Vietnamese Chicken Sandwich Recipe

Vietnamese sandwiches, or "bánh mì," have become a beloved dish around the world.  There are many variations, such as char siu, Vietnamese sausage, or chicken sandwiches.  Here, I'll share a quick and easy recipe for a chicken bánh mì using Costco's roasted chicken.  It’s a convenient way to prepare this delicious sandwich without compromising on flavor.  The result is just as tasty as if you cooked and stir-fried the chicken from scratch.  This recipe is especially great if you live alone, as you can use leftover Costco roasted chicken for other dishes, many of which I share on my blog.

Ingredients:

• 3 cups shredded grilled chicken
• 1 cup thinly sliced white onion
• A little cooking oil

Ingredients for seasoning the chicken:

• 1 tsp oyster sauce
• 1 tbsp soy sauce
• 1 tsp sugar

Ingredients for the bread sauce:

• 1/2 cup water
• 1 tbsp soy sauce
• 1 tbsp oyster sauce
• 1 tbsp sugar
• 1 tsp chicken powder

Thickening mixture ingredients:

• 1 tsp cornstarch
• 2 tbsp water

Additional toppings:

• 1 tbsp fried garlic (from the Asian market)
• 2 baguettes (from the market)
• Sliced cucumber, jalapeño, daikon-carrots pickled vegetables, and cilantro

Directions:

1.    Preparing the Chicken:

2.    Shred the grilled chicken into 1/4-inch pieces and place them in a bowl.  Marinate the chicken with soy sauce, oyster sauce, and sugar.  Let it sit for about 1 hour.

3.    Stir-Frying the Chicken:

4.    Heat a pan with a little cooking oil.  Add the marinated chicken and stir-fry for about 5 minutes.  Add the sliced white onion and cook for another 2 minutes.  Since the chicken is already grilled, it doesn't need much cooking time.

5.    Making the Sauce:

6.    In a small pot, mix the water, soy sauce, oyster sauce, sugar, and chicken powder.  Bring the mixture to a boil.  Dissolve the cornstarch in 2 tbsp of water and add it to the pot, stirring until the sauce thickens.  Add a spoonful of fried garlic for extra flavor.

7.    Assembling the Sandwich:

8.    Split the baguettes in half. Stuff each baguette with the stir-fried chicken, pickles, cucumber slices, cilantro, and jalapeño.  Drizzle the sauce over the fillings for added flavor. 

This recipe makes enough for 3 sandwiches, perfect for a quick and satisfying meal!