Published May 22, 2019 Updated Aug 06, 2024
What Is Thai Basil Chicken
One of my favorite dishes at Thai restaurants is the spicy Thai basil chicken rice plate—perfectly steamed and fluffy jasmine rice paired with ground chicken infused with aromatic Thai basil leaves, just like in Thai Clams. Also known as Gai Pad Krapow, this healthy basil chicken is delicious, offering a perfect balance of fiery heat and savory flavors. The mix of tender minced chicken, fragrant basil, and a tasty blend of seasonings makes it one of my all-time favorites. Another similar dish is Drunken Noodles (Pad Kee Mao), which is precisely Thai chicken basil stir fried with rice noodles. My authentic Thai basil chicken recipe brings together minced chicken, Thai basil, and spicy chilies for a taste that’s just like what you’d get at a Thai restaurant. The best part? You can whip it up in just 25 minutes with only 4 simple steps, making it a fast and delicious option for any meal! Sidenote: This dish has many English names: Pad Krapow, Pad Ka Pow, Pad Krapao, Pad Ka Prao, and so on. Phonetically, it should be Pad Ka Prao or Pad Ga Prao. Regardless, all the different names point to this
‘Krapao’ vs ‘Horapa’ – Thai Basil vs Holy Basil
In Thai language, ‘horapa‘ refers to Thai purple basil, while ‘krapao’ is called holy basil. Horapa (Thai Purple Basil): This basil has purple stems and a sweet, slightly spicy flavor. It’s used for adding color and a mild taste to Thai dishes. Thai basil has smooth, shiny leaves, and it’s sometimes called sweet basil. Krapao (Holy Basil): This basil has a strong, peppery flavor. It’s a key ingredient in dishes like Pad Krapao, where it adds a bold, spicy kick. Holy basil has hairy stems and jagged leaves, making it look a bit rough. Traditionally, authentic Thai chicken basil uses holy basil, but since holy basil can be hard to find, you can easily use Thai basil instead. It’ll give you a similar fresh, aromatic kick, making it a great alternative for this recipe.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
Bold and delicious. The mix of spicy heat and savory goodness makes each bite exciting and super satisfying. Quick and easy. You can have it ready in just 25 minutes with only 4 simple steps, making it a great option for busy nights. Adjustable spice. You can make it as mild or as spicy as you like by adjusting the amount of chilies you use. Versatile meal. It goes great with jasmine rice and a fried egg, however, you can switch things up based on what you’re in the mood for. You can also serve it in lettuce wraps, just like my Thai Chicken Lettuce Wraps.
Authentic Thai Chicken Basil Ingredients
Ground chicken Thai chilies or bird’s eye chilies – Gives the dish it’s signature intense heat and bold flavor. I also like to add sliced red chilies to my recipe, giving it a pop or color. Sugar – Helps to mellow out the heat with a hint of sweetness. If you have Thai palm sugar, use it instead of white sugar. Fish sauce – Brings a salty, umami richness that ties all the flavors together. Oyster sauce – Adds a savory, slightly sweet taste. Thai basil leaves – If you can find royal basil leaves at your farmer’s market, use them. Otherwise, use Asian/Thai basil leaves with purple stems. Thai Golden Mountain Seasoning Sauce or Maggi Sauce (optional): Boosts the umami for an extra flavor kick.
See the recipe card for full information on ingredients.
How To Make Thai Basil Chicken
Cooking Tips For Home Cooks
Prep everything first. Chop and measure all your ingredients before you start cooking since it all comes together quickly. Break up the chicken. Stir the minced chicken continuously with a spatula to break it up into small lumps. Use high heat for stir frying to cook the chicken fast and get all those flavors mingling. Don’t crowd the pan. If you’re making a big batch, cook in parts so you get a nice stir fry and the seasoning sauce spreads evenly with the ingredients. Adjust the spice level. Like it milder or hotter? Add less or more Thai chilies and red chilies to get the spice level just right. Use dark soy sauce for color. Add a splash of dark soy sauce if you want a richer color in your dish.
What To Serve With Pad Krapow Gai
This dish is served with steamed jasmine rice, with a fried egg on top of the rice. For a wholesome Thai meal at home, I recommend the following dishes: I hope you enjoy this post as much as I do. If you try my recipe, please leave a comment and consider giving it a 5-star rating. For more easy and delicious recipes, explore my Recipe Index, and stay updated by subscribing to my newsletter and following me on Facebook, Pinterest, and Instagram for new updates.
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