Authentic Banh Mi Recipe with Lemongrass Pork

4.69 from 19 ratings

An easy, authentic recipe for Vietnamese banh mi that includes lemongrass pork, fresh vegetables, pate, and mayonnaise.

Prep Time30

Cook Time20

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: Vietnamese

Keyword: banh mi, banh mi recipe, banh mi sandwich, pork banh mi

Servings: people

Calories: 586kcal

First prep your cha lua, cucumbers, and jalapeño. Thinly slice all these ingredients and set aside in the fridge.
Combine all the ingredients for the lemongrass pork in a bowl. Make sure the pork is coated in the marinade. Let the pork marinate for at least 30 minutes. I like to marinate overnight.
Heat a grill pan or regular pan over high heat. Cook the pork for 1-2 minutes on each side until brown. Set aside.
Put together your banh mi. Cut the baguette about halfway through length wise, so you can open it like a Subway sandwich. Smear mayonnaise on one side of the baguette and pate on the other side of the baguette. Add the lemongrass pork, cha lua, cilantro, cucumbers, pickled carrots, pickled daikon, and jalapeño to the baguette.
Enjoy!

Serve right away for the best flavor and texture.
Pork shoulder substitute. Pork shoulder can be substituted with pork butt or pork belly. Leaner cuts such as pork loin can be used, but it will be dryer and less flavorful.
Vegetable oil substitute. Vegetable oil can be substituted with olive oil or grapeseed oil
Cha lua note. If you don't like cha lua or can't find it, feel free to leave it out of the sandwich.
Marinate lemongrass pork overnight. Typically when my mom makes lemongrass pork, she likes to marinate her meat overnight. This gives the flavor more time to develop.