Vietnamese Chicken Sandwiches

Step 1

Cut bread in half horizontally; hollow out, leaving a 1-inch-thick shell.

Step 2

Heat canola oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Sprinkle chicken with pepper. Sauté 3 minutes on each side or until done. Let stand 10 minutes. Slice chicken; toss with 1 teaspoon garlic.

Step 3

Combine remaining 1 teaspoon garlic, soy sauce, sesame oil, and hoisin in a bowl; add chicken. Toss. Combine sugar and vinegar in a small saucepan; cook until sugar dissolves. Add carrot and radishes. Cool; drain, reserving 2 tablespoons vinegar mixture.

Step 4

Arrange cucumber and lettuce on bottom half of bread; drizzle with vinegar mixture. Top with chicken, radish mixture, cilantro, Sriracha, and bread top. Cut into 4 equal portions.

Step 5

If you like fresh basil, try Tuscan Pesto Chicken Panini: Prepare Vietnamese Chicken Sandwiches through step 2, substituting 8 ounces ciabatta bread for the baguette (do not hollow out bread) and sprinkling 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt on chicken with the black pepper. Combine 1 cup basil, 1 tablespoon chopped garlic, 1 tablespoon toasted pine nuts, 1 table­spoon olive oil, 1 tablespoon water, 1/4 ­teaspoon black pepper, and 1/8 teaspoon kosher salt in a mini food processor, and pulse until finely chopped. Cut a peeled roasted red bell pepper into quarters; discard seeds and ­membranes. Arrange pepper quarters on ­bottom half of bread. Top with 2 (1-ounce) slices provolone cheese and sliced chicken. Spread basil mixture on cut side of top half of bread; place on sandwich. Cut sandwich crosswise into 4 equal portions. Serves 4 Calories 391; Fat 8g (sat 4g); Sodium 793mg

Step 6

If you like pickles, try Pressed Cuban-Style Sandwiches: Prepare Vietnamese Chicken Sandwiches through step 2, substituting 8 ounces Cuban bread for baguette (do not hollow out bread) and sprinkling 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt on chicken with pepper. Spread 1 tablespoon spicy brown mustard over bottom half of bread; top with 1 ounce shredded Havarti cheese (about 1/4 cup), 1 ounce lower-sodium sliced ham, and chicken. Sprinkle chicken with 2 tablespoons chopped spicy kosher dill pickle; cover with top half of bread. Return pan to medium heat; coat with cooking spray. Add sandwich to pan; top with another heavy skillet to weigh down. Cook 2 minutes on each side or until toasted. Cut sandwich crosswise into 4 equal portions. Serves 4 Calories 315; Fat 9g (sat 5g); Sodium 761mg

Step 7

If you like avocado, try Chicken-Avocado Club Sandwiches: Prepare Vietnamese Chicken Sandwiches through step 2, substituting 12 slices toasted thin wheat bread for ­baguette (do not hollow out bread), substituting cooking spray for oil, and sprinkling 1/8 teaspoon kosher salt on chicken with pepper. Combine 1 cup mashed avocado, 1 tablespoon fresh lime juice, 2 teaspoons canola mayonnaise, and 2 slices cooked crumbled bacon. Divide avocado mixture evenly among 8 bread slices. Spread 1/2 teaspoon yellow mustard over 1 side of remaining 4 bread slices. Top each mustard-topped bread slice with 1 Bibb lettuce leaf and 2 plum tomato slices; sprinkle evenly with 1/4 teaspoon black pepper. Divide half of chicken among sandwiches; top each with 1 avocado-topped bread slice. Repeat layers. Serves 4 Calories 404; Fat 7g (sat 8g); Sodium 561mg