The Vegan Banh Mi
Vegan Banh Mi Sandwich stuffed with lemongrass tofu, spicy slaw, fresh herbs and sriracha mayo
Ingredients
Lemongrass Tofu
- 1 lemongrass stalk, outer layers peeled, bottom white part thinly sliced and finely chopped.
- 1 1/2 tablespoons low-sodium soy sauce
- 2 teaspoons chopped Thai bird chili, or other chili
- 1 teaspoon ground turmeric
- 1 large lime, juiced
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- 12 ounces tofu, drained, pressed and sliced into 1/2 inch slices
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
Quick Pickled Vegetables
- 2 large carrots, sliced into matchsticks
- 1 cucumber, peeled, seeded and sliced into matchsticks
- 1/4 cup unseasoned rice wine vinegar
- 2 tablespoons sugar
Sriracha Mayo
- 3 tablespoons vegan mayo
- 1 tablespoon Sriracha
- 1 tablespoon lime juice
- 4 French rolls
- Cilantro Sprigs
Instructions
- Combine the lemongrass, soy sauce, chili, turmeric, lime juice and sugar together in a shallow bowl. Add the tofu slabs and turn to coat them evenly. Marinate for 30 minutes while you prepare the rest of the ingredients.
- Place the carrots, cucumbers, rice wine vinegar and sugar in a jar, then shake to cover. Let sit while you prepare the mayo and cook the tofu.
- Whisk together the mayo, Sriracha and lime juice together. Set aside.
- Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over moderate-high heat. Add the tofu, draining as much marinade as possible before placing on the hot pan. Cook for 3-4 minutes per side, until golden brown and crispy.
- Slice the bread in half lengthwise and liberally spread with Sriracha mayo. Layer with cooked tofu, pickled vegetables and cilantro.
Notes
1. To press the tofu, remove the tofu from the container. Drain and rinse. Wrap with paper towels and place a heavy object ontop. I use my cast-iron skillet with a few bean cans. Let sit for 10 minutes. Remove the paper towels and pat dry. Now slice!
2. For a better filled sandwich, remove some of the bread filling before serving. This will make a nice crevice for the toppings to rest in! Also prevents the entire sandwich from falling out on your lap after the first bite.
3. For easy matchsticks, I use this peeler. Way faster!
Nutrition
Serving: 1sandwichCalories: 347kcalCarbohydrates: 37gProtein: 13gFat: 16gSaturated Fat: 2gPolyunsaturated Fat: 3gMonounsaturated Fat: 4gSodium: 635mgPotassium: 292mgFiber: 4gSugar: 10gVitamin A: 5156IUVitamin C: 8mgCalcium: 171mgIron: 3mg