Vietnamese Lemongrass Chicken
Vietnamese Lemongrass Chicken, or Gà Xào Sả, is a beloved dish in Vietnamese cuisine known for its fragrant and zesty flavors. It's made by marinating chicken in a mixture of lemongrass, garlic, fish sauce, sugar, and spices, then stir-frying it until the chicken is juicy and perfectly infused with the aromatic herbs. This dish can be served with rice, noodles, or as part of a larger Vietnamese meal, offering a fresh, vibrant, and savory experience.
Ingredients
- 1/4 cup lime juice plus extra lime wedges for serving
- 3 tablespoons fish sauce
- 2 tablespoons maple syrup or brown sugar
- 2 tablespoons avocado oil or any neutral-flavored oil
- 1 tablespoon low-sodium soy sauce
- 4 small garlic cloves
- 2 stalks lemongrass tender white parts only, roughly chopped (see below)
- 1 medium shallot peeled and halved (or half of a small red onion)
- 2 pounds boneless chicken breasts or thighs cut into 1-inch pieces
Instructions
- 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.
Notes
*Lemongrass: To properly cut lemongrass, first pull off the reedy outer few leaves until you reach the more tender leaves on the inside. Then roughly dice just the white parts of the lemongrass, usually the bottom (white) 1/3 or so of the stalk. (If you cannot find fresh lemongrass, you can substitute in 3 or so tablespoons of fresh lemongrass paste.)
*Grill pan or sauté method: If you would like to cook this lemongrass chicken recipe inside on the stovetop, you can cook the skewers in a grill pan over medium-high heat (drizzle a bit of oil on it first) for about 5-6 minutes per side, until the chicken is charred and cooked through. Or you can cook the chicken in a large sauté pan (without the skewers, also drizzling a bit of oil in the pan first) for about 7-10 minutes, stirring and flipping occasionally, until the chicken is cooked through.