A Citrusy Summer Marinade Inspired by Southeast Asia
Citrusy, herby, and umami-salty-sweet all in one bite, this delectable Vietnamese-inspired Lemongrass Marinade has all the flavors of your favorite takeout from the comfort of your home.
Plus it couldn’t be easier to whip up!
It only takes 10 minutes and 8 ingredients total – simply combine the ingredients in a single bowl and marinate your favorite meats or veggies.
Once cooked over high heat the marinade caramelizes beautifully thanks to a bit of brown sugar for a crave-worthy finish. Use this versatile homemade marinade to make lemongrass chicken, epic grilled steaks, juicy grilled pork, or your favorite summer veggies.
Stuff your lemongrass marinated meat or veggies into a bahn mi sandwich, pile atop a bowl of rice noodles, or wrap into spring rolls – the possibilities are endless! A bright and cheery addition to any meal!
Want more marinades for grilling season? Got you covered! Check out PWWB’s 15 Go-To Grilling Marinades.
Key Ingredients
One of my favorite things about this lemongrass marinade recipe is that you can create complex but wonderfully balanced flavor using only 8 carefully selected ingredients.
Lemongrass
Lemongrass, also known as Malabar grass or Cochin grass, is a tropical plant in the grass family native to Vietnam, Cambodia, India, and Laos. It’s often called lemongrass because of its bright, citrusy scent that is reminiscent of lemons.
This citrusy herb provides both a brightness and tartness that is signature to many Vietnamese dishes and adds vibrant flavor to this marinade. It can commonly be found in the produce section of your local grocery store near other fresh herbs or at a nearby health foods store or Asian market.
How to Prepare Lemongrass
Lemongrass looks similar to green onion and is typically prepared in a similar way. First, peel away any of the loose outer leaves then cut off and discard the white bulbous root end (about 1 cm cross-wise) and the bright green upper stalk leaves.. From there, lightly “bruise” the lemongrass stalk by pressing down on it with the flat edge of your knife then give the stalk a rough chop. Why? ⇢ This releases the fragrant essential oils that infuse into your marinade for even more flavor!
You will also need…
- Shallot – This simple allium is delicately fragrant and mildly sweet, adding tons of aromatic flavor to the marinade.
- Garlic – 3 whole cloves add the perfect amount of aromatic kick!
- Brown sugar – Just a little bit adds the right amount of sweetness to balance the rest of the bold flavors.
- Fish sauce and soy sauce – Both sauces are rich umami bombs that add a TON of flavor to many Vietnamese dishes. We love using them in this marinade because they also give any protein a caramelly finish over the high heat of the grill.
- Olive oil – To round everything out! Check out my go-to EVOO here.
- Lime juice – A touch of tart and zippy citrus brings out all of the flavors and provides a bit of balance.
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Buy Now →How to Make Vietnamese-Style Lemongrass Marinade
Despite the complex flavors this marinade delivers, it could not be any easier to throw together. You’ll need a single bowl or jar and about 10 minutes tops.
Creating your favorite Vietnamese-style flavors at home has never been more simple!
To make this homemade lemongrass marinade, simply combine all ingredients in a medium bowl, whisk to combine, and add your protein or veggies of choice. Simple as that!
Suggested Marinating Time: Marinating time varies based on the type of protein you use. Because of the amount of fresh citrus juice used in this lemongrass marinade, it’s important not to marinate for too long, as it will have a terrible impact on the texture of meat. (Mushy, mealy protein = no good!)
Having tested this lemongrass grilling marinade on a variety of different proteins with a variety of different marinating times, here’s what we suggest:
- Seafood – at least 20 minutes and no more than 45 minutes.
- Chicken and pork – at least 4 hours and up to 6 hours for maximum flavor.
- Beef – at least 12 hours and up to 24 hours for maximum flavor.
- Veggies – at least 20 minutes and up to 24 hours.
Meal Prep
Despite the suggested marinating periods for this homemade lemongrass marinade, you can still prep the marinade itself well in advance. Prep the marinade and store it in a jar or an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. When you’re ready to start marinating, simply pour the marinade over whatever meat or veggies you’re using it on – easy peasy!
Serving Suggestions
This homemade lemongrass marinade is versatile enough to use on all your favorite proteins & veggies!
No matter what you marinate in this easy marinade, there are tons of ways to make it meal like turning into a banh mi sandwich topped with quick pickled veggies, wrapping in rice paper with mint and julienned veggies for easy spring rolls, piling atop a rice bowl, or tossing with a rice noodle salad.
Here are a few of our favorite pairings…
- Chicken. Perhaps the most popular way to use this recipe is as a Vietnamese chicken marinade. Use it to infuse tons of lemongrass flavor into chicken thighs, drumsticks, wings, or breasts – whatever you prefer most!
- Whole chicken. One of my favorite things in the world is a grilled whole chicken with crispy-charred skin & juicy meat. This Vietnamese-style lemongrass marinade creates a beautiful caramel-ly finish on the bird while still keeping things bright & light!
- Seafood. Two words. Lemongrass shrimp…YUM! Skewer up the marinated shrimp & grill for a quick & easy summer protein.
- Pork. Add instant flavor to your grilled pork chops or tenderloin with this easy marinade.
- Beef. While chicken is certainly more traditional, I highly recommend giving lemongrass marinated steak a try too. You are sure to be impressed!
- Veggies & more! We love making this recipe with peppers, onions, or eggplant then tossing the lemongrass marinated veggies in a noodle bowl for an easy, delicious dinner!
No Grill? Use Your Stovetop or Oven!
If you don’t have access to a grill, this Vietnamese-style lemongrass marinade also works well with many other cooking methods – stovetop, skillet meals, sheet pan meals, etc. Tip! ⇢ To create a similar caramelized grill effect, use a grill pan on the stovetop or finish baked meat under the broiler for a little char.
I cannot wait for you to try this Vietnamese-Style Lemongrass Marinade! The vibrant but well-balanced flavors add a touch of something special to your summer cookouts. A guaranteed crowd-pleaser!
If you do give it a try, be sure to let me know! Leave a comment with a star rating below. You can also snap a photo and tag @playswellwithbutter on Instagram. We LOVE seeing your PWWB creations!
Print Vietnamese-Style Lemongrass Marinade (for Chicken, Beef, and More!)
- Prep Time: 10 Minutes
- Cook Time: 0 Minutes
- Total Time: 10 minutes
- Yield: 3/4 cup marinade 1x
- Category: Sauces & Condiments
- Method: No-Cook, Grilling & Smoking
- Cuisine: Vietnamese, Asian-Inspired
Description
Celebrate all the classic flavors of your favorite Vietnamese dishes with a Vietnamese-Style Lemongrass Marinade boasting bright and citrusy notes, bold aromatics, salty sweetness and zippy lime juice – that tastes like sunshine! Use it to bring bright and well-balanced flavor to your favorite meats and veggies like chicken, steak, pork, and more. Made with just 8 ingredients in 10 minutes or less!
Ingredients
- 2 pounds meat or veggies of choice
- 2 stalks lemongrass, white part only, bruised and roughly chopped
- 1 small shallot, finely chopped
- 3 cloves garlic, finely chopped or grated
- 3 tablespoons brown sugar
- 3 tablespoons fish sauce
- 3 tablespoons soy sauce
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 large, juicy lime, juiced
- kosher salt and ground black pepper, to season
Instructions
- Mix the Vietnamese lemongrass marinade: Add the lemongrass, shallot, garlic, brown sugar, fish sauce, soy sauce, olive oil, lime juice, and kosher salt and ground black pepper to a medium bowl or jar. Whisk or shake to combine. Set aside, or store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
- Marinate: Pour the Vietnamese marinade over your meat or veggies of choice. Cover and marinate in the refrigerator for the recommended marinating time (see Recipe Notes, below).
- Grill as desired. Enjoy!
Notes
- Suggested marinade time: Marinating time will vary based on the type of protein you’d like to use. Because of the amount of fresh citrus juice used in the marinade, it’s important not to marinate for too long, as it will really negatively affect the texture of meat. Having tested this mojo garlic marinade on a variety of different proteins with a variety of different marinating times, here’s what we suggest:
- Seafood – at least 20 minutes and no more than 45 minutes.
- Chicken and pork – at least 4 hours and up to 6 hours for maximum flavor.
- Beef and lamb – at least 12 hours and up to 24 hours for maximum flavor.
- Veggies – at least 20 minutes and up to 24 hours.
- 10-Minute Meal Prep: If you’d like to marinate something later in the week, I suggest making the marinade in advance, whenever you’re meal prepping for the week. Store it in a jar or an airtight container for up to 5 days – the flavors meld together even more as the marinade sits. At least 4 hours before you’re ready to hit the grill, simply pour the marinade over whatever meat or veggies you’re using it on – easy peasy!
Recipe by Jess Larson, Plays Well With Butter | Photography by Eat Love Eat
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