Faux Saigon Subs

Let’s talk about my favorite Vietnamese sandwich.
Well, it’s inspired by the Vietnamese banh mi.
With traditional Chinese flavorings.
And a slaw that would not seem out of place in a Thai restaurant.
So, yeah…this really isn’t Vietnamese.
It’s really just an impostor.
Faux Saigon Subs

Ingredients (serves 4):
1 lb meat – pork, beef, chicken, or any combo thereof
1/2 cup breadcrumbs (preferably panko)
2 Tbsp. Chinese five spice
2 tsp. fish sauce
1 bunch scallions, chopped
1 bunch cilantro, cleaned and chopped
1 cup mayonnaise
sambal olek to taste
1 batch Asian Sandwich Slaw
1 baguette, cut into 4 equal pieces

 1) Put your meat into a large bowl and mix it with the Chinese 5 spice.

 2) Add the breadcrumbs, scallions, and cilantro,

 and the fish sauce. Mix until all ingredients are combined.

 3) Make yourself a test patty in a saute pan and see if you need to add anything. I needed to add quite a bit more fish sauce, which really caramelized and adds a salty sweetness to the meat. But feel free to add whatever else you need. The tip to make a test patty is some of the best cooking advice I ever received.
Meanwhile, preheat your oven to 350 F.

 5) Your patties should be done in about 10 minutes, or when the inside is completely brown, but not at all dried out. Start checking at 7 minutes, just so you don’t overcook them.

 6) Now assemble your sandwiches, layering the mayonnaise, sambal olek…

 slaw…

 and, finally, meat.