Bánh mì thịt nướng (baguette with grilled meat) |
|
| Origin | |
|---|---|
| Alternative name(s) | Vietnamese Sandwich |
| Place of origin | Vietnam / French Indochina |
Bánh mì or bánh mỳ (English pronunciation: /ˈbʌn ˌmiː/, Vietnamese: [ɓǎjŋ 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 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.
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 a 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]
Contents |
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.[3]
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.[4]
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.