Trader Joe’s Pork Belly Banh Mi Recipe Hack

November 20, 2020Van
Blog post

Prep time: 10 minutes

Cook time: 5 minutes

Serves: 3 Sandwiches

I’m extremely impressed that Trader Joe’s had all the ingredients to make this amazing Pork Belly Banh Mi Sandwich! This is a super quick and easy meal, I put this together in about 15 minutes. Coming from someone who makes authentic Vietnamese banh mi sandwiches from scratch all the time – I’m seriously in shock at how delicious this was!

Trader Joe’s Pork Belly Banh Mi Recipe Hack
Quick Pickled Carrots.  Usually I would also include julienned Daikon Radish as well, but Trader Joe’s doesn’t carry it.  You can do half carrots half daikon if you have it, the closest replacement at Trader Joe’s would be the small round radishes.
Trader Joe’s Pork Belly Banh Mi Recipe Hack

Quickly sear the pork belly slices on both sides so they are slightly browned.
Trader Joe’s Pork Belly Banh Mi Recipe Hack

Trader Joe’s Pork Belly Banh Mi Recipe Hack

Trader Joe’s Pork Belly Banh Mi Recipe Hack

Trader Joe’s Pork Belly Banh Mi Recipe Hack

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Print Recipe

Trader Joe’s Pork Belly Banh Mi Recipe Hack

  • Prep time: 10 minutes
  • Cook time: 5 minutes
  • Serves: 3 Sandwiches

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Ingredients

  • 12 oz package of Trader Joe’s Fully Cooked Pork Belly, cut into ¼ inch slices
  • 1 French Baguette
  • ⅓ Cup Trader Joe’s Soyaki Sauce
  • 1 Cup Shredded Carrots
  • Mayonnaise
  • Cilantro
  • 2 Mini Cucumbers, thinly sliced lengthwise
  • 2 Jalapeños, thinly sliced (optional)
  • 2 Tablespoons Rice Vinegar (or White Vinegar)
  • 1 Tablespoon Water
  • 1 Teaspoon Sugar
  • ½ Teaspoon Coarse Sea Salt or Kosher Salt

Method

  • 1)

    Make pickled carrots by adding 2 Tablespoons Rice Vinegar, 1 Tablespoon Water, 1 Teaspoon Sugar, ½ Coarse Sea Salt into a bowl, stir until the salt and sugar are dissolved. Add 1 Cup of Shredded Carrots and toss to coat the carrots. Put into the refrigerator while you prepare the pork belly.

    *Usually there’s also julienned daikon too, but Trader Joe’s doesn’t carry daikon, you can do half carrots and half daikon if you can get a hold of it. The closest substitution at Trader Joe’s would be the small round radishes.

  • 2)

    Heat a large non-stick skillet on high heat, add the pork belly slices and sear both sides so they are slightly browned. Add ⅓ Cup Trader Joe’s Soyaki Sauce into the hot pan and let it simmer for about 1 minute so the sauce reduces, coat all the pork belly pieces in the sauce and turn off the heat.

  • 3)

    Drain the vinegar from the carrots. Cut the baguette into thirds and lightly toast them so the crust is slightly crispy. Cut each lengthwise so it’s like a hotdog bun (don’t cut all the way through). Add Mayonnaise, layer the Pork Belly, Pickled Carrots, sliced Cucumbers, Sliced Jalapeños and Cilantro. Enjoy!

    *If you make this recipe, please leave a comment down below and let me know what you thought 🙂

↓ Supplies to make this recipe ↓

 










3 Comments

  • makala smith

    February 22, 2021 at 7:24 pm

    i loved this recipe!!!! i added a little twist and made an siracha jalepeno lime mayo to spice things up !! such a delicious hack to the hard work it takes to make pork belly!
    thank you!

  • Robin Pomerantz Laidlaw

    March 14, 2024 at 7:08 pm

    I made this recipe tonight and my husband and I loved it. Thank you!

    1. Van

      March 19, 2024 at 10:50 am

      Happy to hear you both loved it!

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