Vietnamese Lemongrass Pork Shoulder Steak

Some time ago, one of my regular readers messaged me to say she had been searching my blog for a lemongrass pork shoulder recipe and couldn’t find one. I promised her I would cook it soon – and here it is, made especially for her: Vietnamese Lemongrass Pork Shoulder Steak.

The dish is everything I love about Vietnamese home cooking: bold, fragrant flavours with very little effort. If you prepare the meat ahead of time, dinner can be on the table in minutes.

Why you’ll love Vietnamese Lemongrass Pork Shoulder Steak

The beauty of Vietnamese Lemongrass Pork Shoulder Steak is how simple it is. The marinade takes only a few minutes to prepare, yet it transforms an affordable cut of pork into something deeply aromatic and savoury.

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I usually marinate the pork at lunchtime or at least a couple of hours before cooking. This gives the meat time to absorb the flavours properly and creates those delicious layers of taste that make Vietnamese food so moreish.

It is also perfect for busy working-from-home days. Ten minutes of prep earlier in the day means an stress-free, flavour-packed dinner later on.

How to keep pork shoulder tender and juicy

Pork shoulder can become tough or dry if it is not prepared and cooked correctly. To avoid this, here are my three tips:

1. Tenderise the meat

Lightly pound the pork shoulder steaks with a meat tenderiser before marinating. This helps break down the fibres so the meat cooks more evenly and stays juicy.

2. Add citrus to the marinade

A squeeze of lime or lemon juice helps soften the meat and balances the savoury sauces with a gently acidity.

3. Do not overcook

Overcooking is the fastest way to ruin pork shoulder. Keep the cooking time short and the heat high so the outside caramelises while the inside stays moist.

The lemongrass marinade

Once the pork has been tenderised, it is mixed with a fragrant and well-balanced marinade. This includes:

• Fish sauce, soy sauce and oyster sauce for depth and saltiness
• Honey for a touch of sweetness
• Garlic granules, onion granules, paprika and ground pepper for warmth
• A squeeze of lime or lemon juice
• Finely chopped lemongrass, which gives this dish its unmistakable Vietnamese aroma.

Mix everything well and make sure pieces of pork is coated on both sides. Cover and leave to marinate for at least two hours.

How to cook Vietnamese Lemongrass Pork Shoulder Steak

When it is time to cook, the process is very quick. I prefer using an air fryer because it is convenient and reliable.

Cook the pork at 200°C for 6-7 minutes then turn the steaks over and cook for a further 3-4 minutes. Lay the meat in a single layer so it grills rather than steams.

You can also cook Vietnamese Lemongrass Pork Shoulder Steak under the oven grill or in a hot frying pan. A skillet will be slightly faster while the oven grill may take a few minutes longer. The air fryer remains my favourite method because ten minutes seems to be the perfect sweet spot for tender, flavourful pork.

How to serve it

I like to serve this dish with steamed rice, pickled vegetables and a side of green veg for freshness and balance. A drizzle of nước chấm (Vietnamese dipping sauce) brings everything together beautifully.

To make nước chấm, simply mix fish sauce, sugar, lime juice and water in a 1:1:1:5 ratio then add minced garlic and finely chopped chilli.

A simple Vietnamese favourite for any night of the week

This Vietnamese Lemongrass Pork Shoulder Steak is proof that you do not need complicated techniques to achieve big flavour. With just a little planning ahead, you can enjoy a comforting and fragrant Vietnamese meal that feels both homely and special.

If you love easy Vietnamese dinners with bright, punchy flavours, this one deserves a place on your weekly rotation.

Print Recipe

Delicious

Vietnamese Lemongrass Pork Shoulder Steak

Author: Thao @ summerandspice Cooking Method: Airfrying Cuisine: Vietnamese Courses: Dinner, Lunch Recipe Keys: Pork Quick Meals Rice

Difficulty: Beginner Prep Time 10 mins Cook Time 10 mins Total Time 20 mins

Cooking Temp: 200  C Servings: 6 Estimated Cost: £ 10

Description

This Vietnamese Lemongrass Pork Shoulder Steak is a simple yet deeply flavourful dish inspired by everyday Vietnamese home cooking. Pork shoulder steaks are lightly tenderised, then marinated with lemongrass, garlic, honey and savoury sauces before being quickly grilled or air-fried until caramelised and juicy. It is perfect for busy weeknights and tastes wonderful served with steamed rice, pickles and a drizzle of nuoc cham dipping sauce.

Ingredients

Cook Mode Cooking Mode Disabled

Scale

1/2x 1x 2x 3x

For the pork

• 1 kg pork shoulder steaks (10 steaks)
• 3 tablespoons fish sauce
• 1 tablespoon dark soy sauce
• 1 tablespoon oyster sauce
• 4 tablespoons honey
• 1 ¹⁄₂ teaspoons garlic granules
• 1 ¹⁄₂ teaspoons onion granules
• 1 teaspoon paprika powder
• 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
• ¹⁄₂ lime/lemon (for juice)
• 2 stalks lemongrass (finely chopped)

For nước chấm

• 2 tablespoons fish sauce
• 2 tablespoons sugar
• 2 tablespoons lime juice
• 10 tablespoons water
• 3 cloves garlic (minced)
• 1 small red chilli (finely chopped)

Instructions

1. Prepare the Pork

   • Lightly tenderise the pork shoulder steaks using a meat mallet or rolling pin. 
   • Place the pork into a large mixing bowl. 
   Mark as complete

1. Make the Marinade

   • In a separate bowl, mix together the fish sauce, soy sauce, oyster sauce, honey, garlic granules, onion granules, paprika, black pepper and lime or lemon juice. 
   • Add the finely chopped lemongrass and stir until well combined. 
   Mark as complete

1. Marinate the Pork

   • Pour the marinade over the pork steaks and rub it in well on both sides. 
   • Cover and leave to marinate for at least 2 hours. 
   Mark as complete

1. Cook the Pork (Air Fryer Method)

   • Arrange the pork in a single layer in the air fryer basket. 
   • Cook at 200°C for 6-7 minutes, then turn the steaks over and cook for a further 3-4 minutes until golden and cooked through. 
   Mark as complete

1. Make the Nước Chấm

   • In a small bowl, mix the fish sauce, sugar, lime juice and water in a 1:1:1:5 ratio. 
   • Add the minced garlic and finely chopped chilli and stir well. 
   Mark as complete

1. Serve

   • Serve pork hot with steamed rice, pickled vegetables and greens. 
   • Drizzle with nước chấm before serving if liked. 
   Mark as complete

Note

Keywords: Vietnamese lemongrass pork shoulder steak, lemongrass pork steak, Vietnamese pork steak recipe, Vietnamese grilled pork, air fryer Vietnamese pork, easy Vietnamese dinner, lemongrass pork recipe

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