Caramelized Pork Banh Mi

Submitted by LucyS-D

"A banh mi is basically a Vietnamese hero sandwich. Often made with ground pork, this one has pork tenderloin that can be grilled or pan seared. The pate is optional, but normally found in a banh mi. Recipe adapted from Yahoo! Shine."

 

• Ready In: 25mins
• Ingredients: 23
• Serves: 6

ingredients

• Pickled Carrots and Radishes

• 1⁄4 lb baby carrots, peeled
• 1 bunch red radish
• 1⁄2 cup water
• 1 cup apple cider vinegar
• 1 tablespoon kosher salt
• 2 tablespoons sugar

• Caramelized Pork

• 1 - 1 1⁄2 lb pork tenderloin
• 3 tablespoons fish sauce
• 2 tablespoons maple syrup
• 1 tablespoon brown sugar
• 2 tablespoons soy sauce
• 1⁄2 teaspoon sesame oil
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 1⁄4 teaspoon gingerroot, minced
• 1 green onion, sliced thinly
• 1⁄2 teaspoon fresh ground black pepper
• 2 tablespoons vegetable oil

• Banh Mi and Assembly

• 1 loaf sweet French baguettes (thin) or 1 loaf french bread sandwich bun (try to get the kind of French bread with a crisp crust and tender light center)
• red leaf lettuce
• sliced jalapeno pepper
• fresh cilantro
• pate (optional, but recommended) or liverwurst (optional, but recommended)
• mayonnaise

directions

1. Slice carrots and radishes in fourths or sixths lengthwise, depending on size (you are making a sort of slaw).
2. Combine with remaining ingredients; set aside for flavors to meld an hour or up to overnight (will keep for several days, refrigerated).
3. Slice tenderloin, against the grain, into 1/2 inch slices; pound to an even 1/4 inch thickness between plastic wrap.
4. Make a marinade by combining fish sauce, maple syrup, brown sugar, soy sauce, sesame oil, minced garlic, minced ginger, green onion, and black pepper; make sure all the pork is coated in the marinade and let sit for 10 to 30 minutes.
5. Heat your grill, grill pan, or cast iron skillet to high; add vegetable oil to marinated pork and stir to coat.
6. Sear pork 1 to 2 minutes per side (it cooks very quickly).
7. To assemble sandwiches, slice the baguette and spread with mayonnaise on one side and pate (or liverwurst) on the other (if using); add lettuce, meat, pickled vegetables, sliced jalapeno, and cilantro.

Reviews

[ClarkeCC]

This was really excellent, and actually a lot less work than it seems. I made it pretty much as listed in the recipe, with one "cheat". Instead of making my own pickled veggies I used pre-made from a jar that I got from a local Asian grocery. (probably not as good, but a lot less fuss. This is a definite do again.