20-Minute Thai Basil Chicken (Pad Gai Krapow): A Quick and Flavorful Dish

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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

  1. 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

  1. Dice the brown onion or shallots.
  2. Mince the garlic cloves.
  3. Roughly chop the red chili and mild hot green pepper.
  4. Wash and prepare the Thai basil leaves.

Step 3: Make the Sauce

  1. 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.
  2. Set the sauce aside.

Step 4: Cook the Stir Fry

  1. Heat a tablespoon of avocado oil in a large skillet or wok over medium-high heat.
  2. Add the diced onion or shallots and minced garlic to the skillet. Stir-fry for 1-2 minutes until the aroma develops.
  3. 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.
  4. Add the chopped red chili and green pepper to the skillet and stir-fry for another 2 minutes.
  5. Pour the sauce over the chicken mixture, stirring well to coat everything evenly.
  6. 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

  1. In a separate small skillet, heat a bit of oil over medium heat.
  2. 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

  1. Divide the cooked rice between serving plates.
  2. Spoon the Thai Basil Chicken stir-fry over the rice.
  3. Top each serving with a fried egg.
  4. Garnish with chopped green onions, additional basil leaves, and sesame seeds.
  5. 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.