What Is Bánh Mì? – Banh Mi Bistro (2024)

Bánh Mì (pronounced BUN-mee) is the Vietnamese term for “bread”, but it also refers to a special kind of sandwich: a culinary fusion of two cultures and a prime example of how food is always tied with history…

The story begins in the mid-19th century when Vietnam fell under French colonial rule. The French brought their baguette with them, and the Vietnamese people began to eat their bread much like they did – typically with a platter of cold cuts, butter, cheese and/or pâté.

It wasn’t until 1954 when French rule ended that the Vietnamese people finally began to impose their own influences on the French sandwich: mayonnaise replaced butter, cilantro and fresh chillies were added for flavour, and pickled vegetables were also thrown in the mix.

What Is Bánh Mì? – Banh Mi Bistro (1)

What Is Bánh Mì? – Banh Mi Bistro (2024)

FAQs

What does banh mi literally mean? ›

Bánh Mì (pronounced BUN-mee) is the Vietnamese term for “bread”, but it also refers to a special kind of sandwich: a culinary fusion of two cultures and a prime example of how food is always tied with history… The story begins in the mid-19th century when Vietnam fell under French colonial rule.

What does banh stand for? ›

In Vietnamese, the term bánh (Hanoi: [ɓaʲŋ̟˧˥] or Saigon: [ɓan˧˥], Chữ Nôm: 餅) translates loosely as "cake" or "bread", but refers to a wide variety of prepared foods that can easily be eaten by hands or chopsticks.

What does "bahn" mean in Vietnamese? ›

In Vietnamese, the term bánh mì, refers to both “bread” and the “sandwich.” And like other Vietnamese dishes, the bánh, or the starch- and legume-based ingredients, oftentimes define the dish. Phở cannot be phở without bánh phở, or flat, rice noodles.

Is Bahn MI the same as a sandwich? ›

Taken alone, bánh mì means any kind of bread, but it could refer to the Vietnamese baguette or the sandwich made from it. To distinguish the unfilled bread from the sandwich with fillings, the term bánh mì không ("plain bread") can be used.

What makes a banh mi special? ›

It represents the unique fusion that takes place in Vietnam between Asian flavours (coriander, pickles, chili, fish sauce) and the French colonials who taught the locals how to bake baguettes, and introduced things like pate. With many foreigner, it is the coriander that makes a banh mi sandwich taste so unique.

What does mi mean? ›

MI: Commonly used abbreviation for myocardial infarction, otherwise known as a heart attack. The term "myocardial infarction" focuses on the heart muscle, which is called the myocardium,and the changes that occur in it due to the sudden deprivation of circulating blood.

Is banh mi hot or cold? ›

the perfect make ahead: banh mi can be served hot or cold that's why they are great to make ahead. with the correct bread these things can hold assembled an entire day that's why the crust on the bread is important it keeps it from getting soggy. SIMILAR INGREDIENTS TO: SPICY BEEF AND BRUSSEL SPROUT SLAW SANDWICH.

What is Banh Mi Chao in English? ›

Banh mi chao (Bread with combo pan) is a Vietnamese-styled hot alternative to stuffed baguettes. A combination of eggs, sunny side up, sausage, and pate is cooked in pan and served in the pan with a baguette.

Is banh mi made of rice? ›

Rice Flour Vietnamese baguette – Is the secret to banh mi a crisp baguette-style roll made out of rice flour? Sorry, no. Rice flour does not rise like wheat flour because of the lack of wheat gluten. However, there's a myth that Vietnamese banh mi is made with rice flour-based baguettes.

Are banh mi healthy? ›

Banh Mi is quite healthy. The typical Banh Mi has just under 600 calories. The protein is the nutritional star of the dish coming in at 30 grams. The 19 grams of fat are still acceptable.

What meat is traditionally in banh mi? ›

Some styles of banh mi are made with pâté alone. Besides roast pork and liver pâté, banh mi can also be made with cold cuts, meatballs, barbecued pork or beef, and even vegetarian pâté.

What is the white stuff in banh mi? ›

Banh Mi is a Vietnamese sandwich that's made up of an odd sounding combination – crusty bread rolls smeared with pate, mayo, suspicious looking Asian ham, pickled vegetables, green onion, coriander/cilantro, a mighty wack of fresh chillies and drizzle of seasoning.

Is pho or banh mi better? ›

Pho is older than banh mi by a little bit although they aren't far off. For Vietnamese families, pho has been heavily favored over banh mi just because of the customizations one can make, the art of cultivating the right broth, using local ingredients, and the various ways in which pho has become family cooking.

What is the most popular type of Banh Mi? ›

Roasted Pork Belly Bánh Mì (Bánh mì heo quay)

The pork is roasted with a thick layer of salt and spices. It is sliced and served on a freshly baked bánh mì roll. This type of bánh mì can be bought at street food stalls and it's one of the most popular types of bánh mì in the country.

Does banh mi get soggy? ›

(Note: If you're packing this sandwich for your lunch, I recommend putting a serving of the quick-pickled vegetables in a separate container and adding them to your sandwich before you eat it. This will keep your banh mi from being soggy by the time you sit down for lunch.)

Is banh mi actually Vietnamese? ›

Banh Mi is a Vietnamese sandwich that's made up of an odd sounding combination – crusty bread rolls smeared with pate, mayo, suspicious looking Asian ham, pickled vegetables, green onion, coriander/cilantro, a mighty wack of fresh chillies and drizzle of seasoning.

Why is banh mi so popular in Vietnam? ›

The result of French colonialism, two world wars, and Vietnam's fight for independence, the bánh mì is — along with Phở — Vietnam's most popular culinary export. For the record, bánh mì actually refers to 'bread', or 'wheat cake.

What is the meaning behind Banh Tet? ›

The traditional banh tet is wrapped in many layers of leaves, symbolizing a mother embracing her child, expressing the Vietnamese people's desire for family togetherness during Tet.

What is mi in Vietnamese? ›

Mì (mỳ) or mi is a Vietnamese term for yellow wheat noodles. It can also refer to egg noodles. They were brought over to Vietnam as wonton noodles by Chinese immigrants.

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Rev. Leonie Wyman

Last Updated:

Views: 6254

Rating: 4.9 / 5 (79 voted)

Reviews: 86% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Rev. Leonie Wyman

Birthday: 1993-07-01

Address: Suite 763 6272 Lang Bypass, New Xochitlport, VT 72704-3308

Phone: +22014484519944

Job: Banking Officer

Hobby: Sailing, Gaming, Basketball, Calligraphy, Mycology, Astronomy, Juggling

Introduction: My name is Rev. Leonie Wyman, I am a colorful, tasty, splendid, fair, witty, gorgeous, splendid person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.