourths.

VIETNAMESE SANDWICHES

Steps:

• With chef's knife, mash garlic and salt into a paste.
• Transfer to a mixing bowl and add vinegar and sugar, stirring to dissolve.
• Add carrots, onions and chilies.
• Toss to coat, set aside.
• Slice baguette into 4 equal lengths.
• Split each piece horizontally.
• Spread cut sides with mayonnaise.
• Arrange the meat on the 4 bottom halves.
• Sprinkle with lime juice and 5-spice powder.
• Top with the carrot salad and a shower of cilantro leaves.
• Cover with bread tops.

VIETNAMESE SANDWICH

Steps:

• Preheat the oven's broiler. Place the pork chops on a broiling pan and set under the broiler. Cook for about 5 minutes, turning once, or until browned on each side.
• Open the French rolls and spread mayonnaise on the insides. Place one of the cooked pork chops into each roll. Spread chile sauce directly on the meat. Sprinkle with a little lime juice and top with slices of onion, cucumber, cilantro, salt and pepper. Finish with another quick drizzle of lime juice.