BNH M
75 BNH M RECIPES
for
Authentic & Delicious
Vietnamese Sandwiches
JACQUELINE PHAM
Avon, Massachusetts
DEDICATION
T HIS BOOK IS dedicated to M Mi, my loving aunt, who just happens to be an exceptional cook. M Mi literally translates to Aunt #10 in Vietnamese; she is the youngest sister of nine siblings. Her story is the stuff of the American dream. M Mi came to the United States with almost nothing, but she somehow managed to get an excellent education and then went on to run a successful Vietnamese restaurant in San Jose, all while taking care of her husband and son.
Before opening her own restaurant, she traveled for months all over Asia, working as a sous-chef in the best restaurants, picking up many culinary secrets in order to make hers a success. Shes a virtual encyclopedia of Vietnamese cuisine, and Ive learned so much about my roots and culture, and Vietnamese cooking from her. When I was newly married, M Mi pulled me aside and said v phi nu n cho chng mi l hnh phc, which approximately translates to the best way to a mans heart (it roughly translates to achieve a blissful marriage) is through his stomach. If youve read my cookbooks or visited my website with any frequency, youll know I took her suggestion to heart.
Thank you for everything, M Mi. I hope this book makes you proud!
Copyright 2013 by F+W Media, Inc.
All rights reserved.
This book, or parts thereof, may not be reproduced in any form without permission from the publisher; exceptions are made for brief excerpts used in published reviews.
Published by Adams Media, a division of F+W Media, Inc.
57 Littlefield Street, Avon, MA 02322. U.S.A.
www.adamsmedia.com
eISBN 10: 1-4405-5078-6
eISBN 13: 978-1-4405-5078-2
Always follow safety and common sense cooking protocol while using kitchen utensils, operating ovens and stoves, and handling uncooked food. If children are assisting in the preparation of any recipe, they should always be supervised by an adult.
Many of the designations used by manufacturers and sellers to distinguish their products are claimed as trademarks. Where those designations appear in this book and F+W Media was aware of a trademark claim, the designations have been printed with initial capital letters.
Photos by Jacqueline Pham.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
T O A RIA, MY one-year-old daughter. You are my lucky charm. These cookbooks are in part my way of sharing with you our familys cultural heritage. When youre a little older, youll get to know the dishes that made your great-grandmas the toast of Hyderabad and Saigon, respectively. There are lots of fun stories behind the recipes that I cant wait to share with you.
To Carole Florian, for being such an amazing friend and PhamFatale.com editor. Despite my crazy delays and schedule, you never fail to support me whenever I call. Our website, PhamFatale.com, wouldnt have reached the level of success it has without your help. Youre always there for me through my ups and downs. Its a privilege to have met you and to have you in my life.
To my PhamFatale.com family. Its still so amazing to me that every month I can reach out to hundreds of thousands of foodies around the country and share my culinary creations. Even with 1,500 dishes photographed and published on the site, I would never have imagined in my wildest dreams that Id be given the opportunity to publish onelet alone twocookbooks. Thank you so much for your support and for letting me do what I love. I owe all of this to you!
To Ross, Im so happy you contacted me last year! Thanks for making not only one, but two cookbook projects happen in less than a year. Im humbled and honored that you considered me, and I hope youre as proud of the results as I am.
To Daddy and Chi Tine for the constant love and peace you have brought to my life. You are my rock. Thank you for always being there for me when I need you. Your love is my guide.
To Nathalie for being our Parisian guardian angel. After all you have done for us, I know how lucky Aria is to have you as her godmother. Every person has a few life-changing moments, and we are so fortunate that you were there to help us through the challenging ones. Please come and visit us in America soon.
To C Nho for keeping my little Aria so happy while I worked on the book. I dont tell you enough how much I appreciate your dedication and support.
To Sanah for being so patient while taking my headshot photos. Youre such an exceptional and gifted person. Good luck with your college applications!
To Aelya, my workout buddy who got up early every morning with me and kept me on track to reach our goals. Not only have I shed the extra baby weight in a healthy way, but I also gained confidence. Youre my partner in crime!
To Lulu, the love of my life. Thank you for your undying support. I love you more than you can imagine, and words cannot begin to express all thats in my heart. Ive been blessed with many wonderful people in my life but your integrity and selflessness are a true inspiration. Thank you for showing me love and passion every day for the past twelve years and working so hard for our family. My love hasnt changed since the first day we met. Je taime mon coeur.
And finally, to the rest of my Girls. Ive been so blessed to have the four of you in my life. I love you so much!
Each one of you has a special place in my heart; you have taught me valuable lessons that I cherish.
All my love,
Jackie
INTRODUCTION
I MAGINE YOURE STANDING in the middle of a bakery. The intoxicating aromas of freshly baked baguettes and warm, flaky croissants fill the air. This scene could describe just about any Parisian boulangerie or its copycats across the world. But if you were to look a little closer, in this particular bakery you would also find spring rolls and eggrolls, Asian pearl drinks, and sandwiches filled with the most interesting ingredients.
Thats the beauty of bnh m shops. The French influence is undeniable, but at the same time these shops are distinct experiences unto themselves. Put another way, a bnh m shop makes the foreign familiar and the exotic accessible. Bnh m literally translates to bread, so in addition to the French baguette, expect to find croissants, waffles, puff pastries, and other carbohydrate-rich delights. And like traditional boulangeries, bnh m shops carry breakfast items, pastries, and drinks in addition to the wide selection of sandwiches. If youve always wanted to try Vietnamese food but felt too intimidated, a bnh m sandwich filled with Vietnamese meatballs or chicken salad with pickled mango is a great place to start. Traditional Vietnamese cuisine places tremendous emphasis on a balance of colors, textures, and flavors. Dishes should appeal to all five senses, which means presentation carries quite a bit of weight. These sensibilities extend even to the less traditional bnh m sandwiches. The bright tones of cilantro and thin strips of pickled carrots and daikon contrast with the earthy hues of the savory meats and bread. Condiments are not an afterthought in bnh m sandwiches; rather, they play an integral role in creating the desired harmony. As you read through the book, youll learn how to prepare a number of colorful, flavorful, and exotic condiments to pair with any number of savory meat and seafood recipes.