Everything Tastes Better in a Banh Mi, Right? Sunday Edition - Uni (Sea Urchin) and Egg Banh Mi

If you've read my previous post, you'll recall my testing the limits of that phrase. I can't recall who told me that, but it has stuck in my head. This'll be a short post....'cause you know that you should be spending time with Dad on this Father's Day, not checking out some silly "Everything Tastes Better in a Banh Mi" post! 

The Banh Mi itself looks fairly innocuous. 

 

I became a big fan of Banh Mi Trung (Egg Banh Mi) during our visit to Vietnam....and I still crave it from time to time. While looking through the recipes in Izakaya: The Japanese Pub Cookbook, I came across a recipe for "Scrambled Eggs with Sea Urchin in Lobster Sauce". It really wasn't the recipe that hit me, but the photo. Along the side of the dish, was a baguette! In the sometimes strange way that my mind works, I thought this to be a great idea. I've had a wonderful "Oeufs Brouillés aux Oursins" (scrambled eggs with sea urchin), and even "Oeufs Brouilles Au Caviar D'Oursin" (scrambled eggs with caviar and sea urchin) a couple of times. Uni, egg, and Banh Mi sounded just wonderful. So why not?

 

My objective was to not "kill" the wonderful, unique, and delicate flavor of the Uni. I wanted everything to be in harmony, yet not boring. I guess you'd call it "fusion" without "con-fusion".

The bread I picked up from Paris Bakery.

 

In homage to the Vietnamese Banh Mi Trung, I added some Maggi to the eggs, because as we all know, "Maggi makes everything taste better"! And some sea salt.

For texture, and to balance out the richness, I used the ubiquitous Vietnamese pickled radish and carrots. In addition, instead of cilantro, I added some Kaiware (daikon sprouts). I think a touch of mayo might have been nice, but pate would have killed the sandwich.

There's not much more except for some photos:

 

 

 

Wow, this was "killer", I was amazed at how good this was. The pickles cut the richness, the sprouts added a bit of "spice" and bite, the Maggi added a nice "umami", and you could still taste the wonderful "soul of the ocean"! Not a cheap Banh Mi, but man was it good!

 

So no Kimchi and Peanut Butter Banh Mi this time around. But the saying still runs true; everything tastes better in a Banh Mi! 

Comments

[Dennis]

My brain is going into stimulation overload! Sounds fantastic. Yay for chicken eggs, Uni, and of course Banh Mi!

[Gastronomer]

You're a bad mama jamma in the kitchen. And I like it! Glad to hear it's delicious!

[kat]

wow, that looks delicious, do you remember seeing kathy's uni panini post?? that looked good too and I am not a fan of uni...

[ed (from Yuma)]

Amazing again. You make me feel so inadequate in the kitchen. Of course, my excuse is no uni in the desert.

[Natali]

*eats Banh Mi while reading this post* :D

That looks really good, I like how thin you got the eggs.

[Tammy]

Yay! You did it! And I'm salivating...

[caninecologne]

hi kirk! i've never tried uni before, but you really made it look delicious in that banh mi!!!

still up for ba ren right?

[Masa Assassin]

I have one word INCREDIBLE

now can you make me one :P

[Kirk]

Hi Dennis - This tasted even better than I thought it would.

Hi G - Thanks....though all I did was some eggs.

Hi Kat - Now that you mention it, yeah....

Hey Ed - All I did was make some eggs...really....

Hi Natali - That was the most difficult....

Hi Tammy - It turned out pretty good.

Hi CC - You bet we are!

Hi MA - This is so easy....even a Caveman can do it! Hey, I should start a Banh Mi truck....what do you think?

[Janfrederick]

It's all about getting creative in the kitchen. This is what I love about California. Such a cultural melting pot that "spawns" great food.

[Kirk]

Hi Jan - Yes, you're right.

[sawyer]

yessir, you are living the good life right there

[Kirk]

Oh yes, Sawyer.....life is good!

[foodhoe]

that looks absurdly delicious! a combination that I would never have thought of, but now I've really got to find a good source for fresh uni...

[Kirk]

Hi FH - Eggs and Uni (and caviar( is a great combination, and available in many French Restaurants.

[Angela]

That looks so good! I love love uni and I can imagine how delicious it is in a banh mi

[Kirk]

Hi Angela - Uni and eggs are a perfect pair. This one is easy.... you should try it yourself!