Sassy Vietnamese Lemongrass Chicken Skewers

Widely used as a culinary herb in Asian cuisine, lemongrass carries a fragrant, lemon-lime taste with a hint of mint and ginger. Cuisine in Vietnam has a nice balance of flavors and textures, and features lemongrass often. The interplay of fresh herbs and seasonings in Vietnamese cooking take simple proteins to the nextlevel of taste. Give it a try with the recipe below.

Vietnamese Lemongrass Chicken Skewers
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Ingredients
  1. 3 pounds chicken breasts, cut into 2–3 inch cubes
  2. 1/4 cup of fresh lemongrass, finely minced
  3. 4 cloves garlic, crushed
  4. 2 shallots, finely chopped
  5. 1/2 teaspoon chopped thai chili or jalapeño pepper (optional)
  6. 1 stock of green onion, finely chopped
  7. 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
  8. 2 tablespoons fish sauce
  9. 1 tablespoon soy sauce
  10. 1 tablespoon brown sugar
  11. 1 tablespoon oyster sauce
  12. 1 tablespoon honey
  13. 1/4 teaspoon sesame oil
  14. 1/4 cup any type of oil
  15. Skewers for grilling, soaked in water before using
  16. Green Onions, thinly sliced, to serve
Instructions
  1. Place lemongrass, garlic pepper, shallots, green onion, and jalapeño in a mortar and gently pound with a pestle until paste forms. Combine paste with fish sauce, soy sauce, brown sugar, honey, and sesame oil in to make marinade. Place in a glass bowl and add the chicken. Stir to combine, making sure to coat each piece. Cover with plastic wrap and marinate in the fridge overnight.
  2. Thread the chicken evenly among the skewers. Preheat a grill or char-grill pan on high. Brush chicken lightly with oil and add to grill or pan. Cook for 2–3 minutes on each side or until cooked through. Transfer to a platter, sprinkle with green onion, and serve immediately.
Notes
  1. Chicken can be substituted for beef, pork, or shrimp.
Health Journal https://www.thehealthjournals.com/

Did you know? Lemongrass oil is used in other countries for many purposes, such as a preservative and a pesticide. Made into “fever tea,” it treats coughs, colds, fever, muscle pain, stomachache, headaches and high blood pressure. It is also said to strengthen blood vessels and decrease varicose veins.

Tip: To mince lemongrass, cut off about an inch from the root end, and trim off the dry green tops. Peel off outer layer, and grate trimmed lemongrass midsection using a microplane rasp grater.

Maria Daugs: Maria is the Art Director at The Health Journal.