Fusion dishes bring the best features of different cuisines to the table. Our crispy lemongrass chicken tacos boast distinctive Asian flavours rolled in an easy-to-eat Mexican-style corn tortilla. The result is a meal that is fun, simple to prepare, and guaranteed to engage your family or guests.
The lemongrass, garlic, and soy sauce give the taco filling its unmistakable Asian taste, but this is a chicken recipe, so quality meat is essential for a successful dish. The free-range chicken will merge perfectly with bright spices and savoury sauce.
Here is a closer look at the ingredients that will likely make this unique dish a family favourite.
Choosing the Best Free-Range Chicken
Our taco recipe calls for boneless chicken thighs. You will find plenty of options at butchers and grocers, but you should always select free-range chicken thighs. Firstly, this meat tastes better. Quality is essential because Asian cuisine relies on spices and cooking methods that bring out the flavour of the primary ingredient rather than masking it.
Second, you should seek a brick-and-mortar or online butcher selling free-range meat grown without antibiotics or added hormones. Not only do these substances hurt the taste and tenderness of the chicken but also negatively impact your health.
Free-range meat, if it comes from local sources using sustainable farming methods, brings ethical and environmental benefits. Free-range birds live happier, healthier lives, and the sustainability and short shipping distances limit the carbon output and ecological impacts.
Health Benefits of Other Ingredients
The lemongrass, garlic, and vinegar bring health benefits to you and your family:
- Lemongrass has high mineral content, which makes it an excellent ingredient for skin, bone, and hair health. It can also help with digestion and serve as a calming agent to help you sleep or relieve anxiety.
- Garlic boasts antiviral and antibacterial effects. It has concentrated amounts of allicin, a compound that can fight viral infections and unwanted digestive-tract bacteria. Though these benefits are most potent when garlic is in its raw form, they are also present after cooking.
- Balsamic vinegar is known for its complex flavour, but it also brings multiple health benefits. It contains acetic acid, which has probiotics for enhanced digestion. In some people, the effects can include relief from acid stomach or reflux. This tart ingredient can also have positive effects on blood sugar levels.
Your Source for Free-Range Chicken in Melbourne
At Church Street Butchers, we are your source for free-range meats in Melbourne’s Bayside area. Like our other products, our locally sourced chicken thighs are raised humanely in free-range settings without antibiotics or hormones. The darker meat and higher moisture content of the thighs make them perfect for soaking up the flavour of the lemongrass and garlic without being overwhelmed by them.
Visit our online store or our Church Street location to find the perfect chicken for your recipe.
Ingredients
- 6 Boneless chicken thighs
- 3 garlic cloves (finely minced)
- 3 tablespoons Soy sauce
- 6 corn tortillas
- 1 tablespoon Balsamic vinegar
- 1-2 stalks Green onion (finely chopped)
- 1 stalks Lemongrass (approx 2.5-3 tablespoons, finely chopped)
- Coriander (for garnish)
Instructions
- Finely chop green onions and set aside for garnishing at the end
- Finely chop the garlic and lemongrass (If you are using fresh lemongrass stalks, use the bottom half of the stalk only, which is lighter. Discard the dried tips)
- Marinate the chicken with the garlic, soy, lemongrass, balsamic vinegar for 2-3 hours
- In a large skillet, add some oil and set the heat to medium heat
- Add the chicken to the pan, skin side down first, and sear the chicken for 3-4 minutes a side. To get the brown skin, leave it untouched skin side down for a few minutes. (If you are using boned chicken, you will need to cook the chicken longer)
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