Vietnamese Lemongrass Minced Pork Skewers

Ingredients

• 500 g ground pork
• 3 tbsp lemongrass (finely minced)
• 4 cloves garlic (minced)
• 1 piece shallot (finely minced)
• 2 tbsp fish sauce
• 1 tbsp oyster sauce
• 1.5 tbsp brown sugar
• 1 tbsp cornstarch
• 0.5 tsp black pepper
• 1 tbsp neutral cooking oil
• 8 pieces bamboo skewers

Steps

1. Soak the wooden skewers in water for at least 30 minutes to prevent them from burning during cooking.
2. Finely mince the white, tender parts of the lemongrass, along with the shallot and garlic.
3. In a mixing bowl, combine the ground pork, lemongrass, garlic, shallot, fish sauce, oyster sauce, brown sugar, cornstarch, and black pepper.
4. Mix and knead vigorously with your hands or a spoon for 3 to 5 minutes until the mixture becomes sticky, emulsified, and holds together easily. Chill in the refrigerator for 20 minutes.
5. Lightly oil your hands. Divide the meat mixture into 8 portions and mold each firmly around a skewer into a long cylinder shape.
6. Preheat a grill pan, outdoor grill, or broiler to medium-high heat and brush lightly with cooking oil.
7. Cook the skewers for 10 to 12 minutes, turning every 2 to 3 minutes, until nicely browned, slightly charred at the edges, and thoroughly cooked through.
8. Remove from heat and serve warm with fresh herbs, lettuce wraps, or sweet chili dipping sauce.