Description
Delicious spicy Pad Kra Pao Gai (Thai Basil Chicken) delivers authentic Bangkok street flavor with minimal ingredients. Fragrant herbs and quick stir-frying create an irresistible meal you can easily recreate at home.
Ingredients
Scale
- 8 oz (226 g) ground chicken
- 2 fried eggs
- 1 tablespoon light soy sauce (gluten-free if needed)
- 1 tablespoon dark soy sauce (low sodium if possible, gluten-free if needed)
- 1 tablespoon oyster sauce
- 1 tablespoon fish sauce
- 1 tablespoon maple syrup or 2 teaspoons liquid honey
- 1 teaspoon garlic chili sauce, sriracha, or another hot sauce
- ½ cup brown onion or shallot, diced
- 5 garlic cloves, finely chopped
- 1 medium red chili, roughly chopped
- 1 medium mild hot green pepper, chopped
- ½ cup Thai basil or regular basil
- 2–3 stalks green onion, for garnish
- More basil leaves
- Sesame seeds
- 1 cup uncooked rice
- Avocado oil for cooking
- Prawn crackers
Instructions
- Preparation: Mince garlic cloves and slice green chilies into delicate, thin rounds, unlocking their vibrant aromatics.
- Sauté Base: Heat vegetable oil in a nonstick skillet over medium-high heat, then add onions or shallots, cooking until translucent and golden-edged.
- Flavor Development: Introduce minced garlic and green chilies, stirring quickly to prevent burning while releasing their intense essence.
- Protein Cooking: Add ground chicken, breaking into uniform pieces and cooking until completely opaque and thoroughly browned.
- Sauce Integration: Pour in light and dark soy sauces, maple syrup, garlic chili sauce, oyster sauce, and fish sauce, creating a complex flavor profile that coats the chicken.
- Herbal Finish: Fold in fresh Thai basil leaves, allowing them to gently wilt while preserving their bright green color and releasing aromatic oils.
- Moisture Adjustment: If needed, splash a small amount of water to generate a glossy, light sauce that embraces the chicken.
- Plating and Garnish: Arrange the fragrant chicken over steamed jasmine rice, top with a crisp fried egg, and sprinkle with sliced green onions, additional basil leaves, and toasted sesame seeds.
- Serving: Present immediately with prawn crackers, ensuring maximum flavor and temperature enjoyment.
Notes
- Prep Timing: Chop ingredients beforehand to ensure smooth, swift cooking process without interruptions.
- Sauce Balance: Taste and adjust sauce combinations carefully, as each condiment significantly impacts overall flavor profile.
- Basil Handling: Add fresh Thai basil leaves at the very end to preserve their delicate flavor and prevent wilting or bitterness.
- Heat Control: Maintain medium-high heat to develop caramelization and prevent meat from becoming dry or tough during cooking.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Stir-Frying
- Cuisine: Thai
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 3
- Calories: 560
- Sugar: 6 g
- Sodium: 800 mg
- Fat: 20 g
- Saturated Fat: 3 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 15 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 70 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 32 g
- Cholesterol: 210 mg