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–+ servings
lemongrass grilled pork on a tray with dipping sauce
5 from 12 votes

Vietnamese Grilled Lemongrass Pork

Restaurant style gilled Vietnamese lemongrass pork is bursting with chargrilled BBQ flavor, the perfect mix of sweet and savory. Served with the classic Nuoc Cham dipping sauce.
Prep Time15 mins
Cook Time15 mins
Marinating Time12 hrs
Total Time30 mins
Servings: 8
Calories: 193kcal

Ingredients

  • 2 lbs pork shoulder
  • lime wedges, cilantro, scallions optional garnish

Lemongrass Marinade

Nuoc Cham Dipping Sauce (optional)

  • 3 tablespoon coconut sugar
  • 3 tablespoon fish sauce
  • ⅔ cup warm water
  • 1 clove garlic, finely chopped
  • 2 tablespoon shredded carrot
  • 1 serrano chile, thinnly sliced

Instructions

  • Slice pork into ¼ inch thick pieces, 3 to 4 inches wide. Place in a nonreactive bowl (glass or ceramic)
    cutting pork shoulder into thin slices
  • In a food processor blend all the marinade ingredients until smooth. The lemongrass fibers will still show but there should be no big chunks.
    lemongrass marinade in food processor
  • Pour over the pork slices. Each piece should be coated with the mixture. Refrigerate overnight.
    lemongrass pork marinating in a bowl
  • Preheat grill to medium-high heat. Grill 4 minutes per side, or until cooked through.
    lemongrass pork on the grill
  • Allow meat to rest for 10 minutes before serving. Top with cilantro and scallions, serve with lime wedges, and Nuoc Cham dipping sauce.
    resting grilled pork before eating

Nuoc Cham Dipping Sauce

  • Combine sugar, fish sauce, and warm water in a small bowl. Stir until sugar dissolves. Stir in garlic, carrots, and serrano chili to taste.
    vietnamese dipping sauce in a bowl

Notes

  • Remove the meat from the refrigerator 30 to 60 minutes before grilling.  Allow resting to ensure even distribution of the marinade.
  • See post for pork skewer and oven cooking variations.