How to make Saigon-style bread with combo pan

This recipe serves about 3 to 4 people, takes approximately 45 minutes to prepare, and provides around 2,890 calories in total.

Ingredients

- 300 grams beef tenderloin

- 200 grams pork chop (opt for lean meat with a bit of fat)

- 150 grams pate

- 150 grams cha lua - pork roll

- 1 packet of sausages

- 3-4 eggs

- 3-4 loaves of bread

- 4 cloves of garlic

- 1 onion

- 1 bunch of coriander

- Spices: Salt, oyster sauce, soy sauce, sugar, stock powder, pepper

- Cooking oil, butter, tapioca starch

Instructions

1. Preparation

- Prepare the beef tenderloin by removing any tendons

- Slice the beef thinly against the grain

- Marinate the slices with a mixture of 1 teaspoon each of oyster sauce, soy sauce, and pepper, along with 1/2 teaspoon each of sugar, stock powder, and a small amount of crushed garlic. Avoid using salt as salt may separate water from the meat during stir-frying, potentially leading to toughness and dryness.

- Add a small quantity of cooking oil and tapioca starch to the marinade helps ensure tenderness during stir-frying. Tapioca starch breaks down muscle fibers for tenderness, while oil retains moisture, preventing toughness

- Mix thoroughly to allow the flavors to absorb

Sliced beef is thoroughly marinated with various seasonings. Photo by VnExpress/Bui Thuy

- Chop the pork chop into large pieces

- Use a meat pounder to tenderize the meat gradually

- Marinate the pork chop with a teaspoon of salt for added flavor. Avoid marinating onions and garlic to prevent potential burning during sautéing

Pork cutlets after being pounded. Photo by VnExpress/Bui Thuy

- Cut the pork rolls into bite-sized pieces

- Cut the pate into preferred shapes

Eggs, pate, sausages, and pork rolls to serve as toppings. Photo by VnExpress/Bui Thuy

- Peel the onion and slice into thin slices

- Mince garlic and wash coriander

- Prepare a black pepper sauce mixture by combining 3 tablespoons of oyster sauce, 2 tablespoons of soy sauce, 1 tablespoon of sugar, 1 teaspoon of seasoning powder, and 1 teaspoon of crushed roasted fragrant black pepper

- Add a small bowl of filtered water and stir to dissolve the mixture

- Season the sauce to taste

- Enhance the flavor of the black pepper sauce by mixing a small amount of tapioca starch with water and adding it to the mixture. If preparing a larger quantity, adjust the quantity accordingly

The black pepper sauce, along with ingredients such as coriander, onions, and butter, plays a significant role in determining the overall flavor of the dish. Photo by VnExpress/Bui Thuy

2. Cooking process

a. Cook the pork chops

- Heat cooking oil and pan-fry the pork chops until one side is lightly browned

- Flip and cook the other side for about 3 minutes

- Remove from the pan and cut into bite-sized pieces using scissors, or keep them intact for a better presentation

The pork chops sizzle to a golden brown. Photo by VnExpress/Bui Thuy

b. Cook the eggs

- Prepare fried eggs by heating a pan and coating it evenly with cooking oil

- Crack the eggs into the pan, ensure the yolk sits in the center

- Allow the edges of the egg whites to shrink before seasoning with a pinch of salt and pepper

- Sunny side-up eggs are recommended when savoring the breakfast skillet dish

Sunny side-up eggs, with the yolk still runny and intact, create a sunny appearance. Photo by VnExpress/Bui Thuy

c. Cook the beef

- Melt the butter, infuse it with the aroma of sautéed garlic

- Swiftly stir-fry the beef over high heat until it is about 60% done. It is better to stir-fry the beef just before eating for optimal flavor.

- Reduce the heat to medium and incorporate the black pepper sauce mixture, stirring thoroughly

- As the sauce undergoes a color transformation and slightly thickens, add the onions, stir-fry until fully cooked

- Adjust the seasoning to suit your taste

The stir-fried beef is coated in a dense black sauce. Photo by VnExpress/Bui Thuy

- Heat a cast iron or a pan. Grease it lightly with cooking oil

- Layer in pate, sausage, fried eggs, pork chops, and pork roll

- Place the beef and black pepper sauce mixture onto the pan, and then serve it hot alongside crispy bread

A serving of southern-style banh mi chao features abundant toppings including fried eggs, pork chops, stir-fried beef, sausages, pate and pork rolls. Photo by VnExpress/Bui Thuy

Finished product

The final product contains hot and succulent beef, combined with sweet and savory black pepper sauce. It is complemented by a rich pate, fragrant pork cutlets, and sunny-side-up eggs.

This recipe belongs to the Hoa people, or Vietnamese of Chinese origin, and is beloved by many people in Saigon. It is observed that in Saigon, people generally favor a sweeter taste, which is why sugar is often added to the sauce.