Vietnamese Lemongrass Chicken Marinade Recipes

VIETNAMESE NOODLES WITH LEMONGRASS CHICKEN

Steps:

• Combine Chicken and Marinade ingredients and set aside for at least 1 hour, up to 24 hours. (Note 4)
• Heat 1/2 tbsp oil in a fry pan over medium heat (or heat the BBQ). Remove chicken from marinade, shaking off large bits of lemongrass (small bits should fall off during cooking).
• Place chicken in the pan and cook each side until dark golden brown and chicken is just cooked through - about 6 to 8 minutes in total.
• Remove from pan, shaking off any remaining bits of visible lemongrass and set aside to rest for 5 minutes. Then slice into thin pieces.
• Combine the Nuoc Cham ingredients and mix well to dissolve the sugar. Adjust to your taste (spiciness, lime, sweetness) and set aside for at least 20 minutes.
• Soak the vermicelli noodles in hot water for 3 minutes (or according to packet instructions), then drain and rinse under cold water to stop the noodles from sticking together.
• Individual servings: Place noodles in bowl. Top with vegetables and herbs, and sliced chicken pieces. Drizzle with a few tablespoons of Nuoc Cham Sauce (be generous, ~ 4 tbsp per serving) and serve with lime wedges.
• DIY (my preferred way): Place chicken, vegetables, herbs, noodles and sauce in separate bowls / piled on platters. Then let everyone make their own bowls!

VIETNAMESE GRILLED LEMONGRASS CHICKEN

Steps:

• Mix canola oil, lemongrass, lemon juice, soy sauce, brown sugar, garlic, and fish sauce together in a mixing bowl until the sugar is dissolved; add chicken and turn to coat in the marinade.
• Marinate chicken in the refrigerator for 20 minutes to 1 hour.
• Preheat grill for medium heat and lightly oil the grate.
• Remove chicken thighs from the marinade and shake to remove excess marinade. Discard the remaining marinade.
• Grill chicken until no longer pink in the center and the juices run clear, 3 to 5 minutes per side. An instant-read thermometer inserted into the center should read at least 165 degrees F (74 degrees C).

VIETNAMESE LEMONGRASS CHICKEN

Steps:

• Combine the lime juice, fish sauce, maple syrup, oil, soy sauce, black pepper, garlic, lemongrass and shallot in a blender or food processor. Puree until smooth.
• Combine the chicken and marinade in a large bowl. Toss until the chicken is evenly coated. Cover the bowl and let the chicken marinate for 30 minutes.
• Preheat the grill to medium-high heat. (If using wooden skewers, soak them in water for 15 minutes before using.) Thread the chicken evenly onto the skewers.
• Once the grill is hot, place the chicken kabobs evenly on the grill. Cook for 10-14 minutes, turning once halfway through, until the chicken is golden brown and cooked through (no longer pink on the inside).
• Transfer the kabobs to a clean plate, and loosely tent with aluminum foil. Let the chicken rest for at least 5-10 minutes.
• Then serve warm while the chicken is hot and juicy, sprinkled with an extra squeeze of fresh lime juice (plus some thinly-sliced green onions) if desired. Or, refrigerate in a sealed container for up to 3 days, or freeze for up to 3 months.

VIETNAMESE SPICY LEMONGRASS CHICKEN (Gà XàO Sả ỚT)

Steps:

• Marinade: Combine chicken and marinade ingredients, and let it sit to marinate for 15 minutes.
• Mince aromatics: Clean the lemongrass, remove the outer layers of rough leaves and find the yellow leaves inside. Slice the lemongrass roots into ⅛" slices first, then add to a food processor to finely mince and set aside. Mince/process the garlic then set aside. Mince/process shallots and set aside.
• Make the chile sauce: Combine fish sauce, sambal, and coconut juice and mix to combine.
• Pat dry your chicken, cut into bite size pieces.
• In a pan over medium-high heat, add four tbsp of oil and add the shallots and saute until light brown. Add the garlic and saute until light brown. Add lemongrass and stir until fragrant. Add the chicken and brown it a little.
• Lower to medium heat, add the Chile Sauce. Stir to mix, taste and adjust as necessary, then cover with a lid. After about five minutes, stir a bit, retaste and reseason if necessary, add more cooking time if needed.
• Add the garnish about 1-2 minutes before the chicken finishes cooking to soften a bit. The dish is done once the chicken reaches an internal temp of 165 °F, or until the center of the chicken is no longer pink.
• Serve with a side of rice.

VIETNAMESE-INSPIRED BAKED CHICKEN THIGHS

Steps:

• Prepare the marinade. In a small bowl combine the soy sauce, fresh ginger, fish sauce, garlic, brown sugar, oil, lime juice and cilantro. Stir to dissolve the sugar.
• Add the lemongrass stalk.
• Pour the marinade into a container or gallon plastic zipper top bag (preferred method). Add the chicken and coat in the marinade.
• Place in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour up to 4 hours.
• Before removing the chicken from the refrigerator preheat the oven to 400 degrees.
• Prepare a rimmed baking sheet by lining it with foil. The chicken can be cooked directly on the foil or a wire rack may be inserted (allows any excess fat to drip into the pan below).
• Place the chicken on the pan or rack with space in between. Cook for 35 minutes or until the internal temperature of the chicken reaches 165 degrees F. Instant read food thermometer recommended.

VIETNAMESE GRILLED LEMONGRASS CHICKEN THIGHS

Steps:

• For the lemongrass, trimmed off the bottom end and the mostly green upper part of the stalks. Peel off a few tough outer layers. Pound the lemongrass with a rolling-pin or meat tenderizer for a couple of times. Finely minced.
• In a small bowl, combine the marinade ingredients. Transfer to a large Ziploc bag.
• Rinse and dry the chicken with paper towels. Place them in the Ziploc bag with the marinade and coat the chicken really well. Seal the bag and transfer to the fridge. Marinate for 24 hours.
• For the pickled vegetables, in a medium bowl, combine the carrot and daikon. Sprinkle with ¼ teaspoon of salt and ½ teaspoon of sugar. With your hands, mix everything together until the vegetables are soften, about 3 minutes. Rinse under cold water and drain. Transfer to an airtight glass container.
• In a medium heatproof bowl, combine the remaining sugar, white vinegar, and warm water. Stir and mix until the sugar has dissolved. Pour over the vegetables. Let it brine in the fridge for at least 1 hour before using.
• 30 minutes before grilling, remove the chicken from the fridge. Wipe off the marinade from the chicken. Discard the remaining marinade. Place the chicken thighs on a plate.
• Preheat the grill over medium heat, lightly grease the grill with oil. Grill the chicken, skin side down for about 2 minutes, and then rotate the chicken 90 degrees to create the crosshatch pattern. Grill the chicken for another 2 - 3 minutes. Flip the chicken and grill for another 4 - 5 minutes with lid on or until cooked through. Transfer to a large plate. Cover with foil and let it sit for 5 minutes. Transfer the chicken to serving plates. Sprinkle with minced cilantro. Serve with steamed white rice, pickled vegetables and lime (if using).

VIETNAMESE LEMONGRASS CHICKEN

Steps:

• Combine all the ingredients for the marinade into a bowl (garlic through brown sugar). Mix and add the chicken. Make sure the chicken is coated in the marinade. Let it marinate in the fridge for 3 hours or overnight. I would highly recommend overnight for the best flavor.
• Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
• Next sear the chicken skin to ensure it's nice and crispy. Heat some oil over medium high heat. Sear the chicken, skin side down, for 1-2 minutes until brown.
• After searing, place the chicken on a baking sheet. Bake in the oven for 30-35 minutes until the internal temperature reaches 165 degrees F.
• Let it rest for 5 minutes before serving. Serve with rice, fresh vegetables, and a fried egg.

VIETNAMESE CHICKEN RECIPE (LEMONGRASS CHICKEN)

Steps:

• Combine all the marinade ingredients in a bowl and add the chicken, ensuring it is coated with the marinade. Refrigerate overnight.
• Preheat the oven to 425F and line a baking sheet with aluminum foil or parchment paper. Place a baking rack on top.
• Place chicken thighs on baking rack and drizzle with the lime juice.
• Bake chicken for 40 minutes, flipping half way through.
• Skin should be browned and crispy. If it's not, place it under the broiler for a minute or two until it crisps up.