There is a wonderful authentic Vietnamese joint in my town that sells the most delightful bahn mi sandwiches. My husband has been wanting me to recreate these at home for some time but  I'll admit, I was intimidated. Today I finally decided to make his wish come true and wow, are these sandwiches good! I'm kicking myself for not trying to make them sooner! 

6-8 hoagie type buns

1 carrot, julienned 

1 diaikon (carrot sized), julienned 

1 cup vinegar

3 tablespoons sugar

2 tablespoons salt

1 pound lean ground pork

1 pound lean ground beef 

2 tablespoons vegetable oil

1 small onion, diced 

4 garlic cloves, minced

1 large tablespoon fresh ginger, minced

2/3 cup chicken stock

1/2 cup hoisin sauce 

1 cup oyster sauce 

Black pepper

1/4 cup chopped peanuts

Chopped cilantro as garnish 

Simmer your vinegar, salt, and sugar together in a sauce pan until sugar is dissolved. Combine your carrots and diaikon in a bowl and cover them with the vinegar mixture. Allow the mixture to marinate for at least one hour. 

Add your oil to a large deep skillet and soften onion. Add your garlic and ginger and cook for an additional minute. Add 1/2 a cup of the vegetable vinegar liquid and simmer for an additional minute. Add your stock, hoisin, oyster sauce, and pepper. Allow sauce to reduce for 10 minutes. Add your beef and pork and break it up into peices and cook it through (about 7-8 minutes). 

While your meat cooks place your rolls in a 350 degree oven for about 5 minutes to crisp up. Slice down the center without cutting them into 2 pieces. Fill with meat, top with the pickled vegetables, cilantro, and peanuts. 

This is such a flavorful and memorable sandwich. You will love chowing down in flavor town. Enjoy! 

It's amazing the people I've run into lately who don't like shrimp...what!  Shrimp is food fit for the gods.  It absorbs flavors so well you can marinate them in almost anything.  I found this recipe on the web, and guess what I added to  make it even tastier, yep Lavender.  This recipe can be grilled on a skewer or sautéed in a skillet.  Either way I guarantee you'll love it.  Serve over Some Basmati rice or try the gingered rice featured on this blog previously.    

Bon Appetite,   
Peggy


LAVENDER PINEAPPLE SHRIMP 


Serves 4 as main course, or 6-8 as appetizer


2 lbs. Cleaned Shrimp ( I used the 26-30 )
1/4 cup pineapple juice
1/2 cup olive oil
1/4 cup lime juice
1 Tbs. lavender honey (or plain honey)
4 Tbs. cilantro ( can leave out if not fond of cilantro)
4 Tbs. chopped green onions
3 cloves garlic minced
1/4 tsp. red pepper flakes
11/2 tsp. culinary Lavender crushed in mortar and pestle
salt and pepper to taste


Clean shrimp and set aside.  Combine all the rest of the ingredients for marinade.  Marinate shrimp for at least 30 minutes.   If you are sautéing shrimp, heat 1 Tbs  olive oil and 2 Tbs. butter.  Drain shrimp , reserve marinate.  Saute until shrimp is pink and cooked through.  In the meantime heat marinate and reduce by I/2.  if grilling, grill for about 3 minutes per side.  If using bambo skewers soak in a water a couple of hours before use.