Are you tired of making the same boring chicken or beef for your evening meal? I have a great fix for you tonight. Let us talk about a fantastic recipe that will wake up your taste buds.
Vietnamese lemongrass pork chops are full of bright and bold flavors. The meat is juicy on the inside with a nice caramel color on the outside. It tastes like something you would order at a nice restaurant, but you can easily make it in your own kitchen.
Cooking dinner should be fun and not stressful. This meal takes very little effort once the meat sits in the sauce for a little while. If you love quick and tasty food, you might also want to check out this Creamy Tuscan Chicken Pasta: A Quick and Delicious Dinner for another busy weeknight idea.
Let us gather our kitchen tools and ingredients to make this amazing dinner tonight. You will love how easy the process is from start to finish.
Ingredients Needed
You do not need any fancy shopping trips to find these items. Most local grocery stores carry everything on this list. Here is what you need to pull together:
- Four thick pork chops with bone or boneless
- Three stalks of fresh lemongrass, minced very fine
- Four cloves of garlic, minced
- Three tablespoons of brown sugar
- Two tablespoons of fish sauce
- One tablespoon of soy sauce
- One tablespoon of vegetable oil
- One teaspoon of black pepper
- Fresh cilantro for topping
- Sliced limes for serving
Step By Step Making
Let us get cooking! Follow these simple steps and you will have a wonderful dinner ready in no time.
- Prepare your pork chops by patting them dry with a clean paper towel. If the chops are very thick, you can pound them down just a little bit so they cook evenly.
- Grab a large bowl and make the marinade. Add your minced lemongrass, minced garlic, brown sugar, fish sauce, soy sauce, vegetable oil, and black pepper. Stir everything well until the sugar melts into the liquid.
- Place your pork chops into the bowl with the marinade. Turn them over a few times so every part of the meat gets covered in the delicious sauce.
- Cover the bowl and put it in your refrigerator. Let the meat sit for at least thirty minutes. If you have more time, you can let it rest for a few hours so the flavor gets deep inside the meat.
- Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add a tiny splash of oil to the pan so the meat does not stick.
- Take the pork chops out of the bowl and let the extra sauce drip off back into the bowl. Put the chops into the hot skillet carefully.
- Cook the pork chops for about four to five minutes on the first side. Do not move them around too much because you want a nice golden brown crust to form.
- Flip the pork chops over and cook them for another four to five minutes on the other side. Because of the sugar in the marinade, the outside will turn dark and sweet very fast. Watch the pan closely so it does not burn.
- Check the internal temperature of the pork with a meat thermometer to make sure it is fully cooked. Take the meat out of the pan and let it rest on a clean plate for five minutes before you cut into it.
- Serve your warm pork chops with a side of white rice and fresh cucumber slices. Squeeze a little bit of fresh lime juice right over the top before you dig in.
Nutritional Value
Eating a good dinner means knowing what goes into your body. Here is a close look at the nutrition facts for one serving of this delicious meal:
- Calories: Around 420 calories per serving
- Protein: About 35 grams of lean protein
- Carbs: Roughly 12 grams mostly from the natural marinade
Health Benefits
Making your meals at home is one of the best things you can do for your overall wellness. When you cook for yourself, you stay in control of every single ingredient that goes onto your plate.
Pork provides a great amount of protein, which helps your muscles stay strong and healthy. Protein also keeps you feeling full for a long time, so you will not raid the snack cabinet late at night.
The fresh lemongrass and garlic used in this recipe offer more than just great taste. Garlic has natural properties that support your immune system. Lemongrass adds a bright citrus touch without needing extra heavy creams or high sodium sauces.
Pairing this meat with fresh herbs like cilantro and a side of fresh vegetables brings extra vitamins and minerals to your dinner table. It is a balanced meal that satisfies your hunger and tastes incredible.
If you want to read more about delicious meals and get more fun cooking ideas, head over to Azeely for lots of great recipes that make home cooking simple and fun.
Disclaimer: This recipe information is provided by azeely.com for general informational purposes only.
