Thai Basil Stir-Fry (Pad Kra Pao) 🌶️🍳🍚
A popular Thai street food featuring ground meat stir-fried with garlic, chilies, and fragrant Thai basil leaves. Served over rice and topped with a fried egg, it’s flavorful, spicy, and aromatic!
Ingredients
- 1 tbsp vegetable oil
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 2–3 Thai bird’s eye chilies, minced (adjust for spice level)
- 1 lb ground chicken, pork, or beef
- 1 small onion, sliced (optional)
- 1 bell pepper, sliced (optional)
- 1 tbsp soy sauce
- 1 tbsp fish sauce
- 1 tbsp oyster sauce
- 1 tsp sugar (palm sugar preferred, or brown sugar)
- 1 cup fresh Thai basil leaves
For Serving
- Steamed jasmine rice
- Fried egg (one per serving)
Instructions
- Prepare Aromatics: Heat vegetable oil in a large skillet or wok over medium-high heat. Add garlic and chilies, stir for 30 seconds until fragrant.
- Cook Meat: Add ground meat, breaking it up with a spatula until browned. If using onion and bell pepper, add and cook for 2–3 minutes until tender.
- Season: Stir in soy sauce, fish sauce, oyster sauce, and sugar. Cook 1–2 minutes to meld flavors.
- Add Basil: Toss in Thai basil leaves until just wilted (about 30 seconds). Remove from heat.
- Serve: Spoon stir-fry over steamed jasmine rice and top with a fried egg.
Tips
- Authentic Flavor: Use Thai holy basil (kra pao) if available; otherwise substitute with Thai sweet basil.
- Adjust Spice: Reduce chilies for a milder dish, or add more for extra heat.
Details
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Total Time: ~25 minutes
- Servings: 3–4
Tip: Serve with cucumber slices or pickled vegetables for a refreshing balance to the spice!