Banh Mi is a Vietnamese sandwich very similar to the American submarine sandwich.
Bánh mi is a Vietnamese sandwich famous for being extremely filling and relatively inexpensive. In its native Vietnam, bánh mi is common in many restaurants and street stalls, and in regions of the world with a large Vietnamese community, the sandwich is also extremely common. In any case, there are a number of settings to choose from, with ingredients ranging from pulled grilled pork to tofu, and condiments that can be mild or intensely spicy.
Daikon is commonly used in banh mi.
The development of bánh mi only started when the French colonized Vietnam, introducing people to the baguette, a type of long, thin, crusty French bread. French settlers developed a kind of salad sandwich, taking advantage of locally available Vietnamese ingredients such as fresh greens, pickled vegetables, and hot peppers, and the early form of bánh mi was born. Although the French left Vietnam, the taste for bánh mi remained.
Tofu can be used in banh mi.
This sandwich is analogous to the submarine sandwich in the United States, also known as a hoagie, po’ boy, hero, grinder, wedge, or Italian, among many other alternative names. However, the bánh mi does have some distinctive features that set it apart from this well-known American sandwich. The first is the inclusion of classic Asian ingredients like radish, cilantro, pickled carrots, sriracha chili sauce, tofu, and chives. The second is the seasoning that is used in meats, when meat is included; the meat has a typical vietnamese touch.
Chives are ingredients in banh mi.
Pork, beef, and chicken are used in bánh mi, sometimes even together. The sandwich can also include ingredients like eggs for a breakfast sandwich, and ingredients like seitan, tempeh, and textured vegetable protein are not unheard of in vegetarian versions. In all cases, bánh mi usually has a healthy balance of greens and fresh greens mixed with meats.
Some people call bánh mi a kind of kitchen sink sandwich, which means that cooks throw out everything they have in the house. Whether bánh mi is made with leftovers or with specific ingredients, it tends to be very filling and the ingredients often try to get out of the baguette. Most people are used to very cheap bánh mi, which makes it a popular street food and quick bite.