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Cooking adventures in a small, closet sized, kitchen. - I came to realize that my meals were boring and that I had been eating the same few dishes over and over again for years. It was time for a change! I now spend my free time searching for, creating and trying tasty new recipes in my closet sized kitchen.

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Vietnamese Caramel Shrimp Banh Mi

[heart_this] · Jul 29, 2010 · 40 Comments

Vietnamese Caramel Shrimp Banh Mi

With my pickled carrots and daikon radish made I was ready to move onto making the banh mi sandwiches. A Bánh mì sandwich is a Vietnamese sandwich typically consisting of the pickles, cucumbers, cilantro, chilies, pâté, mayonnaise and a meat all wrapped up in a baguette made from both wheat and rice flour. Other than skipping the pate and using an all wheat baguette, I wanted to keep my sandwiches as traditional as possible which meant that the only real decision left was what meat to use. Well, that wasn’t much of a decision either given that it was a shrimp sandwich what inspired me to make the banh mi sandwiches in the first place and I was still craving that shrimp sandwich! Of course, I could not simply saute or grill some shrimp and throw them into the sandwich because I would be missing out on the opportunity to add some flavour and I knew just how I wanted to do it. I am a huge fan of savoury Vietnamese caramel dishes and one of my favorites is the Vietnamese caramel shrimp, or tom rim , and I figured that the sweet and salty caramel shrimp would be perfect in the banh mi sandwich.

Vietnamese Caramel Shrimp Banh Mi
The banhmi sandwiches are pretty easy to make once you have the pickles ready and all you really need to do is quickly cook the shrimp and assemble the sandwiches. You just have to like it when something so easy to make is so wonderfully good! The flavour combinations in the banh mi sandwiches are simply amazing! The succulent, sweet and salty shrimp were delightful with the creamy mayo and both went well with the tangy pickles. The juicy cucumbers cleansed your palate in between bites leaving you ready for more and the cilantro added a particularly nice freshness reminding you of summer and really taking the sandwich home. The only problem that I had with these sandwiches was trying to resist having seconds right away! 🙂

Vietnamese Caramel Shrimp Banh Mi

Vietnamese Caramel Shrimp Banh Mi

Prep Time: 10 minutes Total Time: 10 minutes Servings: 4
ingredients
  • 1 baguette (cut into 4 sandwich sized lengths and sliced in half)
  • 4 tablespoons mayonnaise
  • 1 pound caramelized shrimp (see below)
  • 1/4 cup pickled daikon radish
  • 1/4 cup pickled carrots
  • 1/2 cup cucumber (thinly sliced)
  • 1/2 cup cilantro (loosely packed)
  • 2 birds eye chilies (sliced, optional)
  • soy sauce to taste
directions
  1. Assemble sandwiches and enjoy.
Vietnamese Caramel Shrimp

Vietnamese Caramel Shrimp

Cook Time: 15 minutes Total Time: 15 minutes Servings: 4
ingredients
  • 2 tablespoons sugar
  • 2 tablespoons water
  • 2 tablespoons water
  • 1 tablespoon oil
  • 1 shallot (finely diced)
  • 2 cloves garlic (chopped)
  • 1 pound shrimp (peeled and deviened)
  • 1 tablespoon fish sauce
  • pepper to taste
directions
  1. Heat the sugar and water in a pan on medium-high heat until it caramelizes and turns a dark brown.
  2. Carefully add the water and heat until the caramel dissolves.
  3. Remove from heat and set aside.
  4. Heat the oil in a pan.
  5. Add the shallot and garlic and saute for 3-5 minutes.
  6. Add the shrimp, caramel sauce, fish sauce and pepper and cook until the shrimp is pink all over, about 2-3 minutes.
Similar Recipes:
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Shrimp Po’ Boy
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Vietnamese Caramel Shrimp (Tom Rim)
Fried Green Tomato and Shrimp Remoulade Po Boy
Pickled Green Tomato and Shrimp Remoulade Po Boy
Spicy Pork Bulgogi Banh Mi
Banh Mi Burgers with Vietnamese Caramel BBQ Sauce
Vietnamese Caramel Salmon Banh Mi
Banh Mi Chicken Salad
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Lemongrass Chicken Banh Mi Paratha Tacos
Lemongrass Chicken Banh Mi
20 Minute Vietnamese Caramel Beef

Food, Recipe, Sandwich, Seafood, Shrimp, Vietnamese

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. frugalapolis says

    July 30, 2010 at 12:01 am

    Do you have a recipe for Vietnamese Curried Mock Duck? I love the stuff they have at the Lotus restaurant in Minneapolis, MN but can't find a recipe that tastes like it. It has curry paste, mock duck, coconut milk.

    Reply
  2. Grumpy and HoneyB says

    July 30, 2010 at 12:20 am

    That is one awesome looking sandwich!

    Reply
  3. momgateway says

    July 30, 2010 at 12:26 am

    ..caramel chicken is amazing so shrimp must be even better…you make it look so easy..

    Reply
  4. Anonymous says

    July 30, 2010 at 12:43 am

    Once again, guy! Just toooooo big to take a bite of. To be like your 'foodies', 'sounds yummy!!!

    Reply
  5. Rebecca says

    July 30, 2010 at 1:10 am

    Wow! That looks absolutely delicious!

    Reply
  6. Recipe for Delicious says

    July 30, 2010 at 1:14 am

    Kevin, when I saw the name of this post in my feed, I fell on the floor. After I picked myself up, I saw the picture and fell on the floor again. This looks jaw-droppingly delicious. You are awesome.

    Reply
  7. Ginny says

    July 30, 2010 at 2:25 am

    oh delicious! 🙂 well done!

    Reply
  8. Jasnas' kitchen creations says

    July 30, 2010 at 4:15 am

    Beautiful blog …Love your recipes!

    Reply
  9. Cynthia says

    July 30, 2010 at 5:09 am

    I LOVE banh mi! I've never thought of using shrimp in it but it looks amazing!

    Reply
  10. Fuat Gencal says

    July 30, 2010 at 6:34 am

    Çok iştah açıcı ve leziz olmuş. Ellerinize,emeğinize sağlık.

    Saygılar.

    Reply
  11. Rosa's Yummy Yums says

    July 30, 2010 at 6:51 am

    A fabulous sandwich! Irresistible!

    Cheers,

    Rosa

    Reply
  12. jose manuel says

    July 30, 2010 at 7:32 am

    Que sandwich, esta riquísimo esta combinación de sabores.

    Saludos

    Reply
  13. stefania.confidential says

    July 30, 2010 at 8:12 am

    Un prelibato panino !!

    Reply
  14. Ana Powell says

    July 30, 2010 at 8:27 am

    Wow, awesome.
    I love your version, must make it next time with prawns.
    Wishing you a great weekend ♥

    Reply
  15. Chiara "Kika" Assi says

    July 30, 2010 at 10:04 am

    Banh mi is one of my favorite foods in the world! I love your version, I never thought of making it with shrimp, but it sounds delicious and lighter than the usual pork sandwich!

    Reply
  16. Joanne says

    July 30, 2010 at 10:20 am

    Vietnamese caramel dishes really are tasty! This is one sandwich I would love to sit down to.

    Reply
  17. B says

    July 30, 2010 at 1:21 pm

    I would not have been into this, but your pictures make it look absolutely delightful!

    Becca

    Reply
  18. Cathy says

    July 30, 2010 at 2:12 pm

    I love all the wonderful flavors you combined in this scrumptious sandwich. Caramelized shrimp and picked veggies…delish.

    Reply
  19. esther (ambitiousdeliciousness) says

    July 30, 2010 at 2:34 pm

    I wouldn't even need pate if I were eating this! =)

    Reply
  20. kelly @Evil Shenanigans says

    July 30, 2010 at 3:27 pm

    That looks delicious!! I do not usually go for the shrimp on my sandwiches. The Vietnamese sandwich place I go to makes this delectable lemongrass beef sandwich. That picture of your sandwich, however, has me thinking I need to try something different! Lovely.

    Reply
  21. Twin Tables says

    July 30, 2010 at 4:35 pm

    I am a sucker for Banh Mi! I can't pass it by on the menu. We have some FABULOUS hole in the walls here in Seattle so I am blessed. I always get pork however. Now I am thinking shrimp is on my next sandwich! Looks fantastic.

    Reply
  22. Stella says

    July 30, 2010 at 5:43 pm

    Hey Kevin, when I saw the word 'Banh Mi' in my dashboard, I had to take a look at this. Beautiful! And I love that you used caramel shrimp dish-that sounds so nice right now. I would have definitely had seconds…

    Reply
  23. Monika says

    July 30, 2010 at 11:35 pm

    Oh my. I think you really need to put out a cookbook; I'd buy it in a heartbeat. You are so ridiculously inventive and creative with food!

    Reply
  24. Barbara @moderncomfortfood says

    July 31, 2010 at 11:03 am

    This is my kind of sandwich! I admire the creativity and thought process reflected in all your recipes, including this excellent one.

    Reply
  25. ALIMENTA says

    July 31, 2010 at 2:01 pm

    WOWWWW..Delicious!!!

    Reply
  26. My Man's Belly says

    July 31, 2010 at 7:14 pm

    Gorgeous picture! The caramel shrimp sound divine.

    Reply
  27. Kristen says

    July 31, 2010 at 9:25 pm

    Your pictures alone are amazing not to mention the recipe is definitley worth trying! Thank you for sharing!

    GourmetGlitterati.com

    Reply
  28. Barbara @ VinoLuciStyle says

    July 31, 2010 at 10:00 pm

    I doubt I will get the whole thing put together but who cares? Caramelized shrimp? Looks beautiful and sounds delicious! I am so doing this. Tonight.

    Reply
  29. Cynthia says

    August 1, 2010 at 1:35 am

    Kevin, you are killing me with pleasure! 🙂

    Reply
  30. Megan says

    August 2, 2010 at 9:13 pm

    What a sandwich! The shrimp look perfect, I could really go for a sandwich like this!

    Reply
  31. Gabi says

    August 3, 2010 at 10:48 pm

    I have to agree with Recipe for Delicious; I had to take a moment before even reading this post. So amazing!

    I haven't gotten to try Banh Mi yet because I don't cook meat and no restaurants near me carry them. But shrimp are definitely going on next weeks shopping list.

    Thanks!

    Reply
  32. Nicole says

    August 4, 2010 at 3:43 am

    hi, your recipe inspired me to make lemongrass chicken banh mi yesteday, and with the leftover picked veggies I made this shrimp one tonight. The shrimp was very tasty this way, thanks!

    Reply
  33. Cindy. Lo. says

    August 4, 2010 at 5:43 am

    The food looks so good,
    Now I only need to worry about how to fit that banh mi in my mouth!

    Reply
  34. Jeanne @ CookSister says

    August 6, 2010 at 2:49 pm

    That looks like the Rolls Royce of all sandwiches…

    Reply
  35. Anonymous says

    August 9, 2010 at 3:30 am

    Looks AH-MAZING! Can't wait to try! I am confident in saying Banh Mi is my favorite sandwich of all time.

    Reply
  36. Tammy says

    August 11, 2010 at 1:52 am

    The photography is great! Making my mouth water just looking at the food photos. Thanks for the recipe!

    Reply
  37. dining room tables says

    January 18, 2011 at 5:20 am

    The recipe is really something so interesting. I would love to try this one. Looks so delish!

    Reply
  38. Leonie says

    August 29, 2012 at 1:30 pm

    Let me see… what can I say…. WOW! So delicious!!! Can't get enough of it!!

    Reply
  39. Bharati Naik says

    October 27, 2012 at 7:45 am

    I liked your recipe.. Thanks for sharing

    Reply
  40. Barbara says

    July 14, 2019 at 6:07 pm

    What would you serve with this? It looks absolutely incredible! I am a HUGE fan by the way!

    Reply

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Kevin: I came to realize that my meals were boring and that I had been eating the same few dishes over and over again for years. It was time for a change! I now spend my free time searching for, creating and trying tasty new recipes in my closet sized kitchen.
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