Vietnamese Lemongrass Pork - Perfect BBQ recipe ! (2024)

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by ChihYu
July 1, 2015 (updated 9/24/22)
27 comments »

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5 from 20 votes

Vietnamese Lemongrass Pork, BBQ grilled to juicy sweet & delicious. This Paleo, Whole30, and Keto Vietnamese Grilled Pork recipe tastes just like your favorite Vietnamese restaurant style !

Vietnamese Lemongrass Pork - Perfect BBQ recipe ! (2)

Oohoo ! Holiday is right around the corner guys! Besides that I’m suffering from a cold that I still think I got from my colleague at work – speaking of the importance of not coming to work sick – everything else is going well.

As long as I can keep myself from falling asleep as a result of the virus I’m battling, I’m pretty much enjoying the staycation with my man and two pups this week. 🙂

I spent much of my stay-home vacation browsing through camera lenses for food photography and new recipes because I love what I do and you guys so much that I really want to make my blog even better for you all !

My previous post about Korean kalbi seems to have gotten a lot of likes from my readers. :)) Today, I’d like to share another great grilling recipe that will set your grilling game apart from everyone else’s.

Want to make yourself look good in front of the crowds without breaking the bank, and feed an army of people in the process?

This new recipe will deliver restaurant quality Vietnamese lemongrass grilled pork/pork chops.

You can eat it straight, with salad, with your favorite pickles, or with rice, noodles, even bread (if you aren’t strictly paleo) or make a sandwich out of it !

Don’t like pork? The same marinade will work uber well for chicken too !

What are you waiting for ?

5 from 20 votes

Prep Time: 20 minutes mins

Cook Time: 15 minutes mins

Total Time: 35 minutes mins

Servings: 6 servings

Author: ChihYu Smith

Vietnamese Lemongrass Pork, grilled BBQ to juicy sweet & delicious. Paleo Whole30 Keto Vietnamese Grilled Pork just like your favorite restaurant style !

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Ingredients

▢ 2 lbs pork shoulder, , boneless
▢ Lime wedges, as much as you like, serving use

Vietnamese Lemongrass Pork Marinate:

▢ 6 large cloves garlic
▢ 2 large shallots
▢ 2 stalks lemongrass, (alt. 1 ½ grated ginger + 2 tbsp fresh lemon zest +1 tbsp fresh lime zest)
▢ 2 tbsp coconut aminos
▢ ¼ cup Red Boat fish sauce
▢ 3 tbsp pineapple juice, (alt. orange juice)
▢ 3 tbsp olive oil
▢ 1/4 tsp ground black pepper
▢ 1/2 tsp coarse salt

Instructions

Preparations:

Slice the pork to 1/2-inch thick & 3-4 inch wide for outdoor grill. For indoor stovetop, slice the pork to 1/4-inch thick.
Blend the ingredients under “Pork Marinade” (garlic, shallots, lemongrass, coconut aminos, fish sauce, olive oil, and black pepper) in a small 4-cup work bowl until a fine texture. Pour the marinade over sliced pork and let it sit overnight (or up to 24 hrs.) in the fridge.
See Also
Easy Keto Chaffle Recipe (ZERO Net Carbs!)The Very Best Fish Recipe Ever | Easy Broiled Fish Recipe 30 Days of South Beach Diet - Recipes | ChefDeHome.com

Day of grilling:

Preheat a grill over medium-high heat. Slightly drip off the marinade and grill about 3-4 minutes per side or until the pork is cooked through and slightly charred on the surface. For 1/4-inch thick slices, grill about 6-8 minutes per side.
Serve with fresh lime wedges and enjoy while they are sizzling hot !

Notes

If not on whole30, try brushing the pork slices with 3 tsp raw honey mixed with 1 tsp water while grilling the pork to add extra sweetness flavor to the grill.

If cook indoor over a stovetop, pan sear the pork slices in separate batches. Try not to over crowd the skillet

Nutrition

Serving: 9.3g, Calories: 217kcal, Carbohydrates: 4g, Protein: 18g, Fat: 13g, Saturated Fat: 3g, Cholesterol: 61mg, Sodium: 450mg, Potassium: 388mg, Sugar: 2g, Vitamin C: 1.8mg, Calcium: 22mg, Iron: 1.7mg

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: Vietnamese

Keyword: Vietnamese Lemongrass Pork

DID YOU MAKE THIS RECIPE?Tag @iheartumami.ny on Instagram and hashtag it #iheartumami.

Appetizers Cooking Method Course Cuisines Dietary Gluten-free Grilling Holiday/Season Keto Main Course No Added Sugar Paleo Spring Summer/BBQ Vietnamese Whole30

posted by ChihYu on July 1, 2015

27 Comments / Leave a Comment »

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27 comments on “Vietnamese Lemongrass Pork”

Jess — May 24, 2022 @ 4:35 PM Reply

Would you recommend making this in an air fryer? If so, could you recommend the settings?
- ChihYu — June 7, 2022 @ 12:02 PM Reply
  
  I will need to spend time first in order to share with you what temperature and setting would be. Hopefully soon.
Alice — March 20, 2021 @ 8:46 PM Reply

Hiya, I’m in New Zealand & have just recently bought your Asian Paleo cookbook, which I’m super excited about having in the house!! I really miss Asian cuisine & have never managed to nail it (especially with paleo restrictions), so thank you for making an awesome Asian Paleo recipe book to bring these flavours back into my life!!
Just wondering if I could make this recipe with pork tenderloin??
- ChihYu — March 28, 2021 @ 9:26 AM Reply
  
  Hi Alice, thank you! This is a slightly older recipe and I haven’t tested with tenderloin. Tenderloin is a leaner cut. I think the flavor should work but please adjust the cook time as you might not need long hours to cook the tenderloin cuts. 🙂
Katherine — November 19, 2020 @ 11:20 AM Reply

I have made this twice and it is SO DELICIOUS! The first time I puréed the marinade to a soup like consistency and the second time I blended it to a fine consistency but chunkier than previously and I prefer the soup like marinade texture but both were still delicious. I am going to continue making this marinade on a regular basis and use it on chicken as well as pork. Thank you for a stellar dinner and lots of leftovers!
- ChihYu — December 3, 2020 @ 9:33 AM Reply
  
  That’s amazing! Thank you, Katherine. Appreciate it!
Kelly — October 14, 2020 @ 7:27 PM Reply

I cannot even out into words how AMAZING this was!!!!!!! I absolutely love Vietnamese food but have moved out of the city and the closest Vietnamese restaurant is over 40 mins away. THIS was even better than the restaurant I couldn’t stop eating them. Thank you!!!!
- ChihYu — October 22, 2020 @ 9:00 AM Reply
  
  Thank you, Kelly! So happy to hear!
Amy Hawk — July 8, 2019 @ 8:45 PM Reply

Used this recipe on pork chops and they were AMAZING! Will now be in regular rotation in my house. Also made your beef & broccoli this week which was also stellar! Recipes like these are game changers for whole 30. Thank you and now going to hit submit so I can go purchase your cookbook!
merle — March 13, 2019 @ 6:50 PM Reply

Is the lemongrass conversion for ginger in tablespoons?
- ChihYu — March 14, 2019 @ 2:10 PM Reply
  
  Hi Merle, thanks so much for the question. It’s in tablespoons. Thank you!
Camille — July 1, 2018 @ 1:44 PM Reply

How do you cook it on the grill when the slices are so thin and small (like the photo)? I’d be worried they would fall through the grill. Thanks!
- ChihYu — July 3, 2018 @ 4:17 PM Reply
  
  Hi Camille, thanks for asking. For outdoor grill, I recommend slicing the pork to 1/2-inch thick and about 3 to 4-inch wide (almost like thin cut pork chops). Hope that helps !! Thanks so much XOXO !
Jessica DeMay — June 26, 2018 @ 8:18 PM Reply

This pork looks so delicious! I love the flavors in that marinade- yum!
- ChihYu — June 29, 2018 @ 4:30 PM Reply
  
  Thank you, Jessica !
Megan Stevens — June 26, 2018 @ 7:00 PM Reply

I’m sorry you’ve been sick, but glad such good rest and inspiration came from it. Lovely recipe!!
- ChihYu — June 29, 2018 @ 4:31 PM Reply
  
  Thanks so much!
Tessa Simpson — June 25, 2018 @ 10:29 PM Reply

I am SOO making this! This is one of my favorite preps of pork shoulder! Can’t wait to try your version!
- ChihYu — June 26, 2018 @ 1:19 PM Reply
  
  Thanks, Tessa!
Emily @ Recipes to Nourish — June 25, 2018 @ 7:40 PM Reply

Wow this looks so good! Lemongrass is one of my favorite flavors and my husband loves pork, this would be a huge hit. Love how crispy it is!
- ChihYu — June 26, 2018 @ 1:20 PM Reply
  
  Thanks, Emily ! BBQ perfect !
Jean — June 25, 2018 @ 3:25 PM Reply

This sounds so good! I looove grilled pork and this sounds like a must try.
- ChihYu — June 26, 2018 @ 1:21 PM Reply
  
  Thanks, Jean. love Vietnamese lemongrass pork !
Lauren — June 9, 2018 @ 5:05 PM Reply

This was a stellar recipe. Better than restaurant quality. The meat was tender, flavorful, and juicy. We cooked the meat for a bit less time on the grill though, flipping it and removing it when it seemed appropriate.
- ChihYu — June 11, 2018 @ 12:54 PM Reply
  
  Fire grill is definitely the best !! Thanks so much for sharing, Lauren !
Lety — May 19, 2018 @ 9:04 PM Reply

What is a coconut aminos?
- ChihYu — May 22, 2018 @ 10:29 AM Reply
  
  Hi Lety ! Coconut Aminos is made from aged coocnu*t sap (coconut blossom). It’s a great soy sauce substitute to make Asian-inspired Paleo recipes ! You can learn more and check out my Paleo and Whole30 Pantry guide here – https://iheartumami.com/asian-inspired-whole30-pantry-guide :))

Vietnamese Lemongrass Pork - Perfect BBQ recipe ! (2024)

FAQs

What is nuong in vietnamese? ›

Thit nuong in Vietnamese translates to grilled meat or barbecued meat. Typically, you'll find pork to be the preferred meat of choice but this recipe also works well with chicken and beef.

What is Vietnamese pork called? ›

Nem chua is a fermented pork dish from Vietnamese cuisine. It is mainly composed of a mixture of lean pork and thin strips of cooked rind, garnished with garlic and chilli. It can take the form of bite-size pieces wrapped individually in aluminum foil and paper, or a kind of cervelat in sealed plastic.

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How long do you grill 1 inch pork chops? ›

Grilling 1-inch thick pork chops generally takes about 4 to 5 minutes per side, assuming the grill is preheated to medium-high heat (around 400°F or 204°C). Remember to use a meat thermometer to ensure the internal temperature reaches a safe 145°F (63°C) for medium-rare to 160°F (71°C) for medium doneness.

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How long does it take to grill pork chops in the oven? ›

Baking pork chops at 350 degrees F will generally take 20 to 30 minutes.

Get More Info Here ›

What does xanh mean in Vietnamese? ›

xanh • (撑, 𩇛, 𩇢, 𫕹) (diminutive reduplication xanh xanh) grue (green or blue) meronyms ▼quotations ▼ bầu trời xanh thẳm ― the deep blue sky. (of a complexion) green (sickly, unwell) (of fruit) green (unripe)

What is Vietnamese breakfast called? ›

Pho, Banh Cuon, and Bun Rieu are typical breakfast dishes in the North. Central Vietnam is well known for its generous use of spices. Notably, in Hue, the foods are influenced by the traditional royal cuisine of Vietnam. Bun Bo Hue and Mi Quang are signature breakfast dishes in the region.

View Details ›

Why is Vietnamese BBQ pork red? ›

If it's traditional char siu(BBQ Chinese roasted pork), it's the combination of seasonings and spices (hoisin sauce, honey, five spice powder and red food dye). Kau Yuk is a dish that uses red bean curd that makes the pork as well as the potatoes/taro a pinkish hue.

How long should pork chops sit out before grilling? ›

Let your chops sit on the counter for about 30 minutes before you begin to cook them. If the meat is too cold, the outside will overcook while the inside comes to the right temperature. Giving the pork a little time to warm up will ensure a nice crust on the outside, with a tender center.

Show Me More ›

How to grill perfect pork chops? ›

The chops get seared over high heat to get those gorgeous grill marks for about three minutes per side, then moved over to medium heat to finish cooking, which will take anywhere from four to seven minutes depending on the thickness of the chops. This creates a nice crust on the outside and juicy meat inside.

Tell Me More ›

How do you grill pork chops without them getting tough? ›

A thicker chop (preferably 1 ½-inch thick pork chops or more) can better withstand the heat of the grill. Marinate or Dry Rub the Pork. Coating the pork with a rub or marinade that contains salt is key to ensuring that the pork turns out tender and juicy, not dry.

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How do you not overcook pork chops on the grill? ›

As mentioned previously, the biggest culprit behind dried out pork is overcooking. According to Ray Lampe (aka Dr. BBQ), “cook your chops just as you would a steak -- 145 for medium rare and 160 for medium and always with a 3 minute rest [to allow the juices to redistribute throughout the meat].

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Are pork chops better on the grill or oven? ›

Bone-in chops are easier to get right than boneless chops, and the thicker the better. If you really want to roast pork loin (where most chops are cut from), it's best to roast it whole and carve servings afterward. Chops are much better for fast cooking over high heat, such as pan-searing or grilling.

Tell Me More ›

What is blood sausage in Vietnamese? ›

Vietnamese dồi tiết (Northern) or dồi huyết (Southern) is blood sausage, boiled or fried, made with pork blood, pork fat and basil.

What is the meaning of bun thit nuong? ›

What is bun thit nuong? The Vietnamese dish, bun thit nuong (pronounced “boen tit noeng”) literally means grilled meat (thit nuong) on noodles (bun). The noodles are thin rice vermicelli noodles and the meat is typically crispy grilled pork.

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What is the name of the Vietnamese sausage? ›

Chả lụa (Saigon: [ca᷉ lûˀə]) or giò lụa ( Hanoi: [zɔ̂ lûˀə]) is the most common type of sausage in Vietnamese cuisine, made of pork and traditionally wrapped in banana leaves.

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What is thit nuong in english? ›

Bun thit nuong literally means 'grilled meat on noodles' – a bowl of rice vermicelli, topped with delicious grilled pork, fresh herbs, vegetables, and dressed with nuoc cham (a dipping sauce).

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