Bánh Mì Thịt Nướng Recipe

Vietnamese grilled pork sandwich, or Banh Mi Thit Nuong (Bánh Mì Thịt Nướng), is a variation of the traditional Vietnamese Banh Mi sandwich. Its primary source of protein is grilled pork, which may or may not be shredded. The sandwich also contains pâté, mayonnaise, pickled vegetables, etc.

Banh Mi Thit Nuong is a ubiquitous breakfast item, street food, and midnight snack in Vietnam. Locals often buy the sandwich from street vendors, some like to prepare this superb Vietnamese sandwich at home. And I will instruct you on how they do it.

I will cover a few facts about the definition and categorization of Banh Mi Thit Nuong, the required tools and ingredients for preparing the sandwich, the instructions for making it, and tips and suggestions for similar dishes.

What Is Banh Mi Thit Nuong?

Banh Mi Thit Nuong is a simple yet flavorful Vietnamese dish. Its main ingredients are Vietnamese-style baguettes, marinated and grilled pork, pâté, mayonnaise, fresh and pickled vegetables, and other condiments. Banh Mi Thit Nuong is widely available at many street food stalls.

The history of Banh Mi Thit Nuong began after the French introduced baguettes to Vietnam in the mid-19th century when the country fell under French colonial rule. Locals eventually figured out how to pair the bread with various traditional Vietnamese dishes, including grilled pork.

While “Thit Nuong” in “Banh Mi Thit Nuong” only means “grilled meat,” pork is the dominant choice of meat for the sandwich. The sandwich is everywhere in Vietnam. Banh Mi Thit Nuong is extremely easy to prepare at home, requiring only a few cooking tools.

What Tools Are Necessary to Make Banh Mi Thit Nuong?

The necessary tools for making Banh Mi Thit Nuong are a knife, a pair of chopsticks, and a small spoon. Here are their functions:

What Ingredients Do You Need to Prepare Banh Mi Thit Nuong?

To make Banh Mi Thit Nuong, you need to have the following ingredients:

A regular Vietnamese baguette has a length of 8 and a width of 3 – 3.5 inches. Baguettes of a smaller or bigger size also works.

Homemade roasted pork shoulder is my top suggestion, but pulled pork is an acceptable substitute. Using leftover grilled pork or pulled pork for this Banh Mi Thit Nuong recipe is acceptable.

It is a mixture of minced garlic, soy sauce (including the low-sodium varieties), vinegar, and Vietnamese scallions and oil garnish.

How Do I Prepare Homemade Banh Mi Thit Nuong?

Preparing Banh Mi Thit Nuong involves only preparing the vegetables and assembling the sandwich from other ingredients. Let me show you the exact instructions.

Step 1: Prepare the Vegetables

Rinse the vegetables and let them drain.

Cut the cucumber into ribbons or long sticks. Cut the scallions into long strips. Cut the chili peppers into little rings.

Step 2: Assemble the Banh Mi Pate

Use a sharp knife to slice open the baguette along its length. Don’t push the blade too deep, or you will pierce the other side and cut your baguette in half.

Use the knife to spread a suitable amount of pate onto the sides of the baguette, followed by a layer of Vietnamese-style mayonnaise.

With a pair of chopsticks, put the cucumber ribbons, scallion strips, cilantro, tomato slices, pickled vegetables, and chili pepper rings into the split baguette. Pour the garlic sauce over the filling, then add the shredded grilled pork.

Smear some chili sauce and mayonnaise onto the baguette. A common tip to improve the flavor of Banh Mi Thit Nuong is to adjust the amount of chili sauce.

What Are Tips and Tricks to Improve Banh Mi Thit Nuong?

Apply these tricks to whip up a killer Banh Mi Thit Nuong: reheating the baguettes in advance, using other types of pork, serving the sandwich as soon as possible, pairing the sandwich with Vietnamese coffee, and adjusting the spice level by using more or less spicy ingredients.

I will also introduce a few similar Banh Mi dishes that nobody can resist.

Alternatively, store the ingredients separately in airtight containers and only create the sandwich when needed. The baguettes, fillings, and condiments can be refrigerated for 3 days at most.

What Are Similar Vietnamese Dishes To Try?

The following 5 Vietnamese Banh Mi dishes are as flavorful and quick to prepare as Banh Mi Thit Nuong. Check them out to diversify your meal rotations.

Enjoy Banh Mi Thit Nuong For A Wonderful Breakfast

Thousands and thousands of Vietnamese people have Banh Mi Thit Nuong every morning, and it isn’t difficult to see why. The aroma of warm baguettes filled with tender grilled pork is too tempting to ignore. Banh Mi Thit Nuong is among the most wonderful Banh Mi recipes to grace Vietnam’s street food scene.

Now that you know how to prepare and serve Banh Mi Thit Nuong, I hope you will put your knowledge to good use. Feel free to share your cooking experience with me in the comment section. And please introduce this Banh Mi Thit Nuong recipe to your friends if they’re interested in Vietnamese cuisine!