Lemongrass Barbecue Paste Recipes

LEMONGRASS PASTE

Steps:

• Blend all of the ingredients in a blender or food processor until very smooth and finely textured, 2 to 3 minutes. Can, also, be pounded with mortar and pestle. Keep refrigerated.
• Note 1: If you are using the pestle and mortar, start off with the hard to grind ingredients like the lemongrass, the kaffir lime leaves and the galangal.
• Note 2: If you are using a food processor, put the easiest-to-grind ingredients in first. The liquid that forms will help to process the other harder-to-blend ingredients.
• Note 3: The additon of a couple teaspoons water may encourage easier mixing and will not affect the final product.

VIETNAMESE GRILLED LEMONGRASS CHICKEN

Steps:

• Mix canola oil, lemongrass, lemon juice, soy sauce, brown sugar, garlic, and fish sauce together in a mixing bowl until the sugar is dissolved; add chicken and turn to coat in the marinade.
• Marinate chicken in the refrigerator for 20 minutes to 1 hour.
• Preheat grill for medium heat and lightly oil the grate.
• Remove chicken thighs from the marinade and shake to remove excess marinade. Discard the remaining marinade.
• Grill chicken until no longer pink in the center and the juices run clear, 3 to 5 minutes per side. An instant-read thermometer inserted into the center should read at least 165 degrees F (74 degrees C).

CHAR GRILLED LEMONGRASS TILAPIA FISH

Steps:

• Preheat the grill to medium-high heat. Soak the green lemongrass leaves in cold water and set aside.
• Mix together the diced lemongrass, soy sauce, garlic, spring onion, red chile and ginger in a bowl.
• Lay the fish on a chopping board. Create a fillet by using a sharp filleting knife to slice from the spine of the fish down to the belly without cutting the fillet off. Just leave it lying open.
• Now add the lemongrass mixture to the inside of the fish and close the fillet back up.
• Secure the fish by tying it up with the lemongrass leaves. Brush the fish with the vegetable oil, and then char grill the fish, 10 minute per side. Cut the lemongrass leaves and serve.

GRILLED PORK LOIN WITH LEMONGRASS

Steps:

• In a food processor, pulse garlic to chop, then add lemongrass and pulse until finely chopped. Add shallot and pulse to create a fine paste. Pulse in oil, soy and fish sauces, and brown sugar until smooth.
• Butterfly pork loin: Place pork on a cutting board vertically (with short sides at top and bottom). Using a large, sharp knife, and starting at top, cut lengthwise down the center, almost all the way through but leaving a hinge of about 1/2 inch. Unfold, as if opening a book.
• With knife blade parallel to cutting board, slice through left side of loin, opening meat as you go, and again leaving a hinge. Repeat with right side. If needed, pound loin to an even thickness with a meat mallet. Season with salt, then rub half of lemongrass paste all over meat. Re-form into original shape, tie with kitchen twine at 2-inch intervals, and wrap in plastic. Refrigerate at least 8 hours and up to 1 day. Bring to room temperature 1 hour before grilling.
• Prepare grill for direct- and indirect-heat cooking. Remove pork from plastic; place over indirect heat, cover, and cook, maintaining a temperature of about 400°F, about 20 minutes. Brush with remaining lemongrass paste and continue cooking, covered, until a thermometer inserted into thickest part of pork registers 135°F, about 15 minutes.
• Transfer to direct heat and cook, uncovered, turning frequently, until charred in places and thermometer registers 138 ̊F, about 5 minutes more. Let pork stand about 10 minutes, then thinly slice and serve with pickles, chili sauce, lettuce, and herbs.

GRILLED LEMONGRASS LAMB CHOPS WITH HERBS

Steps:

• Finely grind cumin seeds in an electric coffee/spice grinder or with a mortar and pestle.
• Thinly slice bottom 6 inches of lemongrass, discarding remainder. Purée lemongrass, shallots, garlic, ginger, cumin, sugar, salt, turmeric, cayenne, and water in a food processor, scraping down side occasionally, until as smooth as possible, about 2 minutes. (Paste will not be completely smooth.)
• Heat 3 tablespoons oil in a 10-inch heavy skillet over moderate heat until hot but not smoking. Add lemongrass paste, then reduce heat to moderately low and cook, stirring constantly, until paste begins to stick to bottom of skillet and is very thick, 8 to 12 minutes. Transfer paste to a bowl and cool to room temperature, about 10 minutes.
• Pat lamb chops dry and rub lemongrass paste all over them, then arrange in 1 layer in a 13- by 9-inch dish. Marinate, covered and chilled, at least 12 and up to 24 hours.
• Prepare grill for cooking over direct heat with medium-hot charcoal.
• Grill lamb on a lightly oiled grill rack, covered only if using a gas grill, loosening lamb from grill with a metal spatula, turning over occasionally, and moving around on grill when flare-ups occur, 9 to 11 minutes total for medium-rare. (Some of lemongrass paste will fall off.) Transfer chops to a platter and let stand, loosely covered with foil, 10 minutes. Discard wooden picks.
• Whisk together lime zest and juice, remaining 1/4 cup oil, and salt and pepper to taste. Spoon over chops and sprinkle with herbs.

LEMONGRASS SAUCE

Steps:

• Combine the vinegar, sugar, water, fish sauce and lime juice in a small, nonreactive saucepan. Bring just to a boil; then, add the lemongrass and the lime leaf and simmer for 30 seconds.
• Remove from heat, and place the saucepan in a bowl of ice and water to chill it until it is room temperature, about 10 minutes.
• Stir in the cilantro, scallions and chilies to taste.