Today's Tempeh Banh Mi is my all time favorite sandwich recipe. That's coming from the girl who ate sandwiches almost everyday for lunch growing up. It's actually funny, because I didn't actually discover the Banh Mi sandwich until I went vegan. I was super skeptical to try it initially, because when I first went vegan I ate very plain foods, and I did not really branch out at all.
However over the course about the last year and a half, I have been branching out and trying things I normally wouldn't (all vegan of course). It never ceases to amaze me how many ways there are to cook foods, and how many foods (as in plants) there are in this world.
What Is A Banh Mi Sandwich:
A banh mi sandwich is a Vietnamese sandwich that features fresh vegetables and flavorful protein with a creamy sauce, served with sourdough bread. The traditional sandwich is not vegan, but luckily this is one of those foods that can easily be veganized.
Not only is this tempeh banh mi vegan, but it can easily be made gluten-free too! All you need to do is switch out the bread. I am fairly new to Vietnamese cuisine, but let me tell you I am hooked!
The most important part in making the perfect banh mi is the sauce. The banh mi is already loaded with flavor on its own, but the sauce is really what takes this tempeh banh mi sandwich to the next level. Most of the recipes for banh mis online are made with refined oils and other unhealthy ingredients. This vegan recipe on the other hand is made with super simple and clean ingredients.
Why make this Tempeh Banh mi:
If I haven't convinced you to try out this tempeh banh mi recipe yet, let me make my final pitch. If you're a vegan, then you may know the struggle of serving "vegan food" to non vegan friends and family. I know this struggle very well.
I always try to plan recipes that I am serving to non vegans around dishes they are already familiar with. Banh Mi may not be a dish everyone is familiar with, but a sandwich is. When I served this recipe to my non vegan family they were obsessed! There is no better complement to a vegan recipes than when non vegans want it!
Ingredients for this Tempeh Banh Mi:
Vegan Tempeh Banh Mi:
- Daikon radish
- Sourdough bread - Substitute gluten-free bread to make this recipe gluten-free
- Carrots
- English cucumbers
- Jalapeño
- Cilantro
Smoky Tempeh:
- Tempeh
- Liquid aminos
- Smoked paprika
Creamy Cashew Sauce:
- Aquafaba - The liquid from a can of chickpeas
- Cashews, or cashew butter - Make sure you use raw cashews/raw cashew butter
- Garlic powder
- Lemon
- Apple cider vinegar
- Sriracha
- Stone ground mustard
How To Make This Tempeh Banh Mi:
This Tempeh Banh Mi is very simple to make. It is the perfect healthy vegan lunch recipe! To make this recipe begin by soaking the cashews overnight. If you don't have a high speed blender you can substitute ⅓ cup cashew butter.
Blend the sauce ingredients together until smooth and creamy. Next, make the tempeh. Cut the block into strips and add to a pan with the liquid aminos and smoked paprika, and begin to cook. The liquid aminos will cook out, but simply add water and continue to cook. You may have to repeat this a few times, but it will help the tempeh absorb the flavor.
Next, chop the vegetables. You will need to slice the cucumber and jalapeño into thins slices. Julienne the carrots and daikon radish.
Assemble the tempeh banh mi by spreading the creamy cashew mayo on the sourdough bread. Add the cucumbers, jalapeños, carrots, daikon radish, tempeh, and fresh cilantro in that order. Serve and enjoy!
Frequently Asked Questions:
Can I Pack This Sandwich For Work/School?
I think that a sandwich either makes the perfect packed lunch, or the worst packed lunch. This comes down to how you pack it. Lucky for you this is one of those recipes that can be easily packed and meal prepped.
To meal prep this tempeh banh mi, you simply need to chop the vegetables and store them separate from the bread. You will also need to make the sauce and keep it separate. Once ready to serve, you just need to toast the sandwich (optional) and serve!
What Is The White Spread In Banh Mi?
If you've ever had a Banh Mi before you've noticed the very unique and delicious flavor had absolutely no idea what it was. At least that was my experience.
Since banh mi's are typically not vegan it's very important that if you order this sandwich at a restaurant you ensure that it is vegan. I say this, because banh mi's typically contain pâté (ground up liver). Needless to say this recipe is meatless.
Banh mi's also contain a white creamy sauce. This sauce is typically mayonnaise based. However since this is a whole foods plant based banh mi, I made it completely mayo-free! Instead of using mayonnaise to achieve the flavorful cream sauce I used a combination of cashews, aquafaba, sriracha, and other ingredients.
Is Banh Mi Healthy?
Since a banh mi is a very broad term it is hard to give a straight answer to this question. If you're ordering a non vegan banh mi, I can guarantee it will not be healthy. It will be loaded with high fat meats and dairy. However if you order a vegan banh mi it has a much better chance of being healthy.
Now, I am not saying every vegan banh mi is healthy. Most recipes are made with vegan mayonnaise, and processed oils. However if you are looking for a healthy vegan banh mi recipe I am here to tell you that you've come to the right place! This banh mi sandwich is not only free of processed ingredients, but full of nutrient rich ones!
Related Recipes:
Tempeh Banh Mi
Equipment
Ingredients
For the Sandwich:
- 8 slices sourdough bread (or gluten-free bread of choice)
- 1 daikon radish
- 3 carrots
- 1 jalapeño
- 1 english cucumber
- 1 block tempeh
- cilantro
- 1 tablespoon liquid aminos
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
For the sauce:
- 1 can aquafaba liquid from 1 can of chickpeas
- ¾ cup soaked cashews
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ lemon
- 1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar
- 2 tablespoon sriracha
- 1 teaspoon stone ground mustard
Instructions
- Begin by preparing the sauce. If you have not soaked the cashews ahead of time you can quick soak them with boiling water. Strain the cashews and add to a high speed blender with the remaining ingredients. Blend on high for about a minute. Set aside and prepare the rest of the sandwich.
- Chop or shred the carrots and daikon radish. If chopping, chop julienne. Chop the cucumber and Jalapeño into rounds. Set aside.
- To make the tempeh, simply cut into strips and add to a pan with the liquid aminos, and smoked paprika and cook. The liquid aminos will cook to the pan, but simply add water and continue to cook. You may have to repeat this a few times, but it will help the tempeh absorb the flavor.
- Toast the bread and assemble the sandwich. Start by layering the cucumber and the jalapeño. Follow with the tempeh and then the carrot and daikon radish. Finish off with cilantro and a generous portion of sauce. Serve immediately, enjoy!
Kris
So good!
Chantry
I am always looking for good vegan sandwiches! This was so good! thank you!
Jacqui
Such a delicious recipe! It turned out fantastic, and that sauce is divine. 10/10 recommend
Emily
This was so good and the sauce was incredible!
nancy
what a great idea to use tempeh - it really feels substantial and filling