Thai Basil Chicken, also known as Pad Gai Krapow, is a popular Thai street food dish that is both quick and bursting with flavor. This dish features ground chicken stir-fried with fresh basil, chili peppers, and a savory-sweet sauce, making it a perfect weeknight meal. In just 20 minutes, you can enjoy this delicious and aromatic dish, served over rice and topped with a fried egg for an authentic experience. Let’s dive into the steps to prepare this delightful Thai Basil Chicken.
Ingredients
For the Thai Basil Stir Fry
- 1/2 cup brown onion or shallots, diced or roughly chopped
- 8 oz ground chicken
- 5 garlic cloves, minced
- 1/2 cup Thai basil or regular basil (see notes)
- 1 medium red chili, chopped roughly
- 1 medium mild hot green pepper, chopped
- Avocado oil for cooking
For the Sauce
- 1 tablespoon light soy sauce (use gluten-free if necessary)
- 1 tablespoon dark soy sauce (low sodium if possible and gluten-free if using)
- 1 tablespoon maple syrup or 2 teaspoons liquid honey
- 1 teaspoon garlic chili sauce, sriracha, or your preferred hot sauce (see notes)
- 1 tablespoon oyster sauce
- 1 tablespoon fish sauce
For Serving
- 1 cup uncooked rice
- 2-3 stalks of green onion, chopped, for garnish
- More basil leaves, for garnish
- Sesame seeds, for garnish
- Prawn crackers
- 2 fried eggs
Instructions
Step 1: Prepare the Rice
- Cook the rice according to the package instructions so it’s ready to serve when the stir-fry is done.
Step 2: Prepare the Ingredients
- Dice the brown onion or shallots.
- Mince the garlic cloves.
- Roughly chop the red chili and mild hot green pepper.
- Wash and prepare the Thai basil leaves.
Step 3: Make the Sauce
- In a small bowl, mix together the light soy sauce, dark soy sauce, maple syrup or honey, garlic chili sauce or sriracha, oyster sauce, and fish sauce.
- Set the sauce aside.
Step 4: Cook the Stir Fry
- Heat a tablespoon of avocado oil in a large skillet or wok over medium-high heat.
- Add the diced onion or shallots and minced garlic to the skillet. Stir-fry for 1-2 minutes until the aroma develops.
- Add the ground chicken to the skillet, breaking it up with a spatula. Cook the chicken until it’s thoroughly cooked through and no longer pink, usually about 5 minutes of cooking time.
- Add the chopped red chili and green pepper to the skillet and stir-fry for another 2 minutes.
- Pour the sauce over the chicken mixture, stirring well to coat everything evenly.
- Add the Thai basil leaves and cook for an additional 1-2 minutes, until the basil is wilted and the sauce is heated through.
Step 5: Fry the Eggs
- In a separate small skillet, heat a bit of oil over medium heat.
- Crack the eggs into the skillet and fry until the whites are set but the yolks are still runny, about 3-4 minutes.
Step 6: Assemble and Serve
- Divide the cooked rice between serving plates.
- Spoon the Thai Basil Chicken stir-fry over the rice.
- Top each serving with a fried egg.
- Garnish with chopped green onions, additional basil leaves, and sesame seeds.
- Serve with prawn crackers on the side.
Conclusion
20-Minute Thai Basil Chicken (Pad Gai Krapow) is a quick and flavorful dish that brings the vibrant flavors of Thai cuisine to your table. With tender ground chicken, aromatic basil, and a deliciously balanced sauce, this dish is sure to become a favorite for busy weeknights. Enjoy the authentic taste of Thailand in the comfort of your home, and savor the delightful combination of ingredients in this easy-to-make meal.