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coconut pandan grilled chicken bowl

Coconut-Pandan Grilled Chicken Vermicelli Bowl

A bright Vietnamese grilled chicken bowl infused with coconut milk and pandan for a fragrant, tropical aroma. Served over cool vermicelli with fresh herbs, crisp vegetables, and a clean lime‑fish sauce dressing, this bowl balances richness, freshness, and char for a light but deeply flavorful meal
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Course dinner, lunch
Cuisine Vietnamese
Servings 4

Equipment

  • Cutting board & knife
  • Mixing bowl
  • Grill pan or skillet (perfect for outdoor grilling)
  • Pot for vermicelli
  • Tongs

Ingredients
  

Chicken & Marinade

  • 1.25 lbs boneless chicken thighs
  • ¼ cup coconut milk
  • 2 tbsp pandan simple syrup or 1 tbsp sugar + 1 tbsp pandan extract
  • 1 tbsp fish sauce
  • 1 tbsp soy sauce
  • 2 cloves garlic minced
  • 1 tbsp neutral oil
  • ½ tsp black pepper

Bowl Base

  • 8 oz dried vermicelli noodles
  • 1 cup shredded lettuce or cabbage

Fresh & Bright Toppings

  • 1 cup cucumber slices
  • ½ cup pickled carrot & daikon
  • ½ cup Thai basil
  • ¼ cup cilantro
  • 2 scallions thinly sliced
  • Crispy shallots

Nước Chấm Dressing

  • 3 tbsp fish sauce
  • 3 tbsp lime juice
  • 3 tbsp water
  • 1.5 tbsp sugar
  • 1 clove garlic minced
  • 1-2 Thai chiles sliced

Instructions
 

  • Prep the sauce by mixing nước màu, coconut water, fish sauce, palm sugar, and black pepper in a small bowl.
  • Sauté garlic and shallot in oil over medium‑high heat until fragrant.
  • Add the pork and sear until lightly browned, letting the edges caramelize.
  • Pour in the sauce mixture and bring to a simmer.
  • Reduce the sauce for 5–7 minutes until glossy and clinging to the pork.
  • Assemble bowls with rice or noodles as the base.
  • Top with the caramelized pork.
  • Add cucumber, pickled vegetables, herbs, scallions, and crispy shallots.

Notes

Nước màu can be store‑bought or homemade.
Ground pork caramelizes faster if using the alternative protein.
Keep fresh toppings separate if prepping ahead.
Rice noodles or shredded cabbage make the bowl lighter.
Keyword bun bowl, coconut chicken bowl, grilled chicken bowl, modern Vietnamese, pandan chicken, pandan marinade, vermicelli bowl, Vietnamese chicken bowl