Vietnamese-Inspired Grilled Lemongrass Pork Skewers with Pickled Vegetables

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-07-02 · Updated 2026-07-02

Juicy pork marinated with fresh lemongrass and garlic, grilled to smoky perfection and served alongside crisp, tangy pickled carrot and daikon slaw. This Vietnamese-inspired barbecue recipe, ready in about 85 minutes, pairs pork shoulder, lemongrass stalks, garlic cloves for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 320 calories and feeds 4, so it slots cleanly into a weekly meal plan and pairs well with a quick salad or grain on the side. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.

Ingredients

• 1 lb, thinly sliced pork shoulder
• 2, finely minced lemongrass stalks
• 4 minced garlic cloves
• 3 tbsp fish sauce
• 2 tbsp brown sugar
• 1 tsp black pepper
• 2 tbsp vegetable oil
• 1 large, julienned carrot
• 1 cup julienned daikon radish
• 1/2 cup rice vinegar
• 2 tbsp sugar
• 1 tsp salt
• 1/2 cup water
• 1/4 cup chopped, for garnish fresh cilantro
• 8, soaked in water for 30 minutes wooden skewers

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Instructions

1. Step 1: In a bowl, combine 1 lb thinly sliced pork shoulder with 2 finely minced lemongrass stalks, 4 minced garlic cloves, 3 tbsp fish sauce, 2 tbsp brown sugar, 1 tsp black pepper, and 2 tbsp vegetable oil. Mix well and marinate covered in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour.
2. Step 2: Meanwhile, prepare quick pickled vegetables: in a small saucepan, combine 1/2 cup rice vinegar, 2 tbsp sugar, 1 tsp salt, and 1/2 cup water. Heat gently until sugar and salt dissolve, then pour over 1 large julienned carrot and 1 cup julienned daikon radish in a jar. Let cool to room temperature, then refrigerate.
3. Step 3: Preheat grill or grill pan to medium-high heat. Thread marinated pork slices onto 8 soaked wooden skewers, folding the meat to fit.
4. Step 4: Grill pork skewers for 3-4 minutes per side until charred at edges and cooked through. Remove from heat and let rest for 2 minutes.
5. Step 5: Serve pork skewers garnished with 1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro alongside the pickled carrot and daikon slaw.