Banh Mi Sandwich

Gearing up for the big game? Serve these Banh Mi Sandwiches, tender marinated pork, crisp and tangy slaw, all served on a fresh baked baguette, for a scrumptious twist on a game day staple! 

While most of our get togethers tend to be carefully planned, especially those gatherings centered around a holiday or birthday; I have gotten pretty good at “winging it” for those impromptu, last minute shebangs. I mean, yeah, I am sure it helps that I spent so many years planning events for a living; and it helps that I know my way around the kitchen, but I believe everyone can throw an event or host friends for a night in with a few short cuts and an arsenal of recipes.

One event that we kind of “just wing it” with is the big game; which, let’s be honest, I can’t believe is just around the corner. You see while we love watching sports, we are certainly not sports fanatics; and we tend to keep up just enough to carry on conversations with the general public and not look silly. BUT when it comes to the big game, we of course have to get in on the action. I mean the half time show is always fun and those commercials are a good laugh; but lets be serious, we are all about the big game because of the food! Am I right?! 😉

Even though we are not super crazy football fanatics, we always look forward to any opportunity to get together with our friends and host a party! I guess since the holidays were so busy or maybe because I really don’t pay attention all that well, the big game snuck up on me this year and I didn’t realize it was just a few short weeks away until I was on a recent shopping run to my local Randalls, where I saw signs of it everywhere!

Not only did the in-store displays remind me I better get planning, I guess now that I am thinking about it, things like these displays are the biggest tool in helping plan a get together, especially something last minute. These specially themed displays always have everything you need in one place, like Tostitos Scoops and Chunky Salsa (chips and salsa is something I ALWAYS have on hand for get togethers) and cans Pepsi. Having everything you need in one place saves so much time instead of having to run all over the store. These displays even sometimes have recipes; which I can’t help but snag and use for party planning inspiration.

In fact, that’s where today’s recipe comes from… believe it or not, a game day display at Randalls! This recipe, provided by the Pork Board, is perfect for the big game. Sandwiches are staples for a game day watching party, because they are so easy and affordable, but these Banh Mi Sandwiches are a fantastic way to take it up a notch! We love sandwiches for not only party food, but quick easy dinners as well, and we absolutely loved these! Banh Mi Sandwiches, a Vietnamese style sandwich with tender marinated pork, crisp and tangy slaw, all served on a fresh baked baguette, are a great way to wow friends for your game day watching party… and maybe just make you the most valuable player yet!

Banh Mi Sandwich
Prep Time: 30 minutes Wait Time: 2-4 hours Cook Time: 20-25 minutes Serves: 8
Printable Version

Ingredients:
Sandwich:
11/2 pound pork tenderloin, trimmed
1 (24-inch) baguettes (soft)
1/3 cup mayonnaise
1 small cucumber, peeled, halved lengthwise, seeded and thinly sliced
32 fresh cilantro sprigs

Pork Marinade:
1/4 cup sugar
4 cloves garlic, smashed
4 teaspoons chili sauce
6 tablespoons fresh lime juice (from 3-4 limes)
4 teaspoons Asian fish sauce

Vegetable Mixture:
2 tablespoons seasoned rice vinegar
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 cups shredded carrots
1 1/2 cups shredded daikon radish
1/2 cup red onion, thinly sliced

Directions:

To make marinade, combine sugar, garlic and chili sauce in mortar and pestle, mashing into

a paste. Add lime juice and fish sauce. Set 1/4 cup of mixture aside and refrigerate. Transfer

remaining mixture to re-sealable bag, add pork and set aside in refrigerator for 2-4 hours.

Preheat oven to 450º and make vegetable mixture (about 30 minutes before serving). In a

large bowl, combine vinegar and salt. Add carrots, radish and onion. Set aside, stirring

occasionally, for 30 minutes.

Place pork on lined baking pan (discard marinade from bag with pork). Roast 20-25 minutes

(to internal temperature of 145º-160º). Remove pork from oven and let rest 5 minutes.

To assemble sandwiches, thinly slice pork. Trim ends off baguettes and cut each crosswise

into 4 pieces. Cut horizontally, so each piece opens like a book. Spread with mayonnaise, top

with cucumber, pork slices and reserved marinade (drizzle it over the pork), vegetable mixture,

cilantro and serve.

Recipe provided by the Pork Board 

Nutritional Information:

Servings Per Recipe: 8, Serving Size: 1 sandwich

Calories 466.7, Total Fat 14.5 g, Saturated Fat 2.7 g, Polyunsaturated Fat 0.6 g,

Monounsaturated Fat 2.1 g, Cholesterol 70.3 mg, Sodium 867.1 mg, Potassium 525.7 mg, Total

Carbohydrate 42.5 g, Dietary Fiber 2.4 g, Sugars 10.7 g, Protein 30.8 g

Planning a game day watching party? Be the Game Day MVP by shopping Albertsons family of stores for all your Big Game Party essentials! Keep an eye out for special in-store displays for not only game day party planning ideas, but for information about the Pepsi MVP Sweepstakes for your chance to win some awesome prizes like $50,00 and a $500 shopping spree!