Nem Lụi
Grilled Lemongrass Pork Skewers
Fragrant grilled pork skewers wrapped around lemongrass stalks, served with fresh herbs, rice paper, and a rich dipping sauce.
Other variations:
Nem lụi Huế, Nem lụi Đà Nẵng, Nem lụi cuốn bánh tráng, Nem lụi nướng than hoa
Category
Grilled Dish
Region
Central Vietnam
Preparation Time
1h00
Servings
4–5
Difficulty
Medium
About this recipe
Nem Lụi is a specialty of Huế and other central provinces. The pork is seasoned with aromatic spices, then molded onto lemongrass stalks and grilled over charcoal, creating a smoky fragrance. It is traditionally enjoyed as part of a wrap with rice paper, herbs, and vegetables, dipped in a peanut-hoisin sauce.
Ingredients List
500 g ground pork 100 g pork fat (minced) 6–8 lemongrass stalks (trimmed 15 cm long) 3 cloves garlic (minced) 2 shallots (minced) 2 tbsp fish sauce 2 tbsp sugar 1/2 tsp pepper rice paper fresh herbs (basil, mint, lettuce) pickled carrot and daikon 3 tbsp hoisin sauce 2 tbsp peanut butter 1 tbsp sesame seeds water as needed
Materials & Tools
Grill or charcoal stove mixing bowls knife and chopping board serving platter mortar and pestle or blender for dipping sauce
Preparation steps
Total Time :
1h00
Active Time :
1h00
Cooking Time
–
Make Mixture
Mix ground pork, fat, garlic, shallots, fish sauce, sugar, pepper.
15 min
Shape Skewers
Mold pork mixture evenly around lemongrass stalks.
10 min
Grill
Grill skewers over charcoal until golden.
20 min
Make Sauce
Simmer hoisin, peanut butter, sesame, water until smooth.
10 min
Serve
With rice paper, herbs, pickles, dipping sauce.
10 min
Chef’s Tips
Grilling over charcoal enhances the lemongrass aroma; keep pork mixture well-mixed for a cohesive, bouncy texture.
Serving Suggestions
Fresh herbs, rice paper, pickled vegetables, peanut-hoisin dipping sauce
Nutritional info
370kcal
21g protein
16g fat
32g carbs
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