Bahn Mi Sandwiches

These sandwiches are amazing and fresh and delicious!  And to quote Steve "This is the best sandwich that I have ever eaten!" 

Base recipe from - http://heatherchristo.com/cooks/2013/09/08/bahn-mi-sandwich/

Bahn Mi with some extra pan juices for dipping

1 recipe Marinated Grilled Pork (Recipe Below)

1 soft French Baguette, cut into 4 portions or 4 mini baguettes

5 tablespoons siracha mustard mayo

1 recipe pickled Carrots

12 slices pickled jalapeño pepper slices

Handful of fresh cilantro

Marinated Grilled Pork

3 tablespoons fish sauce

2 tablespoons honey

1 tablespoon vegetable (or coconut) oil

½ teaspoon sesame oil

1 tablespoon packed brown sugar

2 tablespoons reduced sodium soy sauce

2 garlic cloves, minced

½ teaspoon grated fresh ginger

½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

1 pound pork tenderloin, sliced into ½ inch thick medallions

Fast Pickled Carrots

2 large Carrots, peeled and cut into matchstick sized pieces

1 cup rice wine vinegar
¼ cup sugar

2 teaspoon kosher salt
¼ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes

Siracha Mustard Mayo

4 tablespoons mayo

3 teaspoons siracha

2 tablespoons good quality grainy mustard

Instructions

For the Fast Pickled Carrots:

Warm the rice wine vinegar, sugar, salt and red pepper flakes in a small saucepan. When you have brought it to a simmer, whisk well to make sure that the sugar and salt have disintegrated. Transfer it to a bowl and let it cool completely. Add the carrots and refrigerate until ready to serve.

For the Siracha Mustard:

In a small bowl mix together the mayo, siracha and the grainy mustard. Refrigerate until ready to serve.

For the Marinated Grilled Pork:

Whisk together the fish sauce, honey, vegetable and sesame oil, brown sugar, soy sauce, garlic, ginger and black pepper in a small bowl until well combined.  Place a few pork tenderloin medallions in between sheets of parchment or plastic wrap and gently pound them ¼” flat with a meat pounder or rolling pin. Set aside and repeat with the remaining medallions. Place the medallions in a Ziploc bag and pour in the marinade. Seal the bag and shake it around to fully coat the pork. Marinate the pork in the refrigerator for 3 hours.

Heat a non-stick frying pan to medium high heat. Working in batches, sauté the pork until it is cooked through, about 3 minutes flipping halfway, you are looking for the meat to be slightly caramelized. Use tongs to transfer the meat to a plate and then tent the pork with foil to keep it warm.  At the end, add 1/4 cup of water to the pan, swirl it around to get all of the caramelized sugars and flavours, and then pour the pan juices over the cooked pork.

For the Bahn Mi:

Split a baguette portion without cutting all the way through (leave a hinge intact). Spread a generous tablespoon of the siracha mustard mayo on the bread. Fill each sandwich with pork, pickled carrots, jalapeno and cilantro.

Preparation time:  30 minutes (marinating time 3 hours)

Cooking time: 10 minute

Number of servings (yield): 4