This is a fantastic weeknight meal – start to finish you can have this baby on the table in about 20 – 25 minutes! The meatballs are so perfectly moist and packed with so much flavor, you may be in danger of finishing them off before they even make it into the sandwich!
If you’ve been following this blog for awhile, you may have noticed that I have a wee bit of a bánh mì obsession. It started out harmless enough, spending nearly every lunch hour at the local bánh mì shop, then graduating to making my own Lemongrass Pork Bánh Mì to feed my habit at home, then experimenting with variations of the bánh mì for a greater high – making a Breakfast Bánh Mì and then Bánh Mì Hot Dogs. Well my friends, you can now add the Meatball Bánh Mì Sandwich to the list.
Bánh Mì (Pronounced BUN-Mee, means bread). Vietnamese-style baguette is a bit different than the traditional French baguette – it’s light, airy, and delicately crispy. If you have a Vietnamese market or deli in the area – check there first. If not, for this particular application lightly toasting a hoagie roll will do just fine.
Feel free to make the meatballs out of whatever protein you like – beef, turkey, chicken, they’ll all do very well in this sandwich.
- ¼ cup rice vinegar
- ¼ cup white vinegar
- 2 large carrot, julienned
- 8 radishes, julienned
- 1 pound ground pork
- 1 egg, lightly beaten
- ½ cup panko
- 1 tablespoon low sodium soy sauce
- 2 teaspoons fish sauce
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 teaspoon ginger, grated
- 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
- ½ cup mayonnaise
- 1 tablespoon Sriracha
- 3 jalapeños
- 1 small bunch of cilantro
- 6 mini very fresh French baguettes (not too thick/bready). You can also use lightly toasted hoagie rolls for this application.
- In a medium-sized bowl, combine the rice vinegar and white vinegar. Add the carrot and radish - toss to incorporate and set aside.
- In a large bowl add the ground pork. Then add the egg, panko, soy sauce, fish sauce, garlic, and ginger. Mix well. Shape into meatballs, about 1¼-inch in diameter (you'll make about 25 meatballs).
- In a large heavy-bottomed skillet over medium-high heat, heat the oil. Add the meatballs in a single layer and cook until browned on all sides, about 8 - 10 minutes.
- Meanwhile, to prepare the Sriracha-mayo, simple combine the two in a small bowl.
- Slice the bread lengthwise and slather both sides of the bread with the Sriracha-mayo, add the meatballs, pickled carrots and radishes, cilantro, and jalapeños. Serve and enjoy!
Unlike many of the others in this comment section, I have actually made this recipe. It is SOOOOOOO good. I was a bit worried about the fish sauce after smelling it and cooking with it, but the end result is delicious. Your food blog is one of my favorites. Thank you!
The first time I cooked with fish sauce I was a little worried as well, but it really does add a wonderful flavor! I’m trying to convert all those people that look at me sideways when I mention fish sauce 😉 It makes me so happy to hear that you not only enjoyed the dish, but this is one of your favorite blogs – you’ve made my day, Kevin. Thanks 🙂
So glad I found this recipe – I love Banh Mi sandwiches! Looking forward to trying out your breakfast Banh Mi too 🙂
I’m so glad you did too 😉 I seriously think I could live off of Banh Mi and all of its variations! Happy eating 🙂
I love any version of Banh-Mi and this is no exception! Looks delish!
Oh me too! I’m what you would call a ‘banh mi fanatic’! 😉
I just finished my lunch, but looking at those amazing banh mi sandwiches has made me hungry again, I can’t believe I haven’t tried banh mi yet, I must remedy that!
OMG! Number one gorgeous pictures! Number two fantastic dish! And number 3, I kind of stared at the snippet of your range a bit too much…it’s looks pretty fancy!!! I love dishes like this!!! It’s gorgeous honey! LOVE LOVE LOVE!
I love this sandwich and reading the ingredients is making my mouth water at 7am. Can’t wait to try it.
It’s 7:30am and I’m craving this sandwich. Sounds like it would be full of flavor!
Haha! I’m glad I’m not the only one who craves things like this first thing in the morning! 🙂
Loving these ‘BÁNH MÌ SANDWICHES’ — so exotic. And those jalapeños on top are just to die for. Absolutely yummy!
You gotta have those pops of heat with jalapeños! 🙂
I’m glad you have a bánh mì obsession so I say keep on keeping on with these recipes! Love bánh mì sandwiches so especially happy to see this post. Pinning and making it very soon 🙂
We should create a secret bánh mì society so we can enjoy our obsessions without judgement 😉
Oh my goodness! I am totally craving for banh mi now… There is a banh mi place in Torrance that we love to go. The vietnamese lady makes some of the best meatballs and grilled pork banh mi. Yours look just as good! Makes me so hungry!
Oh really?! I will be in Torrance tomorrow – what’s the name of the place?
After seeing this on Pinterest, I had to come see more, Kathleen. I’m both a meatball and a banh mi fan so this is heaven. I love that it’s so quick and easy and so fresh and beautiful! Your photography is stunning, friend. Great job 🙂
Thanks so much, Robyn! I think you and I have a lot of the same tastes 🙂
Kathleen, you had me at banh mi but the fact that this is SO quick to put together is stealing my heart! Looks absolutely delicious!
Thanks so much, Amy! The fact that they come together so quickly means you can eat more, right?! 😉
I need to try all of the Bah Mi recipes you’ve shared and will start with this one! Looks delicious, pinned!
Great! Thanks so much, Mira!
I always run into nibblers in my family so these meatballs might totally disappear before these even made it to the table! I guess I’d better make a bigger batch!
Ha! Good idea, Kathy! I’m a terrible nibbler – I have to keep telling myself to stop, otherwise I’ll have nothing to photograph 😉
You totally have a banh mi obsession, girl! I love it! I happen to have a meatball obsession, so I would be plucking those babies right out of that pan and into my mouth! They would never make it to the bun! P.S. Your photos are gorgeous!
Then I guess you just need to make extras 😛 Thanks so much sweetie!
Looks so good, Kathleen! I can eat bánh mì every day of the week. I loving how this one comes together in less than 30 minutes!
You and me both! Thanks so much, Thao 🙂