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Filled with pickled vegetables, fresh herbs, marinated pork meatballs and a spicy sriracha mayonnaise, this Vietnamese Banh Mi sandwich might be one of the best sandwiches ever! Vietnamese street food right in your own home!

banh mi sandwiches on paper with meatballs, vegetables, fresh herbs and sauce on the side

This recipe was originally published in March 2018. It has been updated for photos and content.

Plus, it's super easy to make and great for quick weeknight meals or to bring with you to lunch! And you can't go wrong with a flavor packed, fresh, delicious sandwich.

The freshness of the herbs, the crunch of the veggies, and those delicious, fatty ground pork meatballs.

The meatballs are SO GOOD. I mean seriously guys, these are the BEST meatballs (almost as good as these Instant Pot Asian glazed meatballs!). The only thing that makes this sandwich even better is putting it on chewy French bread and slathering it with an incredible sriracha mayonnaise.

Vietnamese food is a serious weakness of mine - I have fallen head over heels for this Bun Bo Hue (spicy beef noodle soup) and this Banh Canh (thick noodle soup). All the fresh veggies, herbs, meats and spices are just so incredibly fragrant and delicious. I have a trip planned to Vietnam this year and am beyond excited.

I'm a HUGE fan of street food and just know that I'm going to love it there. But until then, we have a little bit of Vietnam right in our own kitchen.

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Ingredients
Step by Step Instructions
Expert Tips
More Vietnamese Recipes
Recipe
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What is Banh Mi?

Banh Mi is a Vietnamese style sandwich typically served on a crusty French baguette and filled with meat, pickled vegetables, and herbs, and slathered with a touch of mayonnaise. Minced pork, pate, grilled chicken and fish are all popular fillings.

It is typically served at room temperature.

2 meatball sandwiches with herbs and vegetables on a baguette

Ingredients

The meatballs in this recipe are made with ground pork and seasoned with a little chili garlic sauce, fish sauce and soy sauce, and lemongrass. I recommend using a fatty pork (not lean) as the flavor and consistency will be better.

The bread is one of the most important parts of the banh mi. A French style baguette that slightly chewy on the outside, and tender on the inside, is perfect for this recipe.

You can buy a regular French baguette from your grocery store, or your local Asian market may even have fresh Vietnamese style baguettes.

We do a quick pickle of some carrots and radish in rice vinegar to put on the sandwich.

Sliced jalapenos and fresh herbs are used as garnish.

And a little mayonnaise, sriracha and hoisin sauce are a must to make the sriracha mayonnaise.

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Step by Step Instructions

Combine all the meatballs ingredients in a bowl and mix to combine. Be careful not to over-mix as it can cause your meatballs to be more dense. Chill it in the fridge for 30 minutes to make it easier to form the meatballs.

Once your meatballs are chilled, lay some wax paper down over a large baking sheet. Roll the pork mixture in 2" meatballs and lay on the baking sheet. You can also place them on a plate.

Heat a nonstick skillet over medium heat and add the meatballs. cook for about 3-4 minutes a side, until golden brown. Remove from heat and set aside.

Use a spatula to slightly flatten the meatballs so they are about ½ to 1" thick. This helps them stay on the sandwich better.

Spread a thin layer of sriracha mayonnaise on the top of the bread. Place 2 meatballs (or whatever you want to try and fit) on the bread.

Top with the pickled vegetables, sliced jalapeno and fresh herbs (I like cilantro).

sandwich with herbs, meatballs and vegetables

How to Make Sriracha Mayonnaise

Mix the mayonnaise, sriracha and hoisin sauce in a bowl until well combined. Can be made in advance and stored for up to 5 days.

How to Make Pickled Vegetables

Thinly slice the carrots and radish into small matchsticks (see photos). Combine the vinegar, sugar, salt and chilies in a bowl and mix until the sugar is dissolved.

Pour over the vegetables and let sit for at least an hour. For even better results, you can make these a day in advance and let them sit overnight.

carrot and radishes in a bowl with liquid

Sandwich Variations

Substitute the pork meatballs with grilled pork, pate, shrimp, fried fish, tofu, or grilled chicken.
Add herbs like mint and basil to the sandwich.
Add as many meats as you want to the sandwich - mix and match!
Use regular mayonnaise or try this Homemade Mayonnaise;
Add a sunny side up egg to the sandwich for something extra special.

Expert Tips

Don't over-mix your pork mixture as it can cause your meatballs to be more dense. We want them light and springy.
I recommend cooking the meatballs in a non-stick skillet to prevent them from sticking to the pan. You can also use a well seasoned cast iron skillet.
Flattening the meatballs with a spatula while they cook makes them fit on the sandwich easier.