Pate for Vietnamese Banh Mi – What is a good store purchased brand to buy?

Content may contain affiliate links. When you shop the links, we receive a small commission at no cost to you. Thanks for supporting my small business.

Vietnamese Banh Mi is a delicious sandwich that has a very unique ingredient in it called pate. Pate is often hard to find at western grocery stores, so I’m going to share with you the brand of pate I use to make Vietnamese Banh Mi.

If you have ever wondered how you can recreate your favorite Vietnamese sandwich at home, but couldn’t identify the brown spread in that baguette, I’m here to help you out.

This post is all about what brand of pate to use on Vietnamese Banh Mi, where aisle you can find it at your local Asian grocer, as well as a little information about the pate itself.

While you can always make your own pate at home, sometimes, you just need a shortcut. I’m here to help you identify the best brand of pate that I use for my own sandwiches that I make at home for my family.

All About Vietnamese Banh Mi Pâté

Vietnamese Banh Mi sandwiches often use chicken or duck liver pâté. With the other strong flavors inside of Vietnamese Banh Mi, like that of the pickled carrots and daikon radishes, the silky, dusky, and earthy taste adds additional texture and additional layers of flavors to an already delicious dish. While liver is the main ingredient in pâté, spices and herbs are used to bring out the richness and sweetness of the liver.

The pate is used generally as a condiment to moisten the sandwich.

What is the best store bought pate for Vietnamese Banh Mi?

A popular pate brand used frequently in Vietnamese Banh Mi is the Flower Brand, a cured pork liver pâté. This brand of canned pâté can generally be found in Asian grocers next to the canned meats, like SPAM. It can be identified by the red, white, and blue stripes. It’s a product of Canada and has a weight of 2.65 ounces.

What aisle in the grocery store can you find pate to use in Vietnamese Banh mi?

Pates are generally hard to find at local western grocers. Asian grocers generally have pate stocked near other canned meats like SPAM.

Can you make Banh Mi pate at home?

Homemade pate can be made blending chicken liver, ground pork, bread crumbs, sugar, salt, and garlic into a puree and then baking it in the oven.

What are the main ingredients in an authentic Vietnamese Banh Mi sandwich?

There are a multitude of variations for banh mi sandwiches. My favorite layers include a marinated pork tenderloin, pickled carrot and daikon radishes, sliced jalapeños, cilantro, cucumber, and sliced cha lua (Vietnamese steamed pork roll).

What does Vietnamese Banh Mi pate taste like?

Vietnamese Banh Mi pate used in most restaurants will have a dark brown, spreadable pate that has a mild flavor. 

What is pate?

Pate is a fine ground blend of organ meat with herbs and seasonings. While not all pates are made from liver, it can be made with a variety of meats, vegetables, and even cheeses. Some pates can include milk, egg, and bread which allows the ingredients and form a mold. As part of the charcuterie, it is generally classified with other pates, terrines, and rillettes.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is there pate in Banh Mi Vietnamese?

Authentic Vietnamese Banh Mi uses a small spread of pate on one side of the baguette before layering in the other ingredients. 

What is Vietnamese banh mi made from?

Pate that is used in classic Banh Mi will often be made from chicken, duck, or liver.

Summary on Where to Find Vietnamese Pate for Banh Mi Sandwiches

Authentic Vietnamese Banh Mi should include a layer of pate spread on one side of the baguette and mayonnaise on the other. Pate provides another level of complexity to an already porky-pickled-spicy deliciousness of a traditional Banh Mi sandwich. Without good pate, making Vietnamese Banh Mi might fail expectations. 

Check out my recipe for pickled carrots and daikon for banh mi sandwiches as well.

Homestyle Recipes from Vietnam You Might Like

Here are some additional authentic and delicious homestyle Vietnamese recipes that you will love:

• Thit Heo Quay – Crispy Crunchy Pork Belly
• Bun Rieu – Pork and Crab Noodle Soup
• Bitter Melon Soup
• Thit Kho – Caramelized & Braised Pork with Eggs
• Banh Xeo – Pancake Crepe with Pork, Shrimp, and Bean Sprouts
• Banh Uot – Steamed Rice Rolls