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A plate of vietnamese lemongrass chicken with all the sides on a tile table.
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Vietnamese Lemongrass Chicken

Vietnamese lemongrass chicken is juicy, fragrant, and absolutely ideal for a weekday meal. This Vietnamese lemongrass chicken recipe is made with fresh lemongrass, garlic, fish sauce, five spice, honey, and lime juice for a complex delicious protein option.
Course Lunch & Dinner Recipes, Main Course
Cuisine Vietnamese
Keyword authentic vietnamese recipe, chicken lemongrass recipe, classic vietnamese, homestyle vietnamese, lemongrass chicken marinade, lemongrass chicken recipe, lemongrass chicken thighs, lemongrass with chicken, recipe for lemongrass chicken, traditional vietnamese recipe, Vietnamese chicken noodle soup, Vietnamese chicken recipe, Vietnamese lemongrass chicken, Vietnamese lemongrass chicken recipe
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Marinade Time 2 hours
Total Time 2 hours 30 minutes
Servings 4 servings
Calories 67kcal
Author takestwoeggs

Ingredients

Lemongrass Chicken Marinade

  • 1 ½ lb chicken thighs skinless boneless
  • 1 large shallot minced
  • 5 cloves garlic minced
  • 1 stalk lemongrass minced
  • 1 tablespoon fish sauce
  • 2 tablespoon soy sauce
  • 1 tablespoon lime juice
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • ½ teaspoon five spice
  • 1 tablespoon brown sugar packed
  • 2 tablespoon honey
  • 1 tablespoon Sambal oelek garlic chili paste

Serve

  • White rice or vermicelli noodles
  • Nuoc Cham Vietnamese Dipping Sauce
  • Tomato
  • Cucumber
  • Lettuce
  • Fried Egg optional

Instructions

  • Prepare the lemongrass. Cut the lemongrass into 2 inch pieces, then pound the lemongrass until flat. Finely mince the lemongrass or place the lemongrass pieces into a food processor and chop until finely minced.
  • Marinate the chicken. In a large mixing bowl, add the minced shallots, minced garlic, minced lemongrass, fish sauce, soy sauce, lime juice, salt, five spice, brown sugar, honey and sambal oelek. Mix until combined. Add the chicken , cover with plastic wrap and marinate for a minimum of 2 hours, or overnight.
  • Cook. Add 1 tablespoon of oil onto a hot pan over medium heat and wait until the pan is hot about 2-3 minutes. Lay 2-3 pieces of chicken evenly onto the pan and cook until each side is golden brown and the chicken is cooked through, about 3-4 minutes per side. Make sure to not crowd the pan with the chicken. Repeat with the remaining pieces.
  • Rest and slice. Remove the chicken from the heat and let it rest for 5 minutes before slicing it into thin pieces.
  • Serve. Serve with steamed rice or vermicelli noodles, fresh vegetables, and a fried egg. Top with nuoc cham sauce and enjoy!

Notes

  • Prep the lemongrass. Make sure to only use the white part of the lemongrass. Also, you have to use a tenderizer to pound the lemongrass before you mince it in the food processor. This will release the fragrant oils of the lemongrass to permeate through the marinade.
  • Marinate the chicken. Make sure that you marinate the lemongrass chicken for a minimum of at least 2 hours or ideally overnight. This will give the lemongrass chicken marinade to tenderize, add moisture and give the chicken time to absorb all the flavors.
  • Add the chicken to a hot pan. Make sure that you leave the pan and oil over medium-high heat for about 2-3 minutes or until the pan is hot before adding the chicken. This will ensure you will achieve a nice caramelized sear on the outside of the chicken.
  • Rest the chicken before slicing. You must let the chicken rest for a few minutes before cutting so that the juices inside the lemongrass chicken redistribute themselves back through the meat.
  • Storage instructions: You can store the lemongrass chicken thighs in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
  • To reheat: simply place the lemongrass chicken thighs in the microwave covered and heat until warm.
  • To freeze: alternatively, you can freeze the cooked Vietnamese chicken in a freezer-proof container in the freezer for up to 3 months. To serve, thaw in the refrigerator overnight and then microwave until warm.

Nutrition

Calories: 67kcal | Carbohydrates: 16g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 0.1g | Saturated Fat: 0.01g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.04g | Monounsaturated Fat: 0.1g | Sodium: 1019mg | Potassium: 117mg | Fiber: 0.5g | Sugar: 13g | Vitamin A: 5IU | Vitamin C: 3mg | Calcium: 22mg | Iron: 1mg