Vietnamese Sandwich

(From A Taste of Culture: Foods of Vietnam, published by KidHaven Press)

This sandwich is easy to make. It calls for ground pork, but you may substitute ground beef or turkey. Bologna can be substituted for ham. Use the garnishes according to your taste.

Ingredients

• 4 baguettes or other hard rolls, 6 inches each
• 1/3 lb ground pork
• 1 tsp garlilc owerder
• 1/2 tsp crushed red pepper flakes
• 1 tsp sugar
• 2 tsp nuoc mam or othe Asian fish sauce
• 2 Tb vegetable oil
• 4 slices ham

Garnishes (optional)

• 1 jalapeno pepper, sliced
• 1 cucumber, cut into thin rings
• Pickeled vegetables of your choice
• 4 springs of cilantro and spearmint
• Lime

Instructions

1. Combine the sugar, pepper, garlic and nuoc mam. Add the mixture to the ground meat.
2. Heat the oil in a frying pan. When the oil is hot add the meat mixture. Cook until the meat is brown, about 4 minutes. Remove the meat from the pan and set aside.
3. Cut the baguettes in half vertically. Toast or grill.
4. Spread the meat mixture on 4 slices of the baguette, putting 1/4 of the mixure on each. Top with ham.
5. Add garnishes according to personal tatte. If you use lime, squeeze the juice only on the sandwich. Top with the remaining baguette slices.

Serves 4.