FOOD NEWS
Canned Sardines Make For A Delectable Banh Mi In A Pinch
By Matthew Wilson
The bánh mì is a Vietnamese sandwich staple that features a meat of your choice and veggies like pickled daikon, cucumber, carrots, and cilantro on French baguette bread.
While bánh mì is customizable and can be made with chicken, pork, or fish, canned sardines make for a quick, convenient, and filling sandwich with a robust and salty flair.
The saltiness and heartiness of the canned fish pair well with the sourness of the pickled veggies. Sardines in tomato sauce impart a sweetness that ties everything together.
Although fresh sardines may have a preferable flavor, canned sardines have a stronger taste and a longer shelf-life, so they can easily be tossed into your sandwich in a pinch.
The Vietnamese have a long history with canned sardines due to French colonization. For Vietnamese immigrants, the sandwich is a reminder of home, as well as a tasty snack.