Pad Kra Pao (Holy Basil Stir Fry)
Chicken basil stir fry is one of the more popular Thai menu items that you wil find in this U.S. But in Thailand, pad kra pao, or holy basil stir fry is considered a street food. Here, you will get big chunks of chicken breast stir fried with Thai basil. The authentic version uses ground chicken and holy basil, which has a similar flavor to Italian basil. It is also topped with a fried egg, which makes this stir fry even better.
Equipment
- mortar and pestle
Ingredients
- 7 bird’s eye chilies
- 5 garlic cloves
- 1 mild red chili
- 2 tbsp vegetable oil
- 1/2 cup long beans cut into 2” pieces
- 1/4 medium onion
- 1 lb ground chicken
- 2 cups holy basil
- fried eggs
Sauce
- 2 tbsp water
- 1 tbsp oyster sauce
- 1 tbsp light soy sauce
- 2 tsp fish sauce
- 2 tsp dark soy sauce
- 2 tsp sugar
Instructions
- Mix all of the sauce ingredients together. Set aside.
- In a mortar and pestle, pound the chilies and garlic into a paste.
- Heat up cooking oil in a large sauté pan over medium high heat. Sauté the chili paste for 2 minutes.
- Add in the ground chicken, breaking up all of the clumps. Sauté for 4 minutes.
- Stir in the long beans and onions. Sauté for 4 minutes.
- Pour in the sauce. Cook for 2 more minutes.
- Take off the heat. Stir in the holy basil.
