Recipe for Little Money - Bánh Mì Sandwiches

Ingredients:
450g tofu, meat substitute, or meat 
bread / baguette 

For the marinade 
2 tbsp (30 ml) low-sodium soy sauce 
3 cloves garlic 
2 tsp (10 ml) Sriracha sauce 
8 g sugar 
5 ml sesame oil 
1/2 lime 

For the pickled carrots 
2 large carrots 
120 ml white wine 
18 g sugar 
4 g salt 
120 ml water 

Additional toppings 
1 cucumber 
½ bunch cilantro 
1 fresh chili (optional) 
2 tbsp mayo 
2 tsp Sriracha sauce 
2 tbsp hoisin sauce 

Price 
Bread €1.40 – €4.52 
Meat/Meat substitute €1.80 – €6.66 
Rest €2.90 

Price per serving 1,52 – 3,52 €

It’s best to prepare the carrots the day before. To do this, peel two large carrots, trim the ends, and cut them into fine sticks. Place them in a jar along with vinegar, sugar, and salt. Pour boiling water over them and seal the jar. 

For the marinade, press the garlic cloves and mix them with the remaining ingredients. Combine them in a container of your choice with your meat or meat substitute, ensuring everything is roughly covered. Turn occasionally to let everything marinate evenly. If you have watery tofu, simply wring it out a bit before marinating.  

After your topping has marinated for 1-2 hours, add it to a pan with a few drops of oil and fry until golden brown. If there is any marinade left in your bowl, simply add it to the pan. 

Cut the baguettes in half and spread with mayo, Sriracha, and a little Hoisin sauce, then layer on the carrots and cucumber. You can easily slice the cucumber into thin, long strips using a vegetable peeler. Add the meat or meat substitute on top, garnish with some cilantro, and fresh chilies if you like, and your sandwich is ready! 

Tofu and other meat substitutes show that sustainability doesn't have to be expensive. Those who choose local products and organic quality often spend more. Special dietary requirements (vegan, gluten-free, sugar-free, etc.) can be easily met by swapping out individual ingredients and usually come with only minimal additional costs.