Vietnamese noodle salad with lemongrass chicken (Paleo, Keto)
Paleo Keto Vietnamese Noodle Salad with Lemongrass Chicken - Bun Ga Nuong - is one of my favorite summer noodle salads. The lemongrass chicken is marinated in an incredible sauce and drizzled with Vietnamese dipping sauce Nuoc Cham. Fantastic summer grilled recipe to feed a crowd!
To prepare lemongrass, slice roughly 1.5 inch off from the base of the stalk. Trim the top. The total length of the stalk should roughly be around 4-inches. Peel of any dry and tough outer layers then roughy dice it.
In a small food processor, blend the ingredients from lemongrass to olive oil. Scrape the bowl and pulse a few times until the lemongrass is finely chopped.
Gently flatten the chicken thighs to even thickness, using a meat pounder or a flat bottle over a piece of parchment paper to about about ¼ inch-thick.
In a large mixing bowl, pour the lemongrass mixture over chicken thighs. Use your hands to gently rub the mixture over each layer. Cover the bowl and refrigerate overnight or at least 30 minutes.
When you are ready, grill the chickens with avocado oil for about 3-5 minutes per side or until the chickens are completely cooked through. Slice the chicken to bite sizes.
To serve: divide the noodles over 4 individual serving bowls and add chicken on top of the noodles. Place mint, basil, carrots, cucumbers, and cilantro over a large serving plate so that everyone can pick-and-choose. Serve the nuoc cham dipping sauce on the side. Drizzle and mix-in before serving.
Notes
Store extra uncooked chicken in the freezer for up to 2-3 months. They are great for summer grilling.
When you grill the chicken, the lemongrass and herbs will turn into brown bits. Personally I love the flavor. You can scrape them away, if desired.
You can brush the Nuoc Cham dipping sauce during the grill or serve the dipping sauce on the side. :)
Kaffir Lime Leaves Substitute:
1 small dry bay leaf
1 lime zest
¼ tsp fresh lemon thyme (optional)
The nutritional label is calculated with shirataki noodles and without the herb toppings and the dipping sauce.