Healthy Dish

Banh Mi

Ingredients

rice vinegar: 0.5 cup
white sugar: 0.25 cup
water: 0.25 cup
matchstick-cut carrots: 0.25 cup
peeled and matchstick-cut daikon radish: 0.25 cup
thinly sliced white onion: 0.25 cup
skinless, boneless chicken breast half: 1 piece
garlic salt, or to taste: 1 pinch
ground black pepper to taste: 0 piece
(12 inch) French baguette: 1 piece
mayonnaise: 4 Tbsp
thinly sliced cucumber : 0.25 cup
fresh cilantro leaves: 1 Tbsp
jalapeno pepper, cut into 1/16-inch-thick matchsticks: 1 small
lime: 1 wedge

Metric Conversion

Stages of cooking

Combine rice vinegar, sugar, and water in a saucepan. Bring to a boil over medium heat, stirring until sugar has dissolved, about 1 minute. Allow the mixture to cool.
Place carrot, radish, and onion in a bowl. Pour in cooled vinegar mixture and let marinate at least 30 minutes.
While vegetables marinate, set an oven rack about 6 inches from the heat source and preheat the broiler. Lightly oil a slotted broiler pan.
Sprinkle chicken breast with garlic salt and pepper.
Place chicken on the prepared pan and broil, turning once, until browned and no longer pink in the center, about 6 minutes per side.
Place chicken on a cutting board. Cut into bite-sized pieces.
Slice baguette in half lengthwise. Pull out the soft center of the bread, leaving a cavity for the fillings.
Lightly toast baguette under the broiler, 2 to 3 minutes.
Drain off excess vinegar mixture after vegetables have marinated.
To assemble the sandwich, spread each half of toasted baguette with mayonnaise. Layer chicken on the bottom half of the bread. Top with cucumber, drained pickled vegetables, cilantro, and jalapeno. Squeeze lime wedge over fillings and cover with top half of baguette.
Cut into two 6-inch sandwiches to serve.

History of the Banh Mi:

Banh Mi is a Vietnamese sandwich that reflects the country's diverse culinary influences, from French colonialism to Southeast Asian flavours. The sandwich is typically made of bread, meat, and vegetables, and is a beloved street food in Vietnam. Its popularity has spread worldwide in recent years, and you will now find many Western variations of the Banh Mi.

Tips and Tricks for Banh Mi Recipe:

Ensure that the vegetables are properly pickled for the best flavour. Allow them to marinate for at least 30 minutes to infuse the vinegar mixture.
When broiling the chicken, flip it once to get an even char on both sides. Make sure that the chicken is fully cooked and not pink in the middle.
To give the sandwich a spicy kick, add more jalapeno to the recipe. Adjust the seasoning to your liking.
For the best texture, use a French baguette to make the Banh Mi. It should have a thin, crispy crust and a soft, chewy interior.

Tips for presenting the dish:

Cut the Banh Mi into smaller segments for easy consumption.
Serve with a side of crispy chips, fries or sweet potato fries.
To add some visual interest to your plate, arrange lettuce leaves around the sandwich.
Offer a selection of sauces, including Sriracha, chilli sauce, or hoisin sauce, to add heat and depth of flavour to the sandwich.

Enjoy this delicious and versatile sandwich, which can be customised in so many different ways!

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