Description
Thai Basil Chicken, also known as Pad Kra Pao Gai, is a classic Thai street food featuring savory ground chicken stir-fried with garlic, chilies, and the distinctive peppery flavor of Thai basil. This quick and easy recipe delivers bold, aromatic flavors perfect for a weeknight meal, often served over jasmine rice with a fried egg.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 lb ground chicken
- 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 shallots, finely chopped
- 2 Thai bird’s eye chilies, finely sliced (adjust to heat preference)
- 2 tablespoons soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon oyster sauce
- 1 tablespoon fish sauce
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- 1 cup fresh Thai basil leaves
- Cooked jasmine rice, for serving
- Fried egg, optional for topping
Instructions
- Heat the vegetable oil in a wok or large skillet over medium-high heat.
- Add the garlic, shallots, and chilies and stir-fry for about 30 seconds until fragrant, being careful not to burn the garlic.
- Add the ground chicken to the pan, breaking it up with a spoon as it cooks.
- Continue stir-frying until the chicken is fully cooked and starting to brown, about 5 to 7 minutes.
- Stir in the soy sauce, oyster sauce, fish sauce, and sugar.
- Mix well to coat the chicken in the sauce.
- Let it cook for another 2 to 3 minutes so the flavors fully develop.
- Remove from heat and stir in the Thai basil leaves, tossing just until wilted.
- Serve immediately over hot jasmine rice, topped with a crispy fried egg if desired.
Notes
- Thai basil has a peppery, slightly anise-like flavor that gives this dish its signature taste. Regular basil can be used in a pinch, but for authentic flavor, seek out Thai basil at Asian markets.
- For a vegetarian version, substitute the ground chicken with crumbled tofu or plant-based meat and use soy sauce in place of fish sauce.
- This dish is meant to be quick, so prepare all ingredients ahead of time and keep the heat fairly high to achieve that classic stir-fried texture.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stir-fry
- Cuisine: Thai
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 350
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 1200mg
- Fat: 15g
- Saturated Fat: 4g
- Unsaturated Fat: 11g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 10g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 40g
- Cholesterol: 120mg
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