Vietnamese-Inspired Lemongrass Pork Meatballs with Nuoc Cham

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-05-16 · Updated 2026-05-16

Savory pork meatballs flavored with fresh lemongrass and garlic, served with a tangy Vietnamese dipping sauce. This Vietnamese-inspired pork recipe, ready in about 25 minutes, pairs ground pork, lemongrass stalk, garlic cloves for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 350 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 ground pork
• 1, white part finely minced lemongrass stalk
• 3, minced garlic cloves
• 2, finely chopped green onion
• 2 tbsp fish sauce
• 1 tsp brown sugar
• 1/2 tsp black pepper
• 2 tbsp vegetable oil
• 3 tbsp rice vinegar
• 3 tbsp water
• 2 tbsp fresh lime juice
• 1 tbsp sugar
• 1 small, thinly sliced red chili
• 2 cups shredded lettuce
• 1/4 cup fresh mint leaves

The pan we’d use for this → Best Nonstick Cookware for 2026: Top 5 Skillet Picks + Buying Guide

Instructions

1. Step 1: In a large bowl, combine 1 lb ground pork with 1 finely minced white part of lemongrass stalk, 3 minced garlic cloves, 2 finely chopped green onions, 2 tbsp fish sauce, 1 tsp brown sugar, and 1/2 tsp black pepper. Mix gently until ingredients are evenly incorporated.
2. Step 2: Form the mixture into 20 small meatballs about 1 inch in diameter.
3. Step 3: Heat 2 tbsp vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add meatballs and cook for 5-6 minutes, turning occasionally, until browned on all sides and cooked through.
4. Step 4: Meanwhile, prepare the nuoc cham dipping sauce by whisking together 3 tbsp rice vinegar, 3 tbsp water, 2 tbsp fresh lime juice, 1 tbsp sugar, and 1 small thinly sliced red chili until sugar dissolves.
5. Step 5: Serve the warm meatballs on a bed of 2 cups shredded lettuce, garnished with 1/4 cup fresh mint leaves and accompanied by the nuoc cham sauce for dipping.