Here’s a delicious and nutritious Vietnamese recipe from Andrea Nguyen’s recent Banh Mi Handbook! 

Click on the link for more ideas for how to craft the perfect banh mi: http://www.scribd.com/doc/229269412/The-Banh-Mi-Handbook-by-Andrea-Nguyen-Recipes.

Makes enough for 6 banh mi; takes 1 hour.

1 1⁄2 lbs. (675 g) boneless, skinless chicken thigh

1⁄4 teaspoon sugar

Brimming 1⁄4 teaspoon salt

1 1⁄4 teaspoons black pepper

1 tablespoon fish sauce

1 tablespoon fresh lime juice

Roughly 1 1⁄2 tablespoons canola oil

Trim and discard big fat pads from the chicken thighs.

If the thighs are large and/or super uneven in thickness, butterfly them.

Set aside.

In a bowl, stir together the sugar, salt, pepper, fish sauce, and lime juice.

If needed, tweak the flavor to get a slightly tart-sweet, salty finish.

Add the oil, then the chicken coating the pieces as well.

Cover with plastic wrap and marinate at room temperature for 30 minutes.

To grill the chicken, preheat a gas grill to medium or prepare a medium-hot fire, or use a stove-top grill pan heated over medium-high heat with a little oil brushed on.

Cook the chicken for 6-10 minutes, turning several times, until clear juices flow out when you pierce the flesh with the tip of the knife.

After putting a chicken thigh on a hot grill or pan, let it sear undisturbed.

When there is an opaque border of about 1/3 inch (6mm), flip the chicken.

It should release easily and have nice browning on the underside.

The second side will cook in less time, and you can turn it as you like.

Cool for 0 minutes before cuttingacross the grain.

Tumble in the cooking juices to include extra flavor in the sandwich.

NOTE: For a Hanoi grilled chicken banh mi, use any of the accouterments. Keep leftovers for up to 3 days, warming the chicken in the microwave, oven or skillet over medium heat, adding any cooking juices for depth.