This is an easy recipe for flavourful Grilled Lemongrass Turkey Banh Mi using ground turkey, piled on top of baguette with fresh veggies.
Disclosure: This post is sponsored by the Turkey Farmers of Canada. All images and opinions expressed are solely my own.
The autumn leaves are starting to fall, and I'm hanging onto the last few days of summer with a grill-worthy recipe as we transition into September.
It's my favourite month of the year -- first, because it's back-to-school, and for me, it brings a sense of renewal; starting fresh. (Yes, I would be one of those kids who secretly loved shopping for school supplies). Second, it's mine and my husband's birthday month, so I may be a little bias.
And speaking of starting fresh, I'm thrilled to partner with the Turkey Farmers of Canada to bring you some easy and delicious recipes using Canadian turkey in the coming months.
When I think of back-to-school or back-to-work, I want something easy to eat, portable, and still delicious.
Banh mi sandwiches are my go-to.
If you've never heard of banh mi, it's a Vietnamese sub-style sandwich containing assorted meat, cucumbers, cilantro, pickled daikon and carrots and condiments such as butter and mayonnaise.
For this recipe, I'm doing a Grilled Lemongrass Turkey Banh Mi sandwich.
Why you'll love this recipe
Turkey is a delicious, lean protein that absorbs flavour easily and is very versatile.
To help that flavour permeate the turkey more easily, I've pounded the turkey into thin cutlets. The turkey sits overnight in a savoury and aromatic lemongrass marinade and will grill up in about 10 minutes, so it's very easy to prepare.
An important component of banh mi (which means "bread" in Vietnamese) is the baguette.
A true banh mi baguette is light, crisp, and airy.
My tip for baguettes
Some banh mi shops bake their own baguettes.
If you have access to a local Vietnamese banh mi shop, you can drop by and ask if they have freshly baked baguettes.
More often than not, they'll be happy to sell their baguettes for minimal cost.
Otherwise, you can use French baguettes from a local bakery or grocery store.
How to make it
Once you grill the marinated turkey breast, it's time to assemble the sandwiches.
The great thing about sandwiches is that you can add as many or as little ingredients as you want.
Feel free to omit the cilantro and jalapeno if it's not to your taste.
These grilled lemongrass turkey breasts are moist, juicy, and tender thanks to the easy and flavourful marinade. Piled into a baguette along with an assortment of fresh vegetables, this turkey banh mi will be an exciting addition to any lunchbox.
Other recipes you may like
Be sure to try out these recipes:
Cold Cut Banh Mi (Vietnamese Sandwich)
Turkey & Cheese Puff Pastry Roll Ups
Five-Spice Turkey Green Onion Pancake Rolls
Let me know if you try out this Grilled Lemongrass Turkey Banh Mi recipe -- tag me on Instagram @siftandsimmer or leave me a comment/rating below.
Grilled Lemongrass Turkey Banh Mi
For accuracy and precision in baking recipes, use weight (metric) measurements when available.
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon fish sauce I used Red Boat, but you can use any brand you have available
- ½ teaspoon granulated sugar
- 1 stalk fresh lemongrass finely minced
- 1 teaspoon light soy sauce
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 2 tablespoon shallot minced
- 2 tablespoon vegetable oil I used avocado oil
- 330 g or appx 2 fresh turkey breast cutlets, pounded thin
- 2 tablespoon salted butter room temperature
- 2 x 8" French baguettes sliced lengthwise and in half
- 2 tablespoon mayonnaise
- do chua Vietnamese pickled daikon & carrot
- ½ cucumber sliced lengthwise
- a few sprigs cilantro
- 1 jalapeno sliced
Instructions
- In a medium bowl, combine the fish sauce, sugar, minced lemongrass, soy sauce, garlic, shallot, and oil. Mix together. Add in the turkey breasts and coat each side with the marinade.
- Cover with plastic wrap and place into the fridge for at least 6 hours, or preferably overnight.
- Preheat grill to 200°C/392°F. Place marinated turkey breast onto the grill.
- Cook for 5 minutes and carefully flip, cooking for another 5-6 minutes. Remove from grill and place onto a plate.
- Cover the cooked turkey breasts with aluminum foil and let them rest for 10 minutes.
- Assemble the banh mi sandwiches by spreading some butter on the bottom of the baguette and mayonnaise on the top half.
- Add the grilled turkey breast, and top with do chua (pickled daikon and carrot), some cucumber, cilantro, and jalapeno (if you like it a little spicy).
- Enjoy immediately. Grilled Lemongrass Turkey Banh Mi sandwiches may be tightly wrapped and stored in the refrigerator for up to 2 days. Another option is to keep the grilled lemongrass turkey and vegetables separately and assemble prior to eating.
Nutrition
The nutritional information provided should be considered as approximate and is not guaranteed. Please use your best judgment to ensure food is safely prepared and/or a good fit for your diet.
Linsey
I love Banh Mi for dinner! I try to make Banh Mi baguettes almost every fortnight. This grilled lemongrass turkey is perfect for this weekend. Yummy!