Description
A flavorful and aromatic Vietnamese grilled chicken recipe featuring a lemongrass marinade that infuses tender boneless chicken thighs with bright citrus and savory notes. Perfectly grilled for a charred exterior and juicy interior, this dish is ideal for serving with steamed rice or fresh lettuce wraps.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken
- 8 boneless chicken thighs
Lemongrass Chicken Marinade
- 1 stalk lemongrass (approx. 3 and 1/2 tablespoons), finely chopped and smashed
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 tablespoons fish sauce
- 1 tablespoon soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 1 tablespoon lime juice
- 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
- 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Prepare Lemongrass: Cut off the root end of the lemongrass stalk, remove the tough outer layers, finely chop the tender parts, and smash them lightly with the side of a knife to release the oils.
- Make Marinade: In a mixing bowl, combine the minced lemongrass, garlic, fish sauce, soy sauce, honey, lime juice, vegetable oil, black pepper, and salt to create a fragrant marinade.
- Marinate Chicken: Add the boneless chicken thighs to the bowl and thoroughly coat each piece in the marinade.
- Chill: Cover the bowl and refrigerate for at least 1 hour to allow flavors to penetrate—overnight marinating is recommended for deeper flavor.
- Preheat Grill: Heat your grill to medium-high heat to ensure proper cooking temperature.
- Grill Chicken: Place the marinated chicken thighs on the grill and cook for 5-7 minutes on each side, turning once, until fully cooked with a nice char on the outside.
- Rest: Remove chicken from the grill and let it rest for a few minutes to retain its juices.
- Serve: Enjoy the grilled lemongrass chicken as is, or with steamed rice or wrapped in fresh lettuce leaves for a light meal.
Notes
- For best flavor, marinate the chicken overnight.
- Ensure the grill is properly preheated to avoid sticking.
- If you don’t have a grill, you can also cook the chicken under a broiler or on a grill pan indoors.
- The marinade can be made ahead of time and refrigerated.
- Adjust honey for sweetness according to taste preference.
