Recipe

When you need something fast, punchy, and deeply satisfying, nothing beats Thai basil chicken served over steaming jasmine rice with a crispy fried egg.

Pad Krapow Gai (Thai Basil Chicken)

Name: Pad Krapow Gai (Thai Basil Chicken)
Ingredients: 1 tbsp oyster sauce; 1 tbsp soy sauce; 1 tsp dark sweet soy sauce (Thai dark soy sauce for rich color); 1 tsp fish sauce; 1 tsp sugar; 2 tbsp water or chicken stock; 1 lb ground chicken (or finely chopped chicken thighs); 5 cloves garlic, peeled; 2 to 4 Thai bird's eye chilies (adjust to heat preference); 1 small shallot, thinly sliced; 1 packed cup fresh Thai holy basil (or Italian sweet basil); 2 tbsp neutral cooking oil (divided); 2 large eggs; 2 cups cooked jasmine rice (for serving)

Thailand

2 servings, 20 minutes

Sources: Cross-checked against Hot Thai Kitchen and Serious Eats

Watch it made

Pad Kaprao - Spicy Thai Basil Stir-Fry Recipe & Guide

2 servings

You’ll need

14 items · tap to check off

For the sauce

For the stir-fry

Make it step by step

9 steps · 5 min of timed cooking

Whisk oyster sauce, soy sauce, dark sweet soy sauce, fish sauce, sugar, and water in a small bowl until dissolved.
Pound or finely chop the garlic and Thai bird's eye chilies together into a coarse aromatic paste.
Heat one tablespoon of oil in a wok or large skillet over high heat until it lightly smokes.
Add the garlic-chili paste and shallots, stir-frying rapidly for 20 seconds until intensely fragrant.⏱ 20 sec
Add the ground chicken, breaking it up with a spatula, and cook for 3 to 4 minutes until no longer pink.⏱ 4 min
Pour in the sauce mixture and toss continuously over high heat for 1 minute until evenly coated.⏱ 1 min
Turn off the heat, fold in the basil leaves, and stir gently until just wilted from residual heat.
Fry eggs in a separate oiled pan over medium-high heat until edges are crispy and yolk is runny.
Serve hot chicken over steamed jasmine rice topped with a crispy fried egg.

💡

Chef’s tip · Turn the burner completely off before tossing in the basil leaves so their delicate herbal aroma infuses the chicken without scorching.

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