Caramelized Shallot and Pork Banh Mi Sandwich

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-05-22 · Updated 2026-05-22

A Vietnamese sandwich featuring tender caramelized pork, pickled vegetables, and fresh herbs in a crisp baguette. This Vietnamese-inspired pork recipe, ready in about 40 minutes, pairs pork shoulder, shallots, sugar for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 550 calories and feeds 2, so it slots cleanly into a weekly meal plan and pairs well with a quick salad or grain on the side. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.

Ingredients

• 1/2 lb, thinly sliced pork shoulder
• 3 small, thinly sliced shallots
• 2 tbsp sugar
• 1 tbsp fish sauce
• 2 tbsp vegetable oil
• 2 small, split baguette
• 1 medium, julienned carrot
• 1/2 cup julienned daikon radish
• 1/4 cup rice vinegar
• 1 tbsp sugar
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1/2 small, thinly sliced cucumber
• 1/4 cup fresh cilantro
• 2 tbsp mayonnaise
• 1, thinly sliced (optional) jalapeño

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Instructions

1. Step 1: Prepare quick pickled vegetables by combining 1/4 cup rice vinegar, 1 tbsp sugar, and 1/4 tsp salt in a bowl. Add 1 medium julienned carrot and 1/2 cup julienned daikon radish, tossing to coat. Let sit for at least 15 minutes.
2. Step 2: Heat 2 tbsp vegetable oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add 3 thinly sliced shallots and 2 tbsp sugar, cooking for about 5 minutes until the shallots are caramelized and fragrant.
3. Step 3: Add 1/2 lb thinly sliced pork shoulder and 1 tbsp fish sauce to the skillet. Sauté for 6-8 minutes until the pork is cooked through and coated in the caramelized shallot sauce.
4. Step 4: Lightly toast 2 small baguettes split lengthwise. Spread 1 tbsp mayonnaise on each baguette half.
5. Step 5: Assemble sandwiches by layering the caramelized pork, pickled vegetables, 1/2 small thinly sliced cucumber, 1/4 cup fresh cilantro, and optional 1 thinly sliced jalapeño for heat. Serve immediately for a satisfying Vietnamese banh mi experience.