Stir-Fried Lemongrass Chicken
Marinating the chicken for a few hours allows the spicy flavors to meld into the poultry. Be sure to get the wok and oil really hot to help give the chicken a nice crisp crust. Serve this dish with steamed rice and garnish with basil for a fresh bite and colorful contrast.
Ingredients
- 2 lemongrass stalks, white portion only, chopped
- 2 shallots, roughly chopped
- 2 Tbs. roughly chopped peeled fresh ginger
- 3 garlic cloves, roughly chopped
- 1 jalapeño chile, seeded and roughly chopped
- 1 tsp. kosher salt
- 5 Tbs. (3 fl. oz./80 ml) canola oil
- 1 1/2 lb. (750 g) boneless, skinless chicken thighs, cut into
1-inch (2.5-cm) cubes - 4 tsp. soy sauce
- 1 Tbs. Asian fish sauce
- 1 tsp. rice vinegar
- 1/2 tsp. sugar
- 1/2 tsp. cornstarch
- 1/8 tsp. freshly ground pepper
- 1 small yellow onion, halved and thinly sliced
- 2 Tbs. torn fresh basil leaves
Directions
In a mini food processor, combine the lemongrass, shallots, ginger, garlic, chile, salt and 1 Tbs. of the oil and process until a smooth paste forms. Add 1 to 2 Tbs. water if needed to facilitate the grinding. Transfer the marinade to a large sealable plastic bag, add the chicken and seal the bag. Turn the bag and gently massage the marinade into the chicken. Refrigerate for at least 4 hours or up to overnight.
In a small bowl, whisk together the soy sauce, fish sauce, vinegar, sugar, cornstarch, pepper and 2 Tbs. water. Set aside.
Heat a wok or large fry pan over medium-high heat, then swirl in 2 Tbs. of the oil. Add the onion and stir-fry until tender and lightly browned, 7 to 8 minutes. Transfer the onion to a bowl. Set the pan aside.
Remove the chicken from the marinade and pat dry with paper towels. Discard the marinade. Return the wok to high heat and swirl in the remaining 2 Tbs. oil. When the oil is hot and shimmering, working in batches if needed, add the chicken and stir-fry until golden brown, 4 to 5 minutes.
Return the onion to the wok. Pour in the soy sauce mixture and stir-fry until the sauce thickens and the chicken is opaque throughout, 1 to 2 minutes. Divide the chicken among individual bowls, sprinkle with the basil and serve immediately. Serves 4 to 6.
Adapted from Williams-Sonoma Cook Good Food (Weldon Owen, 2014).