Vietnamese Baguette: Banh Mi Bread Recipe (2024)

This recipe for aVietnamese Baguetteis the start of my quest to recreate a delicious sandwich I experienced at the Food Wine Conference in Orlando recently. Thisfabulously soft bread with a slightly crispy thin crust is the perfect wrap for the Banh Mi sandwich.

Vietnamese Baguette: Banh Mi Bread Recipe (1)

Banh Mi Bread Recipe

Back to sandwich nirvana. The sandwich is Banh Mi. If you've never had the pleasure of enjoying this magnificentsandwich, I highlyrecommend you find one fast and devour it and then have another, because it's that good. I may or may not have had two sandwiches in one sitting. Okay, I had two! I couldn't help myself!

As a result of my experience with the Banh Mi, I came home determined to at least attempt to recreate this delicious wonder! There are a couple different components to this sandwich, so I'm starting with the bread. The fabulously soft bread with a slightly crispy thin crust is the perfect wrap for the Banh Mi and this recipe I found on VietWorldKitchen.com is perfect! It's actually even better!

Vietnamese Baguette: Banh Mi Bread Recipe (2)
Because I live in a humid climate, I did have to adjust the recipe to work for me. Yes, even though we have air conditioning running 24/7, it is still humid inside! The A/C can only do so much you know. I reduce the liquid a little in the recipe and it turns out great for me!

If you find the dough seems to be a bit dry, then by all means, add more liquid as needed.After all, we can't alllive in a tropical hell...er paradise <wink>

I just love this bread. Look at those loaves! They are beautiful! I'm so proud of how this bread turned out!! I'm not the best bread maker in the bakery that is for sure, but this recipe makes it easy! It is somewhat time consuming with all the risings, and you do have to pamper this bread like you're giving it a spa treatment, but believe me! It's worth it!

Disclosure: Life Tastes Good is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program.Please note: This post contains affiliate links, which means I earn a commission if you make a purchase through a link in this post.

Vietnamese Baguette: Banh Mi Bread Recipe (3)

Can you tell I'm a proud mama? I was tickled with how this turned out and just kept taking pictures until I ran out of light! Another downside to living in a tropical paradise is the daily afternoon storms.

Vietnamese Baguette: Banh Mi Bread Recipe (4)

Banh Mi Bread Recipe Equipment

This recipe calls for using a food processor. The use of the food processor was a bit scary as I didn't want to overwork the dough, but it performed beautifully. Not only did this method produce two gorgeous loaves of banh mi bread, but it also saved me from having to knead the bread and everything stayed in the food processor, so that made for an easier clean-up all around! Can't beat that!! You can make this bread recipe with a mixer and kneading it by hand, so no worries if you don't have a food processor.I highly recommend you put one on your wish list. A food processor makes life in the kitchen so much easier!

The recipe also recommends using a Baguette Panof which I do not have...yet! I baked this Banh Mi Bread recipe on a parchment lined baking sheet. This worked well, but I feel like the bottom could have had a little more crisp to the crust if I had used a baguette pan.

Life Tastes Good
Published 08/29/2014
Vietnamese Baguette: Banh Mi Bread Recipe (5)

Ingredients

  • 1 (1/4 ounce) package active dry yeast
  • 1/2 cup warm water (110 - 115 degrees F)
  • 3/4 cup warm water (110 - 115 degrees F)
  • 3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour (I use King Arthur Flour)
  • 1/2 tablespoon kosher salt
  • 1 tablespoon sugar

Instructions

  1. Add 1 package active dry yeast to 1/2 cup warm water. Be sure the water is between 110-115 degrees F. If it is too hot it will kill the yeast; too cold and the yeast won't activate. I use an Instant Read ThermometerVietnamese Baguette: Banh Mi Bread Recipe (6) to check the temp just to play it safe. Set the yeast and water mixture aside while you measure out the other ingredients.
  2. Measure out 3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour. Be sure to spoon the flour into the measuring cup and level off the top. This way you won't risk packing the flour in and using too much. Add the 3 1/2 cups flour, 1/2 tablespoon kosher salt, and 1 tablespoon sugar to the bowl of your food processor fitted with your chopping blade. Give it a pulse to mix all the ingredients together nicely.
  3. Take a look at your yeast/water mixture. It should be a little foamy. This shows you the yeast is working - YAY! Add the 3/4 cup warm water to the yeast mixture and give it a stir to make sure the yeast is dissolved.
  4. With the food processor running, remove the feed tube and slowly pour in the yeast/water mixture. Turn off the food processor when the dough forms and pulls away from the side of the bowl. Put the feed tube back in the processor and set your timer for 1 hour. Let the dough rise undisturbed.
  5. When your timer goes off, the bowl of the food processor will be full of dough! Or it should be if the dough has risen properly. Give it 2 pulses to knock down the dough and then let it rise again. This time set your timer for 45 minutes. Once again, when the timer goes off, you should have a bowl full of dough. Pulse twice to knock it down and then set your timer for 30 minutes and let it rise one last time! Again, the dough will rise to the occasion and fill the bowl.
  6. Lightly flour your work surface and hands with 1 tablespoon of all-purpose flour. Turn the dough out onto the floured surface being mindful of the sharp blade from the food processor. Carefully retrieve the blade and set it aside.
  7. Gently roll the dough in the flour to coat and divide the dough in half. Set one half aside.
  8. With lightly floured hands, gently press the one half of dough into an 8x5" rectangle. Yes, I use a measuring tape because I'm not good at eyeballing these things. Now fold down the top 1/3 of the dough to the middle and fold up the bottom 1/3 of the dough. Pinch the edges to seal and you should have a sort of log shape.
  9. With the seam side down, gently roll the dough back and forth until the dough is 15 inches long and about 2 inches wide. Carefully pick it up and place it in your fancy baguette pan if you have one, or onto a parchment lined baking sheet. Do the same with the 2nd ball of dough. Cover loosely with a kitchen towel and set aside to rise in a warm location. I place mine in my cool oven with the oven light on. This works great! Let the loaves rise for 30 minutes or until nearly doubled in size.
  10. After rising, remove the loaves from the oven and preheat to 450 degrees F. Using a very sharp knife, slash the loaves 4 or 5 times diagonally making your cuts about 1/4 inch deep.
  11. I use a steam method when baking bread, but please be warned this can be harmful to your oven, so proceed at your own risk. If you decide to go with the steam method place a roasting pan on the bottom oven rack. Add enough hot water to the pan to cover and about 1" deep. If you prefer not to risk using steam, then proceed without the use of the water and bake as directed.
  12. When the oven is preheated, lightly spritz or baste the loaves with a little bit of water. Place the loaves in the upper third part of the oven and cook for 3 minutes. Lightly spritz or baste with water again and bake for 3 more minutes. Again, lightly spritz with water and then bake for 9 minutes. Rotate the pan and bake for 5 more minutes. Carefully turn the loaves over so the bottom is up and bake for about 5 more minutes. Watch it carefully so it doesn't get too browned. Remove from the oven to a cooling rack and allow to cool slightly. Enjoy! For even more detailed instructions I recommend checking out the recipe at Viet World Kitchen. There's lots of great info on that post!!

Yield: 2 (15") Loaves
Prep Time: 4 hrs. 30 mins.

Cook time: 25 mins.
Total time: 4 hrs. 55 mins.

Tags: Bread, Loaves, Vietnamese, Banh Mi, Yeast, Sandwich, Baguette, Crust, how to, homemade

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Vietnamese Baguette: Banh Mi Bread Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is banh mi baguette made of? ›

Bread. A Vietnamese baguette has a thin crust and white, airy crumb. It may consist of both wheat flour and rice flour. Besides being made into a sandwich, it is eaten alongside meat dishes, such as bò kho (a beef stew), curry, and phá lấu.

What kind of bread is used in banh mi? ›

There is nothing quite like the crispy crust and fluffy, soft texture of the inside in Vietnamese baguette. Often used to make banh mi sandwiches stuffed full of meat and pickled veggies, this banh mi baguette recipe will help bring a taste of Vietnamese food to your home kitchen.

What is the difference between banh mi and baguette? ›

Bánh Mì feels as light as a cloud in comparison in comparison to a French Baguette. French baguettes have a chewier open crumb and have a thicker crunchy crust. While Vietnamese Baguettes have a pillowy fluffy crumb that is super light and a crackly thin crust.

What is the closest bread to banh mi? ›

These are the ingredients you'll need to make this bánh mì recipe: Bread: Don't overthink this as one community member says. Look for light, lofty bread. A French-style baguette works but so does a Mexican bolillo or hoagie-style roll.

Why are Vietnamese baguettes so good? ›

Rather than the gentle, repetitive folding technique that produces the tender texture of Parisian-style baguettes, Vietnamese bakers develop their gluten by vigorously whipping the dough with a machine mixer for a short amount of time, then rapidly slapping the loaves into shape before a long proof, Nguyen says.

What is the yellow stuff in banh mi? ›

Mayonnaise: Use real mayo. Traditional Vietnamese sandwiches have more of a yellow aioli style mayo used from dark chicken yolks but Hellman's original mayo or salted butter are also great substitutes.

Why is my baguette not airy? ›

Simply put, you have to control the temperature of the bread. Allowing ample time for your bread dough to rise and the yeast to form will create the holes in the bread that give it a lighter texture. Letting your dough get puffy and grow before it goes into the oven is critical.

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.

Should banh mi bread be toasted? ›

You must toast your baguette.

The crunch is part of the full Banh Mi experience!

Do people in Vietnam eat banh mi? ›

If you've ever visited Vietnam, you have definitely tasted this snack sandwich from either street side vendors or in local bistros. Banh Mi is considered to be a staple dish in Vietnam, but the sandwich itself has been devoured in countries in the western hemisphere as well.

What does banh mean in Vietnamese? ›

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 meat is traditionally in banh mi? ›

Most contain Cha Lua, a cooked pork roll lightly seasoned with fish sauce, and traditionally steamed or boiled in a banana leaf. Thit Nguoi is a Vietnamese salami containing cured pork layered with fat; ham or headcheese are also acceptable substitutions.

What is the best bread for banh mi? ›

Look for a non-fancy bread with a cottony, soft crumb. Baguettes from a supermarket, torta or cubano rolls, or even kaiser rolls are good substitutes. 2. Fresh Chiles – Banh mi sandwiches need a spicy element, so use thinly sliced medium-hot chiles like jalapeños or Fresno chiles.

What is a good substitute for banh mi bread? ›

Edit- I make them at home and just a baguette. A Vietnamese-style homemade banh mi baguette recipe with a crusty exterior and a light, soft, airy crumb. Perfect for banh mi sandwiches. According to my Vietnamese friend the bread used in Vietnam is slightly different to a regular baguette.

What is the banh mi bread called? ›

bánh mì literally means “wheat bun”. Vietnamese don't have the tradition to consume wheat flour due to its rice focus agriculture but gradually adopted it from the French and the Chinese. Steamed wheat buns from Chinese is bánh bao (baozi) while the baked wheat buns from the French is bánh mì (baguette).

What is a banh mi wrap made of? ›

Toast bread wraps lightly, then spread with mayonnaise. Spoon pork evenly over wraps. Cover with lettuce mixture, cucumber, cilantro, green onions and jalapeno. Top with remaining sweet chili sauce.

What is French baguette made of? ›

The ingredients in baguettes are pure simplicity: flour, water, salt, and yeast. It's the baker's technique that turns an average baguette into an all-star.

Is banh mi Vietnamese 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.

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