Vietnamese food is known for its unique blend of ingredients. Vietnam was part of French Indochina in the mid-19th century, and during this time, French food blended with Asian cuisine. The banh mi is an excellent example of how these two cultures mixed to create a unique dish. Here's more information about the sandwich if you're unfamiliar with it.

What's a Banh Mi?

Origins

When the French took over Vietnam, the locals became their cooks and servants. The colonists insisted their meals be prepared the way they were back home, preferring to eat European ingredients, like baguettes, cold cuts, and cheese. These sandwiches were expensive, as the ingredients had to be imported from Europe.

After the Vietnamese overthrew the colonists, they modified the recipe to include cheaper, local ingredients, and mayo and vegetables replaced butter and meat. The country split into North and South Vietnam in 1954. With refugees fleeing on foot to escape war-torn areas, they needed portable meals, and the banh mi sandwich was born.

Ingredients

Banh mi is the Vietnamese word for bread, and the sliced French baguette is the heart of the sandwich. Since wheat flour is expensive and not readily available, the bread is made with rice flour, which gives it a crispy crust and tender, airy body. The baguette is split along its length and layered with several savory ingredients.

The most common fillings include pickled white radish and carrots, cilantro, chili pepper, and cucumbers. Traditional meat fillings include sardines, sweet minced pork, head cheese, Vietnamese salami, and liver pate.

If you want to try delicious Vietnamese food, stop by Pho' Vietnam in Anchorage, AK. This eatery maintains four locations throughout the area and serves authentic Asian cuisine for lunch and dinner. Visit the website to view their extensive menu of Vietnamese food, or call (907) 929-9938 to place a takeout order.