If you’re craving a flavorful, fresh, and nutritious meal, then Vietnamese Lemongrass Chicken with Vermicelli Noodles is absolutely the answer! A juicy lemongrass chicken on a bed of fresh veggies and vermicelli noodles, garnished with fresh cilantro all drizzled in Nuoc cham sauce (or dipped)! These bowls are stand out and full of texture, great for dinner or lunch!
Lemongrass chicken is a popular dish in Vietnam known for its citrusy aroma and savory flavor. The marination infuses the chicken with these flavors, resulting in a well-balanced, fragrant, and zesty profile that’s both refreshing and savory.
The entire Vietnamese noodle bowl as a whole is so delicious, but I have to say that the Lemongrass Chicken is the standout. The marinade is fantastic. The earthy lemony flavor from the lemongrass combined with the garlic and complex savory flavors from the fish sauce and soy sauce makes a killer flavor. On an additional note, one of the highlights of this dish about Vietnamese vermicelli bowls is the amount of fresh veggies you can pick and choose, so many options!
The last one, don’t forget with a tangy, salty, chili sauce a.k.a the Nuo cham sauce, that everything in Vietnamese dipped to this sauce. It’s completely all over the flavor balance. So yummy and flavorful.
What is a Vietnamese dipping sauce or Nuoc Cham?
Nuoc Cham is a traditional Vietnamese dipping sauce that is widely used in Vietnamese cuisine. It is a versatile and flavorful sauce that adds a delightful tanginess and depth of flavor to various dishes. Nuoc Cham is a Vietnamese dipping sauce. The sauce is a watery condiment compared to most American-style sauces. The flavor profile of Nuoc Cham is salty, sweet, tangy, and sometimes spicy.
The primary ingredients of Nuoc cham typically include fish sauce, lime or lemon juice, sugar, water, garlic, and chili peppers. The fish sauce provides a savory umami base, while the citrus juice adds a refreshing acidity. The sugar balances the flavors and helps to mellow the strong taste of the fish sauce. Garlic adds a hint of pungency, and chili peppers bring a touch of heat and spice to the sauce.
The ingredients are combined and mixed until the sugar dissolves completely. The resulting sauce is a harmonious blend of sweet, sour, salty, and spicy flavors. Beside sauce, it’s also can be as a marinade or dressing for salads and other Vietnamese dishes.
Whether you’re a fan of Vietnamese cuisine or simply looking to explore new flavors, this recipe is a perfect combination of grilled chicken, aromatic herbs, and a zesty sauce. So, let’s gather the ingredients and get ready to experience a culinary journey to taste Vietnamese Lemongrass Chicken with Vermicelli Noodles.
Ingredients of Vietnamese Lemongrass Chicken with Vermicelli Noodles
- Vermicelli Noodles (soaked in hot water until soft, then drained); – Vermicelli noodles are a thin rice noodle from Vietnam. They are very thin and white. Personally, I wouldn’t substitute this ingredient with anything because I don’t think there’s a great substitute for it. These thin rice noodles are the perfect base for the dish, providing a light and delicate texture.
- Cucumber julienned; For your bowl, you will chop the cucumber into these julienne strips.
- Carrot julienned; Also for adding to your bowl, you will also slice these into julienne strips for servings.
- Cilantro chopped; Cilantro is for garnishing the bowl, if you aren’t a huge cilantro person a few leaves of fresh mint would be a good replacement. I don’t know but cilantro here is so underrated meanwhile this is outstanding for cooking
- All the vegetables are optional and of course, Use what you like here!
Marinated Chicken
- Chicken thigh fillet; I love chicken thighs here because they have a bit of fat, but you could swap in chicken breast, shrimp, skirt steak, etc. Also, chicken thighs have more flavor and stay moist when being cooked over higher temperatures. Chicken breast is a great substitute for thighs.
- Garlic; Adds extra flavor chicken! These aromatic ingredients add depth of flavor to the marinade.
- stalks of Lemongrass sliced finely; Fresh lemongrass is best here, but if you can’t find it, then lemongrass paste works very well too. I always grab fresh lemongrass for this marinade which you can find in the herb/produce section of most grocery stores. However, if you can’t find fresh lemongrass, you could also use lemongrass paste.
- Fish sauce; Don’t get offended by the raw taste but it’s the “secret ingredient” here, it’s got far more complex flavors than soy sauce and adds incredible depth of flavour to the chicken. adds tons of umami and makes the marinade and sauce here.
- Soy sauce; An ingredient in the marinade for the chicken, you can use whatever soy sauce you prefer whether it is plain, low-sodium, or gluten-free.
- Honey; give sweetness to the chicken marinade
- Black Pepper; adds a mild flavor to the dish
Nuoc cham dipping sauce
Nuoc Cham is made with fish sauce, sugar, garlic, chili, sugar, and lime juice. It’s got a wonderful balance of sweet/savory and tang, and basically makes everything taste better – whether you drizzle or dunk things in it!
- Water; The texture of the sauce is liquid not quite thick, so you will need some water
- Granulated Sugar; The sugar will provide sweetness to balance the salty and tangy elements.
- Fish sauce; for a savory and umami-rich flavor. It is a key component in Vietnamese dipping sauces
- Lime Juice; contributing a bright and citrusy acidity.
- Garlic minced; Mince garlic finely and add it to the sauce for a pungent and aromatic kick.
- Curly red Chili pepper minced; a little spicy kick but not really spicy. Adjust the amount according to your spice preference.
- A pinch of Salt; to enhance the overall flavor profile of the dipping sauce.
Instructions to Make Vietnamese Lemongrass Chicken with Vermicelli Noodles
Start by combining the marinated chicken ingredients, including garlic, lemongrass, fish sauce, soy sauce, honey, and black pepper, in a food processor. Process the ingredients until well blended.
In a medium bowl, pour the marinade over the chicken, ensuring that all the chicken pieces are coated. Allow the chicken to marinate for at least 30 minutes, allowing the flavors to infuse.
Meanwhile, prepare the sauce by mixing water, sugar, and fish sauce in a separate bowl. Stir until the sugar is dissolved. Then, add minced garlic, finely chopped red chili peppers, freshly squeezed lime juice, and a pinch of salt. Mix well to combine all the ingredients and set the sauce aside.
Heat a little oil in a pan over medium heat. Place the marinated chicken in the pan and grill it until both sides are golden brown and cooked through. Once cooked, remove the chicken from the pan and let it rest for a few minutes. Then, slice the chicken lengthwise into thin strips and set aside.
To assemble the dish, start by placing the cooked vermicelli noodles in a serving bowl. Arrange the sliced chicken on top of the noodles, followed by sliced cucumber, shredded carrot, and fresh cilantro.
Finally, pour the prepared sauce over the noodle bowl, ensuring that it is evenly distributed. For an extra burst of flavor, drizzle some extra lime juice over the dish.
Recipe Notes;
- Use a different protein. Instead of chicken, you can use shrimp or fish fillets as a seafood alternative. Adjust the cooking time accordingly, as seafood tends to cook faster than chicken. Moreover, you can also try beef, tofu or some variety of meatballs would all be delicious substitutes for chicken.
- After cooking, the chicken will have juices come out. Save the juice and pour it on top of the chicken before serving!
- Fresh Herb Options: While cilantro is commonly used in this dish, feel free to serve this chicken with your favorite herbs such as cilantro, mint, Thai basil, or even a combination of herbs to add different layers of flavor. The herbs make the chicken taste more refreshing and flavorful!
- Gluten-Free Option: If you require a gluten-free version, ensure that the soy sauce used is gluten-free or use a gluten-free soy sauce alternative.
- If you prefer a milder flavor, reduce the amount of red chili peppers in the sauce or remove the seeds before adding them. For those who enjoy extra heat, Feel free to serve these bowls with sriracha or more chili peppers or even include a sprinkle of chili flakes
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Vietnamese Lemongrass Chicken with Vermicelli Noodles
Ingredients
- 1 pack of Vermicelli Noodles soaked in hot water until soft, then drained
- 1 medium Cucumber julienned
- 1 medium Carrot julienned
- ¼ cup Cilantro chopped
Marinated Chicken
- ½ lb Chicken thigh fillet
- 5 cloves Garlic
- 3 stalks Lemongrass sliced finely
- 2 tbsp Fish sauce
- 1½ tbsp Soy sauce
- 1½ tbsp Honey
- ½ tsp Black Pepper
Nuoc cham dipping sauce
- ¼ cup Water
- 3 tbsp Granulated sugar
- 1½ tbsp Fish sauce
- 2 tbsp Lime juice
- 2 clove Garlic minced
- 4 curly red chili pepper minced
- A pinch of Salt
Instructions
-
In a food processor, combine all marinated chicken ingredients ( garlic, lemongrass, fish sauce, soy sauce, honey, and black pepper)
-
In a medium bowl, pour the marinade over the chicken. let it sit for 30 minutes
-
For the sauce: mix water, sugar, and fish sauce. After that, add garlic, red chili peppers, lime juice and a pinch of salt, stir until well combined.
-
Heat a little oil in a pan over medium heat. Grill the chicken until both sides are golden brown. Slice the chicken lengthwise, then set aside.
-
To assemble, place the cooked vermicelli noodles in a serving bowl. top with sliced chicken, cucumber, carrot, and cilantro
-
Pour the sauce over the noodle bowl and drizzle with extra lime juice
Recipe Notes
- Use a different protein. Instead of chicken, you can use shrimp or fish fillets as a seafood alternative. Adjust the cooking time accordingly, as seafood tends to cook faster than chicken. Moreover, you can also try beef, tofu or some variety of meatballs would all be delicious substitutes for chicken.
- After cooking, the chicken will have juices come out. Save the juice and pour it on top of the chicken before serving!
- Fresh Herb Options: While cilantro is commonly used in this dish, feel free to serve this chicken with your favorite herbs such as cilantro, mint, Thai basil, or even a combination of herbs to add different layers of flavor. The herbs make the chicken taste more refreshing and flavorful!
- Gluten-Free Option: If you require a gluten-free version, ensure that the soy sauce used is gluten-free or use a gluten-free soy sauce alternative.
- If you prefer a milder flavor, reduce the amount of red chili peppers in the sauce or remove the seeds before adding them. For those who enjoy extra heat, Feel free to serve these bowls with sriracha or more chili peppers or even include a sprinkle of chili flakes
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