THANKSGIVING LEFTOVER TURKEY BANH MI
While there are many ways to repurpose Thanksgiving leftovers, one particularly flavorful and satisfying option is to create a Leftover Turkey Vietnamese-style sandwich.Â
Â
After Thanksgiving, we are often left with an abundance of turkey leftovers. This Vietnamese-inspired sandwich combines succulent leftover turkey with pickled vegetables, a spicy yogurt-based sauce, and all the goodness of a crusty Vietnamese baguette.
Banh Mi, meaning “bread” in Vietnamese, is a popular street food staple in Vietnam. It’s a symphony of textures and flavors, featuring a crispy baguette, a medley of pickled vegetables, savory meats, and a medley of sauces. This sandwich capitalizes on these elements, transforming Thanksgiving leftovers into an entirely new culinary experience.
Its vibrant flavors, textures, and health benefits make it a perfect choice for lunch, dinner, or even a satisfying snack. So, gather your ingredients, unleash your culinary creativity, and savor the flavors of Vietnam right in your own kitchen.
Leftover Turkey Banh Mi
Equipment
- Air tight jar or container for pickling
- Vegetable peeler
Ingredients
Ingredients for Pickling:
- 1/3 cucumber peeled into ribbons
- 1/3 carrot peeled into ribbons
- 1 cup water
- 1 cup white or rice wine vinegar
- 1 tablespoon sugar
- 1 teaspoon salt
Ingredients for Lime Jalapeno Yogurt Spread:
- 1 teaspoon Umami
- 1 teaspoon lime juice
- 1 teaspoon rice wine vinegar
- 2 teaspoons honey optional depending on level of spice desired
- 1 tablespoon jalapenos diced
- 1/4 cup yogurt
- 1 pinch salt
- 1 pinch black pepper
- 1 pinch ginger powder
- 1 pinch garlic powder
- Sriracha to your liking optional
Ingredients for the Sandwich:
- 1 Vietnamese French Baguette or Baguette of your choice
- 4 oz. leftover Thanksgiving Turkey see notes below for vegetarian options
- Pickled vegetables
- Yogurt spread
- 2 tablespoons cilantro
Instructions
Instructions for Pickling:
- Mix the water, sugar and salt until combined.
- Add the peeled vegetables, seal tight, and refrigerate.
- Allow at least 6 hours for pickling in the refrigerator, or even overnight if possible.
Instructions for Spread:
- Mix all ingredients together until combined and set aside.
Instructions for Assembly:
- Slice the french baguette long ways.
- Spread the yogurt sauce on both sides.
- Layer the turkey, pickled veggies and cilantro and you're ready for your first bite!
Notes
- Vegetarian Option: Substitute the turkey for crispy extra firm tofu
- For a more authentic experience, use a Vietnamese baguette known for its crispy crust and airy interior. If you can't find a Vietnamese baguette, a regular crusty baguette will suffice.
- Feel free to adjust the amount of sriracha sauce in the yogurt sauce to your desired level of spiciness.
- Add other pickled vegetables, such as daikon radish or thinly sliced onion, for more flavor and texture variations.
- If you don't have jalapeños, you can substitute with other chili peppers, such as Thai chilies or serranos.
