Vietnamese Lemongrass Grilled Pork (Thịt Nướng)
User Reviews
4.4
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Prep Time
10 mins
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Cook Time
25 mins
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Additional Time
30 mins
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Total Time
1 hr 5 mins
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Servings
9 people
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Calories
436 kcal
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Course
Main Course, Lunch, Dinner
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Cuisine
Asian, Vietnamese
Vietnamese Lemongrass Grilled Pork (Thịt Nướng)
Description
The preparation begins by trimming and slicing the pork into thin strips, then marinating it to absorb flavors from fish sauce, oyster sauce, sugar or honey, minced garlic and shallots, minced lemongrass, salt, and pepper. This blend offers a mix of salty, sweet, and fragrant tones distinctive to the dish.
After marinating for at least 30 minutes or up to overnight for deeper flavor, the pork strips are threaded onto skewers, which aid in grilling evenly and achieving a nice char. Alternatively, the pork can be baked in the oven at 375°F and broiled briefly to mimic grilling. Grilling requires turning the skewers frequently for balanced cooking and a slight caramelization on all sides. The meat develops a tender texture inside with a charred exterior.
The grilled pork is traditionally served wrapped in fresh rice paper rolls or alongside rice vermicelli noodles. Suggested toppings include fish sauce for dipping, scallion oil, crushed peanuts, pickled daikon and carrot, fresh herbs like mint, Thai basil, and cilantro, as well as sliced cucumber and chiles. These fresh accompaniments balance the rich, savory pork creating a harmonious eating experience.
Calories listed refer to the pork skewers alone and can vary depending on the amount and method of serving.
Ingredients
For The Pork
- 1½ - 2 lbs pork belly or shoulder
- 2 tablespoon fish sauce
- 1 tablespoon oyster sauce
- 3 tablespoon sugar or honey
- 3-4 cloves garlic minced
- 1-2 hallots minced
- ½ cup lemongrass minced
- salt to taste
- black pepper to taste
Suggested Toppings and Add-ons
- fish sauce for dipping
- scallion oil (sauté some chopped scallions in a neutral oil for a fragrant sauce)
- peanuts crushed
- carrot pickled
- daikon radish pickled
- bean sprout
- mint
- Thai basil
- cilantro
- lettuce red leaf, green leaf, or romaine
- cucumber
- Thai chile or jalapeños; sliced
- rice vermicelli
- bread baguette or French bread
Instructions
- Trim any large chunks of fat or gristle off of the pork. If you're using skin-on pork belly like me, trim the skin off as well. Then, slice the pork into stripe about ¼ of an inch thick.
- Add the meat to a bowl and add the fish sauce, oyster sauce, sugar or honey, garlic, shallots, lemongrass and salt and pepper. Mix the meat thoroughly and let it marinate for at least 30 minutes but preferably overnight.
- Skewer the pork by poking one end of a pork strip through the skewer, folding the pork over, and poking it through the skewer again. Keep a few inches on either end of the skewer empty.
- If you're not using skewers, you can layer the pork on a wire wrack and cook them in the oven at 375° for 15-20 minutes or until cooked through. Broil for 1-2 minutes as necessary to achieve a char on the meat.
- Grill the skewers, flipping often to ensure a good char on all sides. Skewers can also be baked using the instructions above.
- Serve the cooked pork rolled in rice paper rolls, as a noodle salad bowl or in a banh mi. See blog post for suggestions.
Notes
- Calories are calculated for the pork skewers only; total calories will vary with serving method and accompaniments.
- Marinate pork for at least 30 minutes, preferably overnight, to deepen flavor and tenderize the meat.
- If grilling is not available, broil pork strips in the oven and watch closely to develop a char without overcooking.
- Serve with fresh herbs, pickled vegetables, and dipping fish sauce for an authentic Vietnamese experience.
Nutrition Information
Show DetailsNutrition Facts
Serving: 9people
Amount Per Serving
Calories 436 kcal
% Daily Value*
| Serving | 2skewers | |
| Calories | 436kcal | 22% |
| Carbohydrates | 10.7g | 4% |
| Protein | 7.9g | 16% |
| Fat | 40.1g | 62% |
| Saturated Fat | 14.6g | 73% |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 4.3g | 25% |
| Monounsaturated Fat | 18.7g | 94% |
| Cholesterol | 54.4mg | 18% |
| Sodium | 429.7mg | 18% |
| Potassium | 261.6mg | 6% |
| Fiber | 0.1g | 0% |
| Sugar | 4.8g | 10% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.
User Reviews
Overall Rating
4.4
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