A local foodie magazine recently did a spread on Banh Mi sandwiches from area restaurants. The featured sandwiches were stuffed with pork, lamb, chicken, fried egg, and head cheese (a term I could not have imagined ever typing on this blog). What? No Banh Mi Chay (vegetarian)? An oversight perhaps, but I'm starting to wonder after the magazine's blog recently mentioned "the war on vegetarianism". We're at war? Vegans stockpile tofu, people, not weapons of mass destruction. But if the folks with a boner for bacon think we're at war, I guess vegetarians and vegans are doing something right.
I basically followed this recipe from the Kitchn, using vegan ingredients. A baguette slathered in cilantro-soy sauce-mayo is stuffed with lemongrass tofu slices, pickled carrots and daikon radish, fresh jalapeno, and cilantro. I added sliced Roma tomatoes and Sriracha sauce. The sandwich is juicy, sweet, tangy, and spicy. Delicious! This recipe for a vegan version with seitan sounds delicious as well.
Yuck! I just googled "head cheese" and all I can say is yuck!
ReplyDeleteYour sandwich looks fabulous, no need for head cheese or pork or prairie dog meat. I want it! I must have it! It's making me bite my monitor! Oh no, it's a weapon of mass attraction! :-D
"A boner for bacon" LOL! That one will have me laughing for days!
Lisa, that looks great! I've had a similar recipe bookmarked for a while and this will be the inspiration to actually make it :)
ReplyDeleteAnd "boner for bacon" is pretty accurate (and funny)...it's one of the yuckiest food trends I've seen in a while, and I hope that it goes away soon!
That looks just terrific! Your mention of lemongrass tofu is giving me ideas...I have some lemongrass growing in a pot, maybe I can make my own.
ReplyDeleteMmmm... that looks insanely good!
ReplyDeleteThis looks soo good!
ReplyDeleteCheck out the cookbook giveaway on my blog..
Debra @ Vegan Family Style
I come from a place where head cheese was made every winter, though even in my meat-eating days I couldn't try the stuff - thanks, I guess, for the reminder :) This sandwich looks great! I've never tried banh mi, though it's been on my to-do list for a while - yours looks delicious!
ReplyDeleteI almost forgot - the "war on vegetarianism" observation is spot on. Reminds me of one of my favorite Gandhi quotes - first they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you, then you win.
ReplyDeleteThis looks fantastic. I've been thinking of what would make the perfect vegan sandwich, for those days when only a sandwich for lunch will do. This looks like that sandwich!!
ReplyDeleteThere is no need for cruelty or death to make a delicious sandwich, you have definitely proven that. This looks spectacular, what an awesome thing to veganize!
ReplyDeleteI have a Dorie Greenspan recipe from Parade magazine I cut out like a month ago and have wanted to try her recipe for this sammich. Yours looks delish! BTW, which STL "foodie mag" might you be referring to and this whole silly "war on vegetarianism" comment? Please don't tell me it was Sauce?
ReplyDeletethis is the second vegan vietnamese recipe i've seen this week. i'm so intimidated by making vietnamese, but i guess something is prompting me to do so! looks delish!
ReplyDeleteyou're cracking me up, Lisa - i say, bring on the tofu war to those people with boners for bacon! ah ha ha! your banh mi looks amazing! cilantro-soy sauce-mayo + lemongrass tofu slices sounds + sriracha sounds like heaven! mmmmmmmmm!
ReplyDeleteWar on vegetarianism?? Some people are just ridiculous!
ReplyDeleteYour sandwich looks lovely, lemongrass tofu sounds amazing.
Let the battles commence!!
Thank you for your blog! I am brand new to the Vegan lifestyle. I also just had my first pizza from Pi two weeks ago and it was the best pizza I ever had. (I've been day dreaming about it ever since). The first thing I thought of when I made my decision to wean myself from eating animals is--darn, there goes Pi pizza. Today I googled "St. Louis Vegan Blogs" for the very first time and yours was the first one I read. Lo and behold right there on the first page is a piece on vegan pizza from Pi. This is a message from the universe that this vegan thing is meant to be for me. Thanks for the great recipes and wonderful insights. With your help, I know I can do this. I know it will be a slow process with lots of hiccups, but worth every effort.
ReplyDeleteThat looks incredible fresh and delicious! Perfect for a light lunch.
ReplyDeleteA boner for bacon. I LOVE IT. And I love the recipe. I heart Sriracha!
ReplyDeleteLooks delicious! I wish I had one of these babies for lunch today. :)
ReplyDeleteOmigod do you ever rock! For sandwiches and for donations :)
ReplyDeleteThanks all for the great comments!
ReplyDeleteKelly about your question, yes it was, but hopefully this is a matter of a particular writer, not a trend.
And Dinahboo I'm so happy you find this blog helpful and supportive -that's what it's about.
Isa, I've been looking for the right way to donate so thanks for finding such a great organization.
I make these regularly. Instead of mayonnaise, which isn't used in Vietnamese Banh Mi, I use mashed avocado, mixed with lemon juice and salt.
ReplyDeleteAdopt from a shelter; spay & neuter your pets. Great blog!