Bánh mì

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Bánh mì (left) and gỏi cuốn

Bánh mì or bánh mỳ (English pronunciation: /ˈbʌnmiː/, Vietnamese: [ɓǎːɲ mî]) is a Vietnamese baguette made with both wheat and rice flour, but more popularly known as a type of sandwich traditionally made with this type of baguette.^[1] The sandwich is made up of thinly sliced pickled carrots and daikon(Do Chua), cucumbers, cilantro, Chili peppers, pâté, mayonnaise and various meat fillings or tofu. Popular bánh mì fillings include roasted or grilled pork, Vietnamese sausage, chicken, head cheese and ham.

Bánh mì is generally served in small shops and at some phở noodle eateries. Bánh mì shops can be found in many countries, especially in areas with a Vietnamese immigrant community. The contrasting flavors and textures of the sandwich — as well as its relatively low cost — make it a popular dish. In America, Bánh mì is sometimes referred to as a "Saigon Sub"^[2], a "Vietnamese Sub, a "Vietnamese Po' boy" (in the New Orleans area), a "Vietnamese Hoagie" (in Philadelphia) or a "Vietnamese Sandwich".^{[citation needed]}

[edit] Ingredients

Bánh mì xíu mại (crushed pork meatball bánh mì) from a Houston, Texas Asian market.

Bánh mì đặc biệt ("special combo" bánh mì).

The bánh mì sandwich stems from the French countryside "salad sandwich" which consists of lettuces, tomatoes and sometimes vegetables as well as dressing served on a baguette. The sandwich is a product of French colonialism in Indochina, combining ingredients from the French (baguettes, pate and mayonnaise) with native Vietnamese ingredients like cilantro, hot peppers, fish sauce and pickled carrots.^[3]

In Vietnamese, bánh mì means "bread", but it can also refer to the bread stuffed with meat.

The ingredients in a Vietnamese sandwich vary most notably in their meat selections. Common varieties are bánh mì gà made with chicken, bánh mì trứng with scrambled egg, bánh mì bì made with shredded pork skin and roasted rice powder, bánh mì thịt nướng made with grilled pork, bánh mì xíu mại made with juicy crushed pork meatballs, and the bánh mì đặc biệt or "special combo" which includes all the ingredients found in the other sandwiches. Some restaurants also offer bánh mì chay, a vegetarian option, made with tofu or textured vegetable protein. One variety is made with various Vietnamese coldcuts made of pork, along with pickled carrots and radishes. Chili peppers and pate are often added as well. In the United States, the typical Vietnamese sandwich is known as the bánh mì thit and it is often made with broiled pork and goose liver pate. In Canada, the most popular Vietnamese Subs are made with beef or chicken.

Another popular option is the breakfast bánh mì, either with fried scrambled eggs served in a baguette, or the version eaten more widely for breakfast in Vietnam: Eggs fried sunny-side-up with onions, sprinkled with soy sauce or maggi sauce, and eaten with a fresh (and sometimes buttered) baguette.

[edit] Popularity

Vietnamese food became very popular in Canada starting in the '90s, and continues to be: Banh Mi Thi Thi in downtown Calgary Alberta has consistently had lineups down the street for their chicken pate sub for over ten years. ^[4]. The demand has also been growing in places like France, Australia, Czech Republic, Germany, Poland, Russia, South Korea, Laos and Thailand. ^[5]. A renaissance of Vietnamese food including bánh mì and pho are also very popular in U.S. cities. The New York Times has reported on the many bánh mì shops popping up around New York City.^[6] Banh Mi is also popular in South Philadelphia where it is known as the Vietnamese Hoagie.

[edit] Recipes

• Complete source for Bánh Mì and component recipes Chow-Town.ca

[edit] See also

• Lee's Sandwiches
• Vietnamese cuisine
• Sandwich

[edit] References

1. ^ Ed Levine. Lo, a New Age of Heroes New York Times, December 1, 2004
2. ^ SAIGON SUB' SHOP 5K Tropical Life March 3, 2002 The Miami Herald
3. ^ Daniel Young. East Meets West in 'Nam Sandwich New York Daily News, September 25, 1996.
4. ^ Winner in the submarine wars FFWD Calgary News and Entertainment Weekly
5. ^ [1] Asiarooms.com
6. ^ Julia Moskin Building on Layers of Tradition April 7, 2009 New York Times

[edit] External links

Wikibooks Cookbook has a recipe/module on Bánh Mì

• The Banh Mi of My Dreams The Washington Post.
• Edmonton's best sammies Find heaven between two slices of bread The Edmonton Journal.
• Bánh Mì: The baguette-bound culinary bonanza Austin Chronicle.
• Banh mi? There is no sub Boston Globe.
• Vietnamese Banh Mi Recipe. Food Network
• The Best Bánh Mì -Vietnamese Sandwiches Battle of the Bánh Mì
• Banh Mi in Chicago
• 'Wich of the Week: Bánh Mì YumSugar
• Banh Mi in New York City
• Building on Layers of Tradition The New York Times.