Tender pork with a lemongrass marinade, grilled to perfection. Serve with Jasmine rice for a tasty, easy dinner.
Hi there! I hope you had a good weekend! I am so enjoying the verdant springtime landscape and the warmth! My husband and I bought many plants this weekend including herbs, vegetables, and flowers. If you read about me here, you will understand that this might prove to be a futile undertaking. Wish me luck! When it comes to food, what better way to prep a meal in beautiful weather than to grill? Today, I have a quick and easy Asian pork for you. It's so low maintenance that it allows me more time to enjoy the great outdoors instead of being cooped up in the kitchen.
One of my favorite ingredients to pair with pork is lemongrass. Its flavor is described as lemony (obviously) and aromatic. For me, lemongrass (and cilantro too!) are addictive—there is no such thing as too much. I am certain there are many others who will dispute that. In my opinion, the flavor is so distinctive that there is really no good substitution. And using lemon in place of lemongrass is not the same thing!
These pork chops are delicious, simple, and cooks in minutes. What's not to love about that? The rub is super easy to make and is composed of lemongrass, fish sauce, oil, black pepper, and sugar. To maximize flavor, make numerous punctures in the meat using a sharp, pointed knife. Marinade the pork for at least 2 hours. When ready to cook, toss them on the grill, and within minutes, dinner is on the table. White rice (preferably Jasmine) is the perfect side.
If you have never used lemongrass, refer to this for a quick tutorial on how to use fresh stalks. Since it is not readily available in my grocery store , I purchase extra from the Asian markets and freeze them whole (if I'm too lazy to pre-cut them). This way, I will always have lemongrass on demand. Another option is to buy them, grated and pre-frozen, from said Asian markets. I love this stuff! It is so convenient!
Until next time, happy grilling!
Other pork recipes to try!
GRILLED LEMONGRASS PORK CHOPS
INGREDIENTS:
1/4 cup minced or grated lemongrass
1 tbsp. fish sauce
1 1/2 tsp. sugar
2 tsp. vegetable oil
2 tsp. vegetable oil
1/4 tsp. black pepper
4 3/4-inch bone-in pork chops
INSTRUCTIONS:
Combine lemongrass, fish sauce, sugar, oil, and black pepper in a bowl. Set aside.
Using a small, pointed knife, make numerous punctures on both sides to each pork chop. Rub the lemongrass mixture onto both sides. Place pork in a large zip lock bag. Refrigerate for at least 2 hours.
Grill on medium high with the cover on for about 4 minutes per side, rotating pork chops 45 degrees to create cross hatch marks after 2 minutes. Avoid overcooking pork to prevent drying out. The desired internal temperature should be 145 degrees F. Allow to rest 10 minutes prior to serving. Makes 4 servings.
Using a small, pointed knife, make numerous punctures on both sides to each pork chop. Rub the lemongrass mixture onto both sides. Place pork in a large zip lock bag. Refrigerate for at least 2 hours.
Grill on medium high with the cover on for about 4 minutes per side, rotating pork chops 45 degrees to create cross hatch marks after 2 minutes. Avoid overcooking pork to prevent drying out. The desired internal temperature should be 145 degrees F. Allow to rest 10 minutes prior to serving. Makes 4 servings.
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These look amazing! Love the flavors here!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Ami!
DeleteI am going to have to look into lemongrass. I am seeing it in more and more recipes. Good tip on freezing it.
ReplyDeleteI hope you can find some. It's one of those flavors that makes me happy.
DeleteIt is so nice to see pork instead of yet another chicken recipe. These look great!
ReplyDeleteI agree, Shelby. Pork is such a nice change from chicken.
DeleteYour rub sounds magnificent! We grill lots of pork chops in the summer---and these would be a hit at our house :)
ReplyDeleteThanks, Liz! If you're looking for something simple with an Asian flavor, this rub is it! I hope you get to try it out this summer.
DeleteI'm currently watching my carb consumption so meaty dinners like pork chops make a regular appearance on my menu (like last night :-)) I made mine with a Latin marinade but i am definitely going to give your Asia version a try (minus the sugar since I am being good).
ReplyDeleteIf your diet permits, how about replacing the sugar with a natural sweetener like honey? The sugar balances out the saltiness of the fish sauce and without it, the pork may be too salty. If any sweetener is not an option, perhaps going lighter on the fish sauce will do the trick? I hope you'll like it, Lynn!
DeleteThese look and sound amazing, Lady! I love lemongrass. Lucky for us in the UK we can get fresh stalks everywhere!!! I usually use them in dessert but will definitely give these a try.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Deborah! You are truly lucky...I would try to grow some if I lived in the right climate. I don't think I have ever had lemongrass in desserts, but it sounds really good.
DeleteWe bought a bunch of plants, too, and are hope they survive! I don't have much of a green thumb, but it doesn't stop me from buying plants each summer :) I haven't cooked much with lemongrass, so looking forward to trying this marinade - that plate of chops looks delicious!
ReplyDeleteGood luck to you too! For years, I gave up on growing anything, but I'm giving it another go again...little by little. I hope you'll like the lemongrass and pork combo. I love it!
DeleteLove, love, love lemongrass pork - especially on a banh mi! Your pork chops looks absolutely divine! YUM!
ReplyDeleteOh yum!! I'm in! You're talking my kind of meal!
DeleteYour pork looks so tender, juicy and and flavorful! By the way, awesome grill marks!
ReplyDeleteThank you Rachel! I'm so happy that you approved of the grill marks...my husband is the grill master in our house, so I'm glad that I did the pork justice by giving it proper grill marks.
DeleteThis pork looks so flavorful and juicy! I have never cooked with lemongrass before. Will have to try it!
ReplyDeleteI hope you'll give it a try, Christin. It is also great with chicken and seafood too!
DeleteYummm!!! I love pork chops. I love the flavors you added in here. Definitely going on my list!
ReplyDeleteThese flavors say comfort and home to me. I hope you'll like them!
DeleteYour pork chops look so flavorful and delicious! Love lemongrass!
ReplyDeleteThanks Kelly. I'm glad we share the love of lemongrass.
DeleteYou are so right, lemongrass and pork are delicious together and this dish sounds scrumptious! yum! Thanks for sharing! Oh, and good luck with your green thumb and your new plants!! Fingers crossed they are fruitful for you!
ReplyDeleteThanks Cheyanne! I think my biggest problem is I kill my plants with kindness. I tend to over water them...just can't help myself!
DeleteThey look absolutely scrumptious! :)
ReplyDeleteThank you Linda.
DeleteCongratulations!
ReplyDeleteYour recipe is featured this week at Full Plate Thursday. Hope you are having a great weekend and enjoy your new Red Plate.
Miz Helen
Thank you for the feature, Miz Helen! I'm delighted! Have a great weekend to you too!
DeleteI've gotten on the grilling bandwagon this summer but have yet to embrace the landscaping one like you! I'll just make these delicious pork chops instead!
ReplyDeleteSo far so good in the gardening department...I nearly killed one large hanging basket 5 days after I got it but did manage to bring it back to life. I hope you get a chance to try these grilled pork. They are really tasty! :)
ReplyDeleteCongratulations! Your Grilled Lemongrass Pork Chops have been featured at Moore or Less Cooking Food Blog.
ReplyDeleteLink: http://mooreorlesscooking.com/2015/06/08/simple-supper-tuesday-linky-party-65/
Thank you so much, Nettie! I'm so excited! Thank you for hosting a great party every week!
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