Vietnamese Grilled Pork Skewers
Vietnamese Grilled Pork Skewers, known as "Nem Nướng," are a delightful and savory dish that showcases the vibrant flavors of Vietnamese cuisine. Thinly sliced pork is marinated in a mixture of fish sauce, garlic, sugar, and various aromatic spices, creating a harmonious blend of sweet, savory, and umami notes. The marinated pork is then threaded onto skewers and grilled to perfection, resulting in caramelized and tender skewers with a smoky essence. Often served with rice vermicelli noodles, fresh herbs, lettuce, and a side of nuoc cham dipping sauce, these skewers offer a tantalizing combination of textures and flavors, making them a popular and delicious choice in Vietnamese cuisine.
Ingredients
- 1 pound pork belly, cubed
- 1 fresh red chile pepper, minced
- 3 stalks lemongrass, minced
- 3 tablespoons fish sauce
- 3 cloves garlic, minced, or more to taste
- 1 teaspoon monosodium glutamate (MSG)
- 1 teaspoon white sugar
- 1 teaspoon Chinese five-spice powder
- bamboo skewers
Dipping Sauce:
- ¼ cup fish sauce
- ¼ cup white sugar
- 1 fresh red chile pepper, minced, or more to taste
- 1 lime, juiced
- 5 cloves garlic, minced, or more to taste
- 1 teaspoon monosodium glutamate (MSG), or to taste
- 1 cup water
Instructions
- Combine pork belly, 1 red chile pepper, lemongrass, 3 tablespoons fish sauce, 3 cloves garlic, 1 teaspoon MSG, 1 teaspoon white sugar, and five-spice powder in a bowl. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate until marinated, 1 to 3 hours.
- Mix 1/4 cup fish sauce, 1/4 cup sugar, 1 red chile pepper, lime juice, 5 cloves garlic, and 1 teaspoon MSG together in a bowl. Let sit until dipping sauce flavors meld, 30 minutes to 1 hour. Pour in water.
- Thread the marinated pork belly onto bamboo skewers.
- Preheat grill for high heat and lightly oil the grate. Cook pork skewers, turning occasionally, until crisp, 8 to 10 minutes. Serve with the dipping sauce.
Nutrition
Calories: 201kcalCarbohydrates: 15gProtein: 11gFat: 11gSaturated Fat: 3gCholesterol: 27mgSodium: 2020mgPotassium: 333mgSugar: 10gVitamin C: 25mgCalcium: 32mgIron: 2mg
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