Week 13: Vietnam

The area known as Vietnam was once ruled by the Chinese but in the tenth century gained independence. It was a flourishing dynasty with rich economic and political power in Southeast Asia, then the French showed up and colonized the whole thing for quick cash in the mid-19th century. Deep hatred of the French invaders divided the country and lead to cluster f*ck after cluster f*ck for a hundred years until all-out war gripped the region, dragging in the US for more than 20 years.

And once the war ended and the communists had won, the sore losers in the west made sure that Vietnam was politically and economically isolated, leading to a stagnant country that is only now starting to modernize. How did the people get through these tough times of war and French colonization?

Fortitude, strength, will of spirit and goddammit a damn delicious sammich.

Banh Mi Thit Heo Nuong (Vietnamese Grilled Pork Sandwich)

First, make the picked carrots:

1 cup shredded carrot
1 tablespoon cider vinegar
2 teaspoons sugar
1/4 teaspoon kosher salt

Combine ingredients; cover and let stand 15 minutes to 1 hour, or for the entire time you are searching Pike Street Market for Vietnamese baguettes.

Second, cook the pork:

1 Tablespoon olive oil
1 lb of pork shoulder or butt, thinly sliced
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 large shallot, minced
2 Tablespoons fish sauce
2 teaspoons sugar
salt & pepper

Heat oil in large nonstick skillet over medium heat. Add shallots and garlic to pan and cook for a couple of minutes. Add pork and reminding ingredients. Cook until the pork is done, several minutes.

Finally, your sandwiches are ready to assemble!

Pork (see above)
Carrots (see above)
soy sauce
mayo
Duck pâté
cilantro, chopped
cucumber, peeled and thinly sliced

Slice off 6 inches of the baguette per sandwich, or however much you like. Slice off top 1/3 lengthwise and set aside. Remove enough of bottom interiors so that filling can fit easily. Eat the scooped out bread with some cheese. Spread some mayo on the top of the sandwich. Crumble/spread some pâté on the bottom section. Top with pork, cucumber, cilantro, and pickled carrots. Sprinkle each sandwich with soy sauce and add back the top slice of baguette.

Hallelujah for colonization. Those Frenchies really know how to assert their power. With food! Pâté? Mayo? Baguette? Merci, bitches! This sammich is ridiculously delicious. This is our favorite new recipe. Or maybe we are just glad we were forced to visit a French bakery, and while we were there how could we possible refuse a pain au chocolat? Merci again, bitches!