Meatball Banh Mi

Preparation

1. To prepare slaw: Whisk lime juice and sugar in a medium bowl. Add carrot, daikon, scallion greens and basil and toss to coat. Set aside.
2. To prepare meatballs: Preheat oven to 450°F. Line a large baking sheet with foil and coat with cooking spray.
3. Gently mix pork, chicken, water chestnuts, scallion whites, garlic, fish sauce, chile-garlic sauce and pepper in a large bowl (do not overmix). Using a generous 2 tablespoons each, make 18 meatballs. Bake on the prepared baking sheet until just cooked through, 15 to 20 minutes.
4. To assemble sandwiches: Cut each portion of baguette in half horizontally, then pull out about half of the soft bread in the center of each piece (reserve for another use, if desired). Combine mayonnaise and chile-garlic sauce to taste in a small bowl. Spread about 1/2 tablespoon of the mixture on each piece of baguette. Divide the reserved slaw among the sandwiches and top with cucumber and cilantro. Add 3 meatballs to each sandwich. Serve immediately.

Tips & Notes

• Make Ahead Tip: Freeze cooked meatballs airtight for up to 3 months. Defrost before serving cold or reheating.

• Tip: Daikon is a long, white radish; it can be found in Asian groceries and most natural-foods stores. If you can’t find it, the more common round red radish can be used as a substitute.

Nutrition