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Meat, South and Southeast Asian

Lemongrass Chicken Stir Fry with Jasmine Rice

Lemongrass chicken stir fry with jasmine rice is a Vietnamese dish for 4 people, ready in 30 minutes, easy to make, for €3.30 per person. The key to success is the fish sauce and sugar marinade, plus a hot, quick sear that browns the chicken instead of steaming it in its own liquid.

Tonight, lemongrass and chili chicken stir fry, all fragrant, with jasmine rice. It's Vietnam in 30 minutes.

Lemongrass Chicken Stir Fry with Jasmine Rice
Total time
30 min
Difficulty
Easy
Cost per person
€3.30
Calories per person
440 kcalcalculated by Kiloach, your weight coach
Season
Summer, Spring, Fall, Winter
The kids
They generally like it

Lemongrass chicken smells incredible the moment it hits the hot pan. The lemongrass perfumes the meat, garlic and fish sauce bring the savory backbone of Vietnamese cooking, and the chili wakes everything up without overwhelming it if you go easy. Jasmine rice soaks up the pan juices, and crushed peanuts add a crunch that pulls the whole dish together.

This is the kind of dinner you make on a weeknight when you want something that tastes like you tried harder than you actually did. Kids generally go for the sweet and savory flavor, especially if you keep the chili off their plate before serving. For guests, double the batch and bring the pan straight to the table, it looks impressive for something this quick.

The ingredients

4 people

Butcher

  • Boneless chicken thighs 700 g

Fruits and vegetables

  • Lemongrass 3 stalks
  • Garlic 3 cloves
  • Fresh chili 1
  • Onion 1

Pantry

  • Fish sauceoften in the pantry 3 tbsp
  • Sugaroften in the pantry 1 tbsp
  • Jasmine riceoften in the pantry 300 g
  • Neutral oiloften in the pantry 3 tbsp
  • Roasted peanutsoften in the pantry 30 g

Allergens Fish, Soy

The step by step recipe

  1. Cut the chicken into pieces and marinate it with lemongrass, garlic, fish sauce and sugar. 15 min

    The sugar helps the chicken brown, don't skip it.

  2. Cook the jasmine rice. 12 min

    Let it sit covered for 5 minutes, it plumps up and absorbs more fragrance.

  3. Heat the oil and sear the chicken over high heat, without stirring too much. 8 min

    A piece should brown before you flip it.

  4. Add the sliced onion and chili and keep cooking for 4 minutes. 4 min

    Keep the onion a bit crunchy, it adds freshness.

  5. Serve over the rice with the crushed peanuts.

    A squeeze of lime at the last moment brings out the lemongrass.

Our tips to get it right

  • Cut the chicken into evenly sized pieces so everything cooks at the same rate and browns consistently.
  • Don't crowd the pan when searing the chicken, cook it in two batches if needed so it browns instead of steaming in its own juices.
  • Make the marinade the night before if you can, the lemongrass has more time to work its way deep into the meat.

The variations

  • Swap the chicken for peeled shrimp, cooking time drops to about 3 minutes over high heat.
  • For a vegetarian version, use firm tofu cut into cubes and soy sauce instead of fish sauce.
  • For kids, leave the chili out of the marinade and serve the rice and chicken separately so everyone can season their own plate.

What to serve it with

  • A vinegared cucumber salad
  • Fresh herbs, cilantro and mint
  • Iced green tea

Storage

The stir fry keeps for 2 days in the fridge in a sealed container. It doesn't freeze well since the onion loses its crunch. Reheat in a pan or steamer rather than the microwave to keep the chicken from drying out.

Questions about this dish

Can you use dried lemongrass instead of fresh?

Yes, but the flavor will be less intense. Use about one teaspoon of dried lemongrass per fresh stalk, and let it marinate a bit longer so it has time to infuse.

How do you control the heat level from the chili?

Remove the seeds before chopping the chili, that's where most of the heat lives. You can also use just half of it and adjust toward the end of cooking.

Can you prep the marinade ahead of time?

Yes, it's actually recommended. Marinate the chicken the night before and keep it in the fridge, it'll be even more flavorful the next day.

Is fish sauce essential to this recipe?

It gives the dish its signature umami flavor, which is hard to truly replace. In a pinch, soy sauce with a little anchovy can work, but the result will taste different.

How long does it take to make a lemongrass chicken stir fry with jasmine rice?

Count 30 min in total, prep and cooking included. The recipe is rated “easy”.

How many calories are in a lemongrass chicken stir fry with jasmine rice?

About 440 kcal per serving, for a recipe meant for 4 people. Calories are calculated by Kiloach, your weight coach, the app that partners with Mon Chou.

How much does a lemongrass chicken stir fry with jasmine rice cost?

About €3.30 per serving, or €13.20 for 4 people, based on average supermarket prices.

What allergens does this recipe contain?

This recipe contains fish, soy. Always check the labels of the products you buy.

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