Thai Grilled Pork in Lemongrass Skewers in 4 Easy Steps

A popular Southeast Asian hawker food, this dish of grilled pork in lemongrass stalks consists of minced meat flavored with chili, cumin, crushed galangal, ground coriander, coconut milk and fish sauce, wrapped around lemongrass stalks and grilled.

There are Thai, Malay, Indonesian and Vietnamese versions but, for the life of me, I can’t recall any of their local names. This is my Thai-inspired version.

So, it’s grilled skewered meat and the lemongrass stalks are the skewers? Yes, exactly.

Why not just use bamboo or metal skewers? Flavor, baby. Flavor. And aroma too.

The lemongrass stalks are bruised before the meat mixture is wrapped around them. As a result, during grilling, the lemongrass emits its oil and flavors into the pork.

I had to do the grilling indoors as it was raining earlier and the aromas that permeated the house were just unbelievable. Like citrus notes and pungent shadows dancing in the air. Oh, never mind. To even try to describe it would do this dish an injustice. I don’t think there are proper words.

And what about the taste? Juicy meat that is at once spicy, a bit salty and a bit sweet because of the coconut milk. Heighten the experience with peanut sauce on the side and it’s perfection twice over.

Grilled Pork in Lemongrass Skewers

Connie Veneracion

Prep Time 15 mins

Cook Time 10 mins

Total Time 25 mins

Course Appetizer, Main Course

Cuisine Thai

Servings 4

Ingredients

  

1x2x3x

• 8 stalks lemongrass
• 500 grams finely minced or ground pork with at least 20% of fat or use lamb chicken, beef or even fish
• 1 onion or two shallots, finely chopped
• 4 cloves garlic crushed and finely minced
• 1 tablespoon fish sauce
• 1 tablespoon crushed galangal or substitute ginger — it won’t taste the same but it’s a good enough substitute
• 1 teaspoon chili flakes or 1/2 tsp. of chili powder
• 1 teaspoon ground cumin
• 1 teaspoon ground coriander
• 1 teaspoon turmeric powder
• 1 tablespoon finely chopped cilantro
• 3 to 4 tablespoons roasted grated coconut optional but highly recommended
• 2 tablespoons coconut milk

Instructions

 

• Use only the light colored portion of the lemongrass. Peel off the outer layer. Bruise (lightly pound) the lower half of each stalk — this is the secret to allow the lemongrass to release as much of its flavors and aroma.
• Put the rest of the ingredients in a bowl and mix lightly but thoroughly.
• Take about two tablespoonfuls of the meat mixture and pat onto the fingers of one hand. Place a lemongrass at the center then use your hand to wrap the lemongrass in the meat mixture. Lightly flatten the meat for faster and more even cooking.
• Grill the meat in the lemongrass stalks. Turn them over gingerly (the stalks will soften during cooking so a pair of tongs or a spatula will come in handy) halfway through.
• Serve the grilled pork in lemongrass skewers at once with peanut sauce.

Notes

To make the peanut sauce, mix together 2 to 3 heaping tablespoonfuls of peanut butter with the juice of 1/2 lime or lemon. Slowly stir in hot water to make a smooth paste. Season with patis (fish sauce) to achieve the balance that you prefer.

If you want to serve this dish as a snack or an appetizer, divide the meat mixture among 12 to 15 lemongrass stalks.

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