Lemongrass Pork

This is a recipe that I adapted from Hot Thai Kitchens Lemongrass Chicken. My friend also uses this marinade on Shrimp but only marinated for 4 hours. - for the original recipe and a video click here.

Ingredients

  • 4 cloves garlic

  • ½ tsp black peppercorns

  • 1 stalk lemongrass, bottom half only, finely chopped (I buy frozen lemongrass)

  • 2 Tbsp neutral oil

  • 1 Tbsp fish sauce (I use squid brand)

  • 1 Tbsp soy sauce (I use kikkoman brand)

  • 1 Tbsp white sugar

  • 2 Tbsp water

  • 1 lb boneless pork chops or 2 bone in chops 3/4” thick (you can use bone in and take the bone out)

Nuac Cham Dipping Sauce

  • 1 small garlic clove

  • 1 Thai chili (optional)

  • 1 ½ Tbsp sugar

  • ¼ cup water (I sometimes leave this out for a thicker spicier sauce)

  • 2 Tbsp lime juice

  • 1 ½ Tbsp fish sauce

directions

Marinade

  1. Pound 4 cloves garlic and 1/2 teaspoon black peppercorns in a mortar and pestle until fine.

  2. Add 1 stalk lemongrass and pound into a rough paste.

  3. Add the 2 tbsp oil, 1 tbsp fish sauce, 1 tbsp soy sauce, 1 tbsp sugar and 2 tbsp water and stir until the sugar is dissolved.

Pork Chops

  1. If using our bone-in pork chops take them off the bone and butterfly the chops.

  2. Pour the marinade onto pork and mix well.

  3. Marinate for 24 hours in the fridge stirring halfway through to make sure marinade is well distributed.

Dipping Sauce

  1. Pound together 1 clove garlic and 1 Thai chili if using, into a rough paste.

  2. Add 1 1/2 tbsp sugar and grind in a circular motion to break up the chilies further.

  3. Add ¼ cup water, 2 Tbsp lime juice, 1 ½ Tbsp fish sauce and stir until the sugar is dissolved. (This can be stored in the fridge for a few weeks.)

To Cook on BBQ

  1. Preheat the grill on high heat.

  2. Oil the grill grates well then place the pork on the grill, cook 2-3 minutes either side until pork has internal temp 160 degrees.

To Broil

  1. Set the oven rack to the top position, about 3-4 inches away from the element, and preheat the broiler on high for 5 minutes. I use a grill pan that has ridges in it which I preheat for 5 mins but if you haven’t got one you can line a baking sheet with foil (not parchment!)

  2. Put marinated pork on the baking sheet and broil the chicken for 7-10 minutes, flipping half way through until internal temp is 160 degrees.