Tuesday, January 18, 2011

Grilled Chicken Banh Mi with Pickled Vegetables


The first time I encounter with this popular Vietnamese Sandwich was in California. We were at Westminster and we had our lunch at the famous Lee Sandwich place and I was hooked. I love the taste of the fresh grilled meat, the sweet, sour, crunchy pickle vegetables, sandwich between the light and crispy baguette. Here is my homemade version on the famous sandwich.

Ingredients:

2 pieces chicken breast - skin and fat removes

Marinate:

2 cloves garlic - chopped
2 tbsp fish sauce
1 tsp sugar
Black pepper




Mix chicken and marinate together and set it aside for an hour. Heat up a frying pan, add in about 2 tbsp of olive oil and pan fried the chicken over medium heat until done on both sides. Remove and let it stand for 5 minutes before slicing it.

Ingredients for Pickle Vegetables:

2 carrots – peel and sliced thinly
1 large English cucumber – peels and sliced thinly
2 red chilies – sliced thinly
1/4 cup vinegar
1/2 cup water
1/4cup sugar
½ tsp salt

In a small saucepan, bring the water, vinegar, sugar and salt to a boil. Transfer the brine to a large bowl and let cool to room temperature. Add the carrots, cucumber, chilies and cover to keep them submerged. Refrigerate the vegetables for at least 30 mins before using.

Condiments:

2 petit baguette roll – about 6 – 7”
2 – 3 sprig of cilantro
Some mayonnaise
Some chili sauce
Some pickle vegetables

1. Slit the bread lengthwise, discard a bit of the bread on the inside. If necessary, crisp up the bread in a toaster oven and then let it cool for a minute before proceeding.
2. Generously spreading the inside with mayonnaise and chili sauce. Add in the grill meat, pickles and some cilantro. Close the sandwich cut it into half for easy eating and enjoy!
Note: You can replace the grill chicken with grill pork, beef or any type of protein. As for the pickle it can be replace with daikon.

13 comments:

WendyinKK said...

I've never seen this at Vietnamese restaurants here. Maybe the food here is too cliched.

I'll love pickled vege with grilled chicken. Really appetizing.

ReeseKitchen said...

Oh My....this definitely look beautiful and I bet it taste wonderfully delicious! I've been to those Vietnamese restaurant here but never seen this before leh. Love the combination of pickled vege and grilled meat...yum yum!

Anonymous said...

I love Vietnames Sandwiches but unable to eat the hard and crusty bread they use to make it. I just buy the filling for it and take it home and use soft French rolls for it. (Dental Work)

Do you have a recipe for their liver pate? It so different for it sweet and pepper tasting. I think it with pork and chicken liver they use in making it.

Judy

Dori said...

Yummy sandwich! :)

Elin said...

This is great for Josh when he comes back for CNY. I can make this for him ;) he is a great meat eater! pickled veggies goes well with this grilled meat. Pickle the veggies for 30 mins? I guess you missed out the word mins;)

Your #1 Fan said...

It has been a while since I last ate banh mi and you definitely make me crave for them. Looks so delicious. Thanks for sharing.

Shereen said...

I bet the pickle is even good on it's own.I a bit jakun...don't even know this sandwich existed!!Bookmarked.

Swee San said...

Banh Mi was one of the best food I had in Sydney lol, in a Vietnamese town. They make the baguette themselves too. it's so so yummy.

pigpigscorner said...

I've yet to try this! Looks so good.

lena said...

must look out for this the next time i go for vietnamese food, looks appetising with the picked vege.

ICook4Fun said...

Wendy, I don't think they sell this in a Vietnamese Restaurant. We got this at a Vietnamese sandwich place.

Reese, like I told Wendy you might not find it at Viet. Rest. Maybe you can make this yourself :)

Judy, if you use the regular French baguetter they will be hard but I am able to get the petit ones which are softer.

Meeso, thanks.

Elin, thanks for pointing the error. I already change it.

Jet, you are welcome.

Shereen, ha ha... check out your area Restaurant or sandwhich place and see if they sell this. Oh yea, I eat that pickle with everything.

Swee San, the sandwich place here too make their own baguette.

Pigpigscorner, thank you.

Lena, not sure if they have this in Malaysia.

My Asian Kitchen said...

oh!! I like the Viet's sandwich at Chinatown where you took he bus...Too bad I seldom go there anymore..not only traffic is bad,the parking too hard ..heard the public parking meter goes up 3X,no more 25 cent per 15 min..friends told me it's 75 cent per 15 mins..Your sandwich look too good!! I just bought a big chuck of pork at BJ's,maybe I should try this!!

Anonymous said...

You can find bahn mi sandwich in KL. I found this cafe in Publika Mall,solaris dutamas selling only vietnamese sandwiches, vietnamese coffee,and spring rolls. They make their own vietnamese baguette daily in the store..it is really good.Heard the owner is a american vietnamese!. ohh..the cafe is called QuickBites, it is at Level UG1, next to the food court at the mall.