One of the most well known and loved street-eats from Vietnam is Banh Mi, which means bread in Vietnamese. Vietnamese cuisine is deliciously fresh, tasty and colourful as herbs and vegetables are a large part of each dish. Try our version of Banh Mi for an Asian inspired meal which lets you be flexible with ingredients and create delicious flavours.

Serves: 4
Prep: 40 mins  Cook: varies

Ingredients

For the rolls:

• the crunchier the better! Traditionally, white rolls are used but, if you’re looking for more fibre try wholemeal or multigrain rolls

For the meat or other protein fillings, you can use:

• 1 large tin tuna, drained
• hot smoked salmon
•  hard boiled eggs mashed with some mayo
•  roast chicken
• bbq slow cooked pork (see recipe here)
• teriyaki beef (see Foost recipe here)

For the filling:

• ¼ cup rice wine vinegar
• ½ teaspoon crushed ginger
• ½ teaspoon sugar
• 1 large Lebanese cucumber
• 3 carrots
• ½ iceberg lettuce or cabbage
• 1 red capsicum

Optional extras

• ½ bunch coriander
• sweet chilli sauce
• crushed peanuts
• mayonnaise or Greek yoghurt

Directions:

1. To make BBQ pork or teriyaki beef, follow the recipe instructions linked (can be prepared in advance). If using eggs, boil in a medium pot for 4-6 minutes, carefully drain and fill pot with cold water so eggs can cool. Peel eggs whilst wet (makes it easier). In a bowl, gently mash eggs with a few teaspoons of mayonnaise
2. To pickle the vegetables for the filling, grate carrots and use a vegetable peeler to peel cucumbers into strips then divide the vegetables in two separate bowls, one for the carrots, one for the cucumbers.
3. In a small bowl, mix together vinegar, sugar and ginger using a fork then pour mixture into the bowls containing the carrots and cucumbers. Place pickled vegetable aside for 20 mins
4. Thinly shred lettuce and roughly cut coriander (if using)
5. Place pickled vegetables, lettuce and coriander on a platter with any extras such as crushed peanuts or sweet chilli sauce
6. Let everyone fill their roll with whichever meat or protein they enjoy, teamed with pickled vegetables, lettuce and condiments of their choosing

Notes:

All these delicious fillings are traditionally eaten in a crunchy baguette-style role, however, using these ingredients to make a salad would also be great.