Thai Basil Chicken: A flavourful journey to Thailand’s culinary delight

Thai Basil Chicken, also known as Pad Kra Pao Gai or Pad Krapow Gai, is a flavourful and popular dish from Thailand that is made with stir-fried chicken, garlic, chilies, and Thai basil leaves. It is a savoury dish with a mix of sweet, salty, and spicy flavours that makes it unique.

CategoryDifficultyBeginner

Yields2 Servings
Prep Time10 minsCook Time15 minsTotal Time25 mins

 2 tbsp Oil
 5 Red Thai Chillies
 5 Garlic Cloves
 2 Chicken Thigh Fillets
 1 tsp Light Soy Sauce
 1 tsp Dark Soy Sauce
 2 tsp Oyster Sauce
 2 tsp Fish Sauce
 ¼ tsp Sugar
 Holy Basil Leaves(handful)

1

In a pan, add in 2 tbsp of Oil. When the oil is hot, add in the chopped Thai Red Chilies and chopped Garlic.

2

Cook it for 2 to 3 mins allowing the flavors to get infused into the oil.

3

To this add in the chicken, thigh bite-size pieces, and cook over a high flame.

4

Coat the chicken now with Light soy sauce, Dark soy sauce, Fish sauce, and Oyster sauce. The video may have missed the fish sauce.

5

Now switch off the flame and add in Holy/ Thai or Italian Basil and give it a final stir. I did not find the required basil but preferably do use Thai or Holy Basil in this recipe.

6

Thai Basil Chicken is now ready.

Thai Basil Chicken

Ingredients

 2 tbsp Oil
 5 Red Thai Chillies
 5 Garlic Cloves
 2 Chicken Thigh Fillets
 1 tsp Light Soy Sauce
 1 tsp Dark Soy Sauce
 2 tsp Oyster Sauce
 2 tsp Fish Sauce
 ¼ tsp Sugar
 Holy Basil Leaves(handful)

Directions

1

In a pan, add in 2 tbsp of Oil. When the oil is hot, add in the chopped Thai Red Chilies and chopped Garlic.

2

Cook it for 2 to 3 mins allowing the flavors to get infused into the oil.

3

To this add in the chicken, thigh bite-size pieces, and cook over a high flame.

4

Coat the chicken now with Light soy sauce, Dark soy sauce, Fish sauce, and Oyster sauce. The video may have missed the fish sauce.

5

Now switch off the flame and add in Holy/ Thai or Italian Basil and give it a final stir. I did not find the required basil but preferably do use Thai or Holy Basil in this recipe.

6

Thai Basil Chicken is now ready.

Notes

Thai Basil Chicken

Tips

  • Use a high-heat oil: When stir-frying, it’s important to use a high-heat oil such as vegetable or peanut oil. This will help to prevent the chicken from sticking to the pan and will also help to create a nice, crispy texture.
  • Marinate the chicken: Marinating the chicken in a mixture of soy sauce, oyster sauce, and fish sauce will give it a rich, savory flavor. You can also add some sugar, black pepper, and cornstarch to help the chicken to be more tender and juicy.
  • Use fresh Thai basil: Using fresh Thai basil will give the dish a nice, anise-like flavor. Make sure to add the basil leaves towards the end of cooking so that they retain their flavor and freshness.
  • Adjust the heat level: Pad Krapow Gai is traditionally a bit spicy, you can adjust the heat level to your taste by adding more or less chili. Be careful when adding chilies, start with a small amount and taste before adding more.
  • Serve it with steamed rice: Pad Kra Pao Gai is traditionally served with steamed rice. This helps to balance out the spiciness of the dish and also makes it a complete and satisfying meal.
  • Use a wok: a wok is a traditional pan used to make this dish, it has a large surface area that allows the ingredients to cook quickly and evenly and also allows you to stir fry easily.
  • Don’t overcook the chicken: Overcooking the chicken will make it dry and rubbery. Cut the chicken into thin slices to help it cook quickly and evenly and keep an eye on the chicken while it cooks so that it doesn’t become overcooked.

FAQs

Q. What kind of chicken is used in Pad Krapow Gai?
A. Pad kra pao gai is usually made with ground chicken, chicken breast, or chicken thigh meat. You can use any cuts of chicken that you prefer, but make sure to slice it thinly for quick and even cooking.

Q. What kind of basil is used in Pad Kra Pao Gai?
A. Pad Kra Pao Gai is typically made with holy basil, it has a unique anise-like flavor. It can also be made with regular basil, but the flavor will be different.

Q. How spicy is Pad Kra Pao Gai?
A. Pad Kra Pao Gai is traditionally a bit spicy, but the heat level can be adjusted to your taste by adding more or less chili. You can start with a small amount of chili and add more as needed.

Q. Can I make Pad Krapow Gai with tofu instead of chicken?
A. Yes, you can make Pad Krapow Gai with tofu instead of chicken. Simply press the tofu to remove excess water, then slice it into small cubes. Cook the tofu in the same way as the chicken, making sure to stir-fry it until it’s golden brown.

Q. Can I make Thai basil chicken with seafood instead of chicken?
A. Yes, you can make Thai basil chicken with seafood instead of chicken. Use shrimp, scallops, or any seafood of your choice. Cook it in the same way as the chicken, making sure to stir-fry it until it’s just cooked through.

Q. What can I serve Thai basil chicken with?
A. Thai basil chicken is traditionally served with steamed rice. You can also serve it with noodles, quinoa, or mashed potatoes.

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