Vietnamese Herb-Infused Banh Mi Sandwich

By , Test Kitchen Director · Reviewed by AislePrompt Editorial · ·

A vibrant sandwich featuring tender pork, fresh herbs, and crunchy vegetables on a crusty baguette, perfect for a quick lunch or picnic. This vietnamese-inspired street food ready in about 61 minutes pairs pork shoulder, fish sauce, rice vinegar for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 480 calories and feeds 4, 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.

Prep: 45 min Cook: 16 min Serves 4 Vietnamese cuisine 480 cal/serving
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Ingredients

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Instructions

  1. Step 1: Combine pork shoulder, 2 tbsp fish sauce, 1 tbsp rice vinegar, 1 tsp brown sugar, and minced 2 garlic cloves in a bowl. Marinate for 1 hour at room temperature.
  2. Step 2: Heat 1 tbsp oil in a skillet over medium-high. Cook marinated pork for 8 minutes per side until golden, then slice thinly.
  3. Step 3: Julienne carrots and daikon radish into matchsticks. Thinly slice cucumber and red onion. Finely chop cilantro.
  4. Step 4: Spread 3 tbsp mayonnaise mixed with 1 tbsp sriracha on the baguette. Layer sliced pork, pickled carrots, carrot matchsticks, daikon matchsticks, cucumber, red onion, and cilantro.

Frequently asked questions

How long does Vietnamese Herb-Infused Banh Mi Sandwich take to make?

Total time is about 61 minutes (45 min prep + 16 min cook). Most home cooks find this fits comfortably into a weeknight; double the batch on Sunday for two dinners.

How do I store leftover Vietnamese Herb-Infused Banh Mi Sandwich?

Cool to room temperature within 2 hours, then store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. Reheat covered in a 350°F oven for 10-12 minutes, or microwave at 70% power in 60-second bursts to keep pork shoulder from drying out.

Can I substitute ingredients in Vietnamese Herb-Infused Banh Mi Sandwich?

Yes — most ingredients in this recipe have flexible swaps. For oil, use any neutral high-smoke-point oil (avocado, grapeseed, refined coconut). For aromatics, dried herbs at ⅓ the volume of fresh work in a pinch. The full ingredient list is shoppable on Instacart so you can see substitutes in real time.

How do I scale Vietnamese Herb-Infused Banh Mi Sandwich for a different number of people?

The recipe is written for 4 servings. Multiply each ingredient by (your serving target / 4). Cook time stays roughly the same up to 2x; for 3-4x batches, switch from a skillet to a sheet pan or stockpot so the food isn't crowded — overcrowding steams instead of browns.

What goes well with Vietnamese Herb-Infused Banh Mi Sandwich?

Vietnamese street food like this pair well with a simple grain (rice, couscous, or crusty bread), a quick salad with acid (lemon vinaigrette, pickled onions), and a pan sauce or yogurt-based dip. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" to get specific side suggestions.

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