Can Cooking Be Simple and Inexpensive?

by Laura Donnelly — September 7, 2007

Here is a simple inexpensive Vietnamese chicken on skewers recipe that I got from a restaurant years ago. It's kind of retro in that it uses garlic and onion powders, but I find that they add a nice pasty texture to the marinade. You can easily double or triple the recipe for large groups. Serve with rice and a shredded carrot salad that has sesame oil and a touch of rice vinegar in it.

East Wind Lemon Chicken

Serves 4

1 and 1/2 lbs. boneless chicken breast, cut into bite-sized pieces
2 Tablespoons fish sauce (nam pla)
2 Tablespoons soy sauce
1 Tablespoon sugar
4 Tablespoons, chopped salted peanuts
1 Tablespoon sesame seeds
Juice and grated rind of one lemon
3 Tablespoons peanut oil
1 Tablespoon garlic powder
1 Tablespoon onion powder

1. Combine fish sauce, soy, sugar, sesame seeds, lemon juice and rind, peanut oil, and garlic and onion powders. Toss in non-reactive bowl with chicken pieces a few hours before grilling.

2. Preheat grill or broiler. Soak some wooden skewers in water for about 20 minutes before you grill.

3. Thread chicken pieces onto skewers, then grill until well browned on all sides--should take about 10-15 minutes, depending on size of chicken pieces. Garnish with chopped peanuts.