Bánh mì
 Bánh mì thịt nướng (baguette with grilled meat) | |
| Alternative names | Vietnamese sandwich |
|---|---|
| Place of origin | Vietnam / French Indochina |
Bánh mì or bánh mỳ (/ˈbʌn ˌmiː/; Vietnamese pronunciation: [ɓǎɲ mî]) is a Vietnamese term for all kinds of bread. Bread, or more specifically the baguette, was introduced by the French during its colonial period. The bread most commonly found in Vietnam is single serve and resembles a torpedo, therefore the term bánh mì is synonymous with this type of bread. The bánh mì is usually more airy than its western counterpart, so as a result, has a thinner crust.
The sandwich made from bánh mì include meat and soy fillings such as steamed, pan-roasted or oven-roasted seasoned pork belly, Vietnamese sausage, grilled pork, grilled pork patties, spreadable pork liver pâté, pork floss, grilled chicken, chicken floss, canned sardines in tomato sauce, soft pork meatballs in tomato sauce, head cheese, fried eggs, and tofu. Accompanying vegetables include fresh cucumber slices, cilantro (leaves of the coriander plant) and pickled carrots and daikon in shredded form. Spicy chili sauce is normally found in bánh mì sold by vendors in Vietnam. In western countries, especially the U.S., the chili sauce has been replaced with sliced jalapeños, a type of chili pepper that is not grown and consumed in Vietnam. In southern Vietnam, homemade mayonnaise is commonly added to the sandwich. Laughing Cow cheese is also a popular filling in Vietnam.
Abroad, bánh mì shops can be found in areas with a Vietnamese immigrant community. The sandwich has become more accepted by mainstream populations in certain urban centers. This is particularly in London, where bánh mì shops have become a widely popular lunchtime option.
Although the term "bánh mì" itself only means bread without any fillings, the term is used to refer to a type of meat-filled sandwich found in Vietnamese bakeries abroad, especially in the US, Canada, Australia, France where there are substantial Vietnamese populations. In the Vietnamese language, the term "bánh mì" is not enough to describe the type of meat-filled sandwich. Therefore, additional words are added to describe the kind of fillings. For example, "bánh mì pâté thịt" means a sandwich with pâté and meat, usually pork bellies since it is the most common kind of meat. "Bánh mì pâté cha thịt" means a sandwich with pâté, Vietnamese sausage and meat. However, even in Vietnam when somebody says "I'm going to have a bánh mì for breakfast," it implies that he or she is going to have a meat-filled sandwich for breakfast, not just bread.
"Banh mi" was added to the Oxford English Dictionary on March 24, 2011.[1][2]. "Bánh mì" is considered one of the world's best street food. [3]
Ingredients
The sandwich is a product of French colonialism in Indochina, combining ingredients from the French (baguettes, pâté and mayonnaise) with native Vietnamese ingredients like cilantro (coriander leaves), hot peppers, and pickled carrots.[4]
The classic version bánh mì thịt nguội, sometimes known as bánh mì đặc biệt or "special combo", is made with various Vietnamese cold cuts such as sliced pork or pork bellies, chả lụa, and head cheese, along with the liver pâté and vegetables.[5]
Some restaurants also offer bánh mì chay, a vegetarian option, made with tofu or seitan. In Vietnam, vegetarian sandwiches are rarely found on the streets. They are usually made at Buddhist temples during special religious events.
Another option is the breakfast bánh mì, either with 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.
See also
- Chow mein sandwich, an east coast Chinese-American sandwich
- Hoagie
- Lee's Sandwiches
- Sandwich
- St. Paul sandwich, a midwestern Chinese-American sandwich
- Vietnamese cuisine
References
- ^ "Oxford English Dictionary retrieved 2011.03.24
- ^ Andy Bloxham. Heart symbol enters Oxford English Dictionary "The Telegraph", March 24, 2011
- ^ http://www.indochinapioneer.com/blog/travel-guide/banh-mi-of-vietnam-is-one-of-the-worlds-best-street-food.html
- ^ Daniel Young. "East Meets West in 'Nam Sandwich", New York Daily News, September 25, 1996.
- ^ Andrea Nguyen. "Master Banh Mi Sandwich Recipe", Viet World Kitchen, retrieved 2010.04.03]
External links
- The Banh Mi of My Dreams The Washington Post.
- Bánh Mì: The baguette-bound culinary bonanza Austin Chronicle.
- Banh mi? There is no sub Boston Globe.
- Building on Layers of Tradition The New York Times.
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