VEGAN TOFU BANH MI SANDWICH

If you haven't tried a Banh Mi, you are not living! Banh Mi is the Vietnamese word for bread. And, in Vietnamese cuisine, it also refers to a type of baguette which is often filled with various savory ingredients and served as a meal. Although the traditional Banh Mi is made using chicken, this VEGAN TOFU BANH MI SANDWICH is nothing short of amazing!

This is no sandwich. It's a meal!

My first encounter with a Banh Mi sandwich was at one of my favorite local restaurants: Mai Pen Rai. Though it's really a Thai restaurant, they have this on their menu. I swear I ended up going back for this sandwich on a weekly basis (I ordered it with fried tofu and no spicy mayo).... it is that good!

One day I asked myself: "why not make it at home?"

And so, I did! And here you have it! I still go back to Mai Pen Rai for this and other dishes. It's just not their food that's good, they're good people too!

Hope you enjoy this recipe. Pro tip: goes down really well with a beer!

VEGAN TOFU BANH MI SANDWICH

WHAT YOU'LL NEED:

For the pickled veggies:

• 3 carrots, julienned

• 1 cucumber, sliced thin

• 2 radishes, sliced thin

• 1 teaspoon of salt

• 1/2 cup of rice vinegar

• 1/2 cup apple cider vinegar

• 1/2 cup of water

• 2 tablespoons of sugar

For the tofu:

• 1 inch of ginger, peeled and finely minced

• 1 clove of garlic, finely minced

• 2 tablespoons of soy sauce

• 1/2 tablespoon of sesame oil

• 1/2 package of extra firm tofu, sliced into 1/4 inch pieces

For the sandwich:

• Handful of cilantro, lightly chopped

• 2 tablespoons of vegan mayo mixed with 1 tablespoon of sriracha

• 2 French baguettes

HOW TO MAKE IT:

For the pickled veggies:

1. Place vegetables in a large mason jar or any other container with a lid. Pour in the salt, sugar, vinegars, and water. If your jar isn’t filled up all the way, fill it to the top with water. Set in the fridge until ready to use.

2. This works best if done overnight. If not, pickle your veggies for at least 90 minutes.

For the tofu:

1. Remove any excess water from your tofu. 

2. In a shallow dish, whisk together the ginger, garlic, soy sauce, and sesame oil. Place the tofu in and let it marinate for 10 minutes on each side.

3. Heat some sesame oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Once hot, add in the tofu and cook for 4-5 minutes on each side until golden brown.

To assemble the sandwich:

1. Toast/warm the bread, and slice open. 

2. Spread sriracha mayo on each side.

3. Top with a hefty portion of veggies, tofu, and top with cilantro.