Grilled Vietnamese Chicken with Lemongrass (Printable View)
Tender grilled chicken with aromatic lemongrass, garlic, and fish sauce marinade. Perfect for an easy weeknight dinner.
# Ingredient List:
→ Chicken
01 - 4 boneless, skinless chicken thighs (approximately 1.3 pounds)
→ Marinade
02 - 2 tablespoons fish sauce
03 - 2 tablespoons soy sauce (use gluten-free if needed)
04 - 1 tablespoon light brown sugar
05 - 2 tablespoons lemongrass, finely minced (white part only)
06 - 3 garlic cloves, finely minced
07 - 1 small shallot, finely minced
08 - 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
09 - 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
10 - 1 red chili, deseeded and finely chopped (optional)
→ Garnishes (optional)
11 - Fresh cilantro, chopped
12 - Lime wedges
13 - Sliced cucumber
# How to Prepare:
01 - In a large bowl, whisk together fish sauce, soy sauce, brown sugar, minced lemongrass, garlic, shallot, vegetable oil, black pepper, and chopped chili if using.
02 - Add chicken thighs to the bowl and toss thoroughly to coat with marinade. Cover and refrigerate for at least 1 hour, or overnight for maximum flavor penetration.
03 - Heat grill or grill pan over medium-high heat. Lightly oil the grates to prevent sticking.
04 - Take chicken out of marinade and let excess liquid drip off. Reserve remaining marinade for basting if desired.
05 - Place chicken on preheated grill. Cook for 6 to 7 minutes per side until cooked through with nice char marks. Internal temperature should reach 165°F.
06 - Transfer grilled chicken to a serving plate and let rest for 5 minutes. Slice if preferred. Garnish with fresh cilantro, lime wedges, and cucumber slices.
# Expert Suggestions:
01 -
- The marinade transforms ordinary chicken into something that tastes straight from a Vietnamese street stall
- It comes together in minutes but tastes like you spent all day planning it
02 -
- Patting the chicken dry before grilling helps it char instead of steam, which makes all the difference in texture
- Lemongrass needs to be minced very finely because larger pieces stay tough and unpleasant to bite into
03 -
- Put your lemongrass in the freezer for 10 minutes before mining, it becomes much easier to cut through
- Let the grill get fully hot before adding the chicken, those initial sear marks create the best flavor