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These Vietnamese Pork Banh Mi sandwiches are some of the best sandwiches I have ever had. And I don’t say that lightly. I am a big sandwich lover and have tried all kinds of sandwiches.
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Bánh mì sandwich (specifically a pork bánh mì sandwich) is one of the best sandwiches with all the flavor! The layers of ingredients contain smoked pork, veggies soaked in rice vinegar for a few minutes, which adds to the all-around awesome flavor, and then a sweet and spicy sriracha-mayo mixture all encased in a french baguette. It is the perfect combination!
These sandwiches are bursting with flavor! All the ingredients are so fresh and delicious! Each bite that you take will be sweet, savory, and a little spice. If this is your kind of sandwich, then you need to make this as soon as possible! Bánh mì sandwich is a delicious lunch or light dinner everyone will love!
Vietnamese Pork Banh Mi Sandwiches Ingredients
First, you have your smoked pork which tastes amazing. Top that with Vietnamese pickled veggies. Then you have a little jalapeño and cilantro sprinkles in the mix with some sriracha-mayo. The blend of all these flavors wrapped in crusty French bread is just heavenly.
- Chinese bbq pork – You can use either pork tenderloin tips, pork shoulder, or pork butt for this recipe. We love to follow the Chinese BBQ pork recipe for the best results when making this bánh mì sandwich.
- Carrots – The carrots will marinate and be pickled carrots that have a sweet and savory taste to them. Shred them into fine pieces like matchsticks before adding them to the jar.
- Daikon – A daikon radish is a white radish that is milder and less spicy compared to a regular radish that is pink in color.
- Cucumber – You can use either a regular cucumber plump and fresh or a long and skinny English cucumber depending on your tastebuds and what you like. Each has its own flavor and unique characteristics.
- Jalapeno peppers – Add this for spice! Slice each of the jalapenos into smaller circles to add to the vegetable marinade jar. Remove the seeds for less heat.
- Rice vinegar – This has a zesty and tangy flavor to it. This will help marinate and pickle the vegetables.
- Sugar – Added in for sweetness and to balance all the flavors.
- Mayonnaise – Just a smooth and creamy condiment that will satisfy the bread and combination of the ingredients stacked together.
- Sriracha – This is usually not included in this sandwich but I do love a little extra heat. Add this in if you like things a little spicy and more flavorful.
- Baguette loaves – Find a baguette that is about 2 to 3 inches in diameter. You don’t want the bread to be too thin though. Just enough to slice it and add in all the ingredients to make a delicious sandwich.
- Cilantro – Add cilantro leaves for garnish!
How To Make Vietnamese Banh Mi Sandwiches
This Vietnamese sandwich is always a light and tasty sandwich that will fill you up but not overfill you. It is the perfect balance with all the flavors! Layer your sandwich with all the ingredients to make this perfect bánh mì!
- Prepare pork – Cook the pork according to the Chinese BBQ pork recipe.
- Peel and cut – Peel carrots, daikon, and cucumber and cut them into small matchsticks. Place cut vegetables in a quart-sized canning jar along with the sliced jalapeño.
- Stir – Combine vinegar, water, and sugar and stir until the oil is dissolved.
- Marinade – Pour the mixture over the vegetables in the jar and seal. Refrigerate for at least 10 minutes.
- Combine – Whisk together mayonnaise and Sriracha.
- Cut – Slice bread lengthwise cutting down just one side (try not to cut all the way through, you will want to just slice it open so it lays flat– kind of like how they slice bread at Subway)
- Layering – Spread the mayo mixture over the baguette. Cut pork into thin slices and place on bread. Drain the pickled vegetables and place them evenly over the pork.
- Garnish – Sprinkle a little cilantro over the top of the veggies and serve.
Variations on this Recipe
It is not always easy to find all the ingredients that are needed for every recipe. Follow these ideas to make the best sandwich out of what you have and what you can find.
- For the pork – Now I have seen some recipes for Pork Banh Mi sandwiches call for shredded pork. The place where we like to get our sandwiches makes the pork the way we are doing it here in this recipe. The pork is done in “Chinese BBQ pork” style. I honestly can’t say which way is more authentic (I have never eaten a sandwich in Vietnam) but I can tell you this way is the best tasting, in my opinion.
- For the daikon – Sometimes this can be hard to find. If you are unable to find daikon, don’t stress. Just add a little more carrot and cucumber to make up for it. The sandwich will still be delicious, I promise.
- For the bread – Pick a nice and crusty french bread. It is going to be on the thinner side, not a large one that is used primarily for spaghetti. You will want it to be closer to a baguette bread. Some baguette bread may be too thin/small though. You want to be able to make a sandwich on it so it needs to be the right size. Get bread that is around 2-3 inches wide, like the size of your forearm.
“My teenage daughter BEGS for this recipe. SO delicious we loved them!”
-Erica S
Frequently Asked Questions
Now the word bánh mì is actually a term used for “bread” in Vietnamese. That being said, no matter what you put IN the sandwich, it can still technically be a bánh mì sandwich. You can use anything from pork or chicken to eggs or even sardines and pate.
The most popular kind of bánh mì is the pork bánh mì, but really any kind of meat you prefer in it. I think grilled chicken would actually be a decent substitute for pork if you aren’t a pork fan.
Yes! The famous Vietnamese baguette is an airy and crunchy French baguette. It is made with a combination of wheat and rice flour that has a thin crispy crust.
More Great Sandwiches
Sandwiches are always a favorite, easy to make, and a go-to when it is picnic time! Try these different variations of sandwiches that are warm or cold and some are perfect for lunch dates to sharing at parties. Enjoy your favorite sandwich just how you like it!
Vietnamese Pork Banh Mi Sandwiches
Ingredients
Instructions
- Prepare pork as indicated in the linked recipe above.
- Peel carrots, daikon, and cucumber and cut into small match-sticks (or you can shred into large shreds).
- Place cut vegetables in a quart-sized canning jar along with the sliced jalapeño.
- Combine vinegar, water and sugar and stir oil dissolved.
- Pour mixture over the vegetables in the jar and seal (make sure all the vegetables are covered with the liquid). Refrigerate at least 10 minutes.
- Combine mayonnaise and Sriracha. Slice bread lengthwise cutting down just one side (try not to cut all the way through, you will want to just slice it open so it lays flat– kind of like how they slice bread at Subway)
- Spread mayo mixture over the baguette.
- Cut pork into thin slices and place on bread.
- Drain vegetables and place evenly over the pork.
- Sprinkle a little cilantro over the top of the veggies and serve.
Hi Erica! I think this recipe is spot on for the most part. I would just use white vinegar instead of rice vinegar as it makes the pickles more tart. Also matchstick-cut carrots and daikon are easier to eat than the shapes that are cut in the photos. We don’t actually have sriracha in Vietnam and usually don’t add it to any Banh Mi, but a trick I have for you is to take the leftover sauce/marinade you have for your BBQ pork and reduce it a bit to use as a sauce in your sandwiches! Some mayonnaise and pate smeared inside the bread also adds to authenticity!
Thank you so much for the tips! We will definitely try them!!
My teenage daughter BEGS for this recipe. SO delicious we loved them!
Delicious and I loved the crisp texture of the veggies. Great sandwich.