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Meat, South and Southeast Asian

Grilled pork bánh mì

Grilled pork bánh mì are Vietnamese sandwiches filled with marinated grilled pork, carrot and radish pickles, cucumber and cilantro. This easy recipe takes 45 minutes for 4 people, at €2.90 per serving. The key to success is the crunch of the pickles and toasting the baguette first so it stays crisp.

Tonight, bánh mì, those Vietnamese baguette sandwiches packed with grilled pork, crunchy pickles, cilantro and a hit of chili.

Grilled pork bánh mì
Total time
45 min
Difficulty
Easy
Cost per person
€2.90
Calories per person
600 kcalcalculated by Kiloach, your weight coach
Season
Summer, Spring, Fall, Winter
The kids
They generally like it

A bánh mì is all about contrast, a crackling baguette giving way to tangy pickles, pork still warm off the grill and a kick of chili that wakes everything up. Cilantro adds freshness, and the mayonnaise ties it all together without weighing it down. Every bite tastes a little different depending on where you bite.

This recipe works for a weeknight when you want dinner on the table fast, and just as well for a summer lunch shared outside. Kids love building their own sandwich and deciding how much chili to add. With Mon Chou, you know the cost and the time upfront, no surprises.

The ingredients

4 people

Bakery

  • Baguettes 4

Butcher

  • Pork shoulder 500 g

Pantry

  • Fish sauceoften in the pantry 3 tbsp
  • Sugaroften in the pantry 4 tbsp
  • Rice vinegaroften in the pantry 10 cl

Fruits and vegetables

  • Garlic 2 cloves
  • Carrots 2
  • Black radish or white radishes 1
  • Cucumber 1
  • Cilantro 1 bunch
  • Chili pepper 1

Dairy

  • Mayonnaise 4 tbsp

Allergens Gluten, Fish, Eggs, Soy

The step by step recipe

  1. Grate the carrots and radish, mix them with vinegar, 2 tablespoons of sugar and salt, then let them pickle. 20 min

    Press them first, they absorb the tangy liquid better.

  2. Slice the pork thinly and marinate it with fish sauce, 2 tablespoons of sugar, the garlic and pepper. 15 min

    Put the pork in the freezer for 15 minutes to slice it more easily.

  3. Grill the pork over high heat for 6 minutes, until golden brown. 6 min

    Those little sweet bits that char slightly are where the flavor is.

  4. Warm the baguettes in the oven, split them open and spread them with mayonnaise.

    Slit them along the side without fully separating them, they hold together better that way.

  5. Fill with pork, drained pickles, cucumber, cilantro and chili.

    Let kids control their own chili level.

Our tips to get it right

  • Pick thin baguettes rather than thick ones, they fill more evenly and stay easier to bite through.
  • Drain the pickles really well before filling the sandwiches, otherwise the liquid soaks the bread within minutes.
  • Make the pickles and the pork marinade the day before, so all that's left on the day is grilling and assembling.

The variations

  • Swap the pork for thinly sliced chicken marinated the same way, the cooking time stays about the same.
  • For a vegetarian version, use firm tofu sliced and pan seared with the same marinade.
  • For kids, serve the pork and pickles in separate bowls so they can build their own sandwich without chili.

What to serve it with

  • A cold vermicelli salad
  • Homemade iced tea
  • Shrimp chips

Storage

Grilled pork and pickles keep for 2 days in the refrigerator in separate sealed containers. Don't fill the baguettes ahead of time, they'll go soft. Reheat the pork in a pan for a few minutes before filling fresh baguettes.

Questions about this dish

Can I make the pickles ahead of time?

Yes, carrot and radish pickles keep for 2 to 3 days in a sealed jar in the fridge. They actually taste better after a night, once the tangy flavor has had time to settle in.

What cut of pork works if I don't have shoulder?

You can use pork tenderloin or butt, sliced as thinly as possible. Shoulder is still the best choice since it stays juicy during the quick grilling time.

How do you keep the baguette crunchy under all that filling?

Warm the baguettes in the oven for 3 minutes before filling them, and always spread the mayonnaise first. That layer protects the bread from the pickle and pork juices.

Is fish sauce essential?

It gives the marinade and the whole sandwich its signature umami flavor. You can swap it for soy sauce, the result will be a bit less authentic but still tasty.

How long does it take to make grilled pork bánh mì?

Count 45 min in total, prep and cooking included. The recipe is rated “easy”.

How many calories are in grilled pork bánh mì?

About 600 kcal per serving, for a recipe meant for 4 people. Calories are calculated by Kiloach, your weight coach, the app that partners with Mon Chou.

How much does grilled pork bánh mì cost?

About €2.90 per serving, or €11.60 for 4 people, based on average supermarket prices.

What allergens does this recipe contain?

This recipe contains gluten, fish, eggs, soy. Always check the labels of the products you buy.

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