Description
Vietnamese noodle bowl with lemongrass chicken, fresh vegetables and herbs, tossed in a homemade Vietnamese sauce is healthy, delicious, light, and filling.
Ingredients
For the lemongrass chicken:
- 1/2 tablespoon vegetable oil
- 1 tablespoon soy sauce
- 1/2 tablespoon fish sauce
- 1/2 tablespoon sesame oil
- 1/2 tablespoon brown sugar or honey
- 1-2 cloves garlic
- 1 stalk lemongrass, cut into 3-inch pieces
- 1/2 small onion
- 1 lb. boneless and skinless chicken breast or thighs, cut into 1.5-inch thick cubes
For the noodle bowls:
- 8 oz. dried vermicelli noodles
- 1 medium cucumber, julienned
- 2 medium carrots, julienned
- 1/4 cup fresh cilantro, coarsely chopped
- 1 tablespoon roasted peanuts
- 1 lime, wedged (for serving)
To make the nuoc cham (Vietnamese vinegar chili sauce):
- 2 tablespoons fish sauce
- 2 tablespoons rice vinegar
- 1/4 cup water
- 1 teaspoon sesame oil
- 1 tablespoon granulated sugar
- 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper or white pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon red chili, finely chopped (or to taste)
Instructions
Make the Lemongrass Chicken:
- In a blender or food processor, add all chicken marinade ingredients (vegetable oil, soy sauce, fish sauce, sesame oil, brown sugar, garlic, lemongrass, and onion) and mix for 1 minute until smooth.
- Place cubed chicken into a large mixing bowl and pour the marinade on top. Toss well to coat. Cover and refrigerate for at least 1 hour (or overnight for the best results). You can also store the marinated chicken in a sealable ziploc bag.
- You can grill, bake, or air fry the chicken skewers.
- To grill the skewers: Thread 4-5 pieces of cubed chicken onto bamboo skewers. Lightly apply cooking oil over chicken skewers using a cooking oil spray or silicone brush. Preheat the grill over medium-high heat for 3 minutes until sizzling hot. Place the skewers evenly apart on the grill pan and grill for 8-10 minutes on each side, or until the internal temperature of the chicken reaches 165 F. Do not overlap the skewers at any time to ensure even cooking for all the skewers.
- To bake the skewers: Preheat the oven to 425 F. Place the marinated chicken skewers on a parchment-lined baking sheet or on a lightly oiled roasting rack in a baking pan. Bake for 15 minutes until golden brown and the internal temperature for the chicken reaches 165F. Turn on the broil function on the oven on high and broil for 2-3 minutes until nicely charred on the edges.
- To cook in the air fryer: Do not thread them and place about 10 cubed chicken pieces in the air fryer basket at a time. Cook at 350 F for 25 minutes, shaking the basket halfway through.
Prepare the Vietnamese Noodle Bowls:
- Bring a medium pot of water to a boil. Add vermicelli noodles and cook for 2-3 minutes until they are soft. Use a strainer to transfer the noodles into a medium mixing bowl and set aside.
- Assemble the noodle bowls by placing 1.5 cups (2 oz.) of cooked vermicelli noodles into each serving bowl. Top with sliced chicken, cucumber, carrots, cilantro, and peanuts.
Make the Vietnamese Vinegar Chili Sauce:
- Combine all the sauce ingredients into a small mixing bowl. Stir well with a spoon until smooth and sugar is dissolved. Pour the sauce over the noodle bowls and drizzle with extra lime juice, if desired.
Notes
How to store: Vietnamese chicken noodle bowl is best served fresh. You can keep any leftovers in an airtight container the refrigerator for up to 3-5 days. I recommend storing the nuoc cham separately since the vinegar in it can make the veggies and noodles soggy.
How to make a Vietnamese noodle bowl bar: A fun way to serve these Vietnamese noodle bowls is to set up a little noodle bar. Place all the ingredients in separate plates or bowls. Make the vinegar chili sauce and place in a separate bowl. Then, invite everyone to help themselves make their own Vietnamese noodle bowls to taste.
Tips for vermicelli: After boiling the vermicelli, mixing in a little bit of oil will prevent them from sticking together. Vermicelli softens quickly since they are such thin noodles, so don’t forget to set a timer when you cook them.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Marinate Time: 1 hour
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Noodles
- Method: Tossed
- Cuisine: Vietnamese