I'm obsessed with this red meat. It's not roast pork chunks. it has a chewy texture, bright red color, and usually thin sliced. What is it? I need to make my own banh mi because one slice just doesn't hit the spot
Edit. Here is an image. I'm not that welll versed with reddit so let me know if it doesn't work
by vaskanado
11 Comments
… Beef
[someone else was curious a year ago too..](https://www.reddit.com/r/Vietnamese/s/GAl4klaLGI)
Nem Chua or Thịt nguội đỏ could be the pink one and Cha Lua is the white one
It’s basically the Asian version of cold cuts, usually pork based. My gf is 2nd gen Laotian so that’s according to her lol. And her mom makes bahn mi and it is insanely good.
i believe its char sui pork
I’m assuming you got a Dặc Biệt/ Special Combo order?
I can only think of 2 things I’ve seen that are red. One being red roasted pork or the head cheese / giò thủ which can be artificially colored red sometimes.
Since you said it was chewy/ if it was a bit gelatinous I’m leaning towards head cheese?
https://tayho.com/vi/gio-thu-tron-tay-ho-14oz.html
Edit: Did some additional research, it’s possible it could be the Jambon (Giăm Bông) as others have stated or another term for the headcheese is Chả Đỏ. I’m not Vietnamese, just a Banh Mi enjoyer so i’m not familar with the names for the cuts of meat.
Is it sweet? Is it grilled?
It’s it Nem Nuong ? Some places slice it very thin.
Otherwise my partner said it may be Jambon (the thing slice of a whole meat with the red fat around it)
If it’s round, a bright darkish red, VERY sweet, and sausage-shaped before it’s cut up, it’s probably Chinese sausage. It’s used often in Vietnamese cuisine. See this link for some pics: [https://steamykitchen.com/26666-chinese-sausage-rice-recipe.html](https://steamykitchen.com/26666-chinese-sausage-rice-recipe.html)
Vietnamese ham maybe? My Vietnamese friend says his wife found some good Vietnamese ham fron a place in Texas that ships.
Name added: Cha Lua is what it’s called
Confirmed this is just Vietnamese ham (“jambon” is just the French word for ham). This is uncured ham, so it’s more like thin sliced slow roasted pork.
~~This sounds like “lop chung” (Vietnamese name Lap Xuong). This is my favorite sausage on earth. I grew up eating these. Some Costco’s even sell these now. I usually don’t use these in banh mi per se, but I do eat them with baguette and soft scrambled eggs the way mom used to make. The main seasonings are brown sugar and shaosing wine.~~
~~The red meat thing threw me for a loop, because Vietnamese banh mi often are filled with Chinese barbecue pork (char siu).~~
I’m really curious now buddy, can you please add a pic. Hahaha