Vietnamese Chicken Banh Mi with Pickled Vegetables
Authentic Vietnamese sandwich featuring marinated chicken breast baked until tender, layered with house-made pickled daikon and carrots, fresh cucumbers, and crisp French baguette. Topped with mayo, fresh coriander, spring onions, and chilli for bright, balanced flavors in every bite.
Ingredients
- ½ cup water
- ½ cup rice vinegar
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- 2 tsp salt
- 5 ½ oz daikon, cut into matchsticks
- 5 ½ oz carrots, cut into matchsticks
- 3 ½ oz cucumbers, thinly sliced lengthwise
- 1 lb chicken breast
- 3 cloves garlic
- 2 tbsp fish sauce
- 1 tbsp sugar
- 2 tbsp soy sauce
- 1 tbsp mayonnaise
- ½ tsp lime zestlemon zest1:1citrus
slightly less floral
- 4 medium French baguettes
- mayonnaise, for spreading
- coriander, fresh
- chilli, sliced
- spring onions
Instructions
- 1
Combine water, rice vinegar, sugar, and salt; stir until dissolved.
- 2
Place daikon and carrots in resealable jar and pour pickling liquid over; seal and refrigerate at least 1 hour.
- 3
Combine garlic, fish sauce, soy sauce, sugar, mayonnaise, and lime zest in bowl.
- 4
Add chicken breasts to marinade and let sit at least 20 minutes.
- 5
Preheat oven to 350°F and line baking tray with baking paper.
- 6
Place chicken on prepared tray and bake until cooked through.
- 7
Remove chicken from oven and rest 5 minutes, then slice into thin pieces.
- 8
Cut baguettes lengthwise and spread mayonnaise on bread.
- 9
Layer with chicken slices, pickled vegetables, and cucumber slices.
- 10
Top with coriander, green onions, and chilli slices.
Tips
Pickle vegetables at least 1 hour ahead for best flavor; can be made 1-2 days in advance.
Let chicken rest after baking to retain juices before slicing.
Slice baguettes just before assembly to prevent sogginess.
Good to Know
Pickled vegetables keep refrigerated up to 3 days. Leftover chicken best used within 2 days; do not freeze after marinating.
Pickle vegetables and marinate chicken up to 8 hours in advance. Bake chicken no more than 4 hours before serving.
Serve immediately after assembly. Offer extra pickled vegetables and chilli on the side for customization.
Common Mistakes
Do not skip the chicken rest period to avoid dry, stringy texture.
Do not assemble sandwiches more than 15 minutes before eating to avoid soggy bread.