Easy 15-min. Pad Kra Pao (Thai Holy Basil Stir-Fry)
Ground meat, holy basil, red chilis, and aromatics stir-fried in a spicy, savory sauce served over rice with a fried egg! This easy pad kra pao recipe is ready in just 15 minutes using simple ingredients, making it a better-than-takeout main for busy weeknights!
Ingredients
- 1 lb extra-lean ground chicken or ground pork / ground beef
- 1 cup Holy basil or Thai basil / Sweet Basil - stems removed
- 1 shallot or ¼ cup onion, finely diced
- 2 large red chili or bird's eye chili for more spice, de-seed & finely chopped
- 5 garlic cloves minced
- ¼ cup chicken stock or beef stock, low-sodium
- 3 tablespoon vegetable oil or any neutral oil
Sauce
- 1 tablespoon oyster sauce or vegetarian stir-fry sauce
- 2 teaspoon fish sauce
- 2 teaspoon white granulated sugar or cane sugar / palm sugar
- 1 teaspoon regular soy sauce or light soy sauce
- 1 teaspoon dark soy sauce
Serve with:
- 2 fried eggs or as needed (optional)
- cooked jasmine rice or any white rice of choice
Instructions
- In a small bowl, combine the sauce ingredients as listed above until sugar has dissolved. Set aside.
- Heat vegetable oil in a large pan on medium-high heat. Once hot, stir fry shallot, garlic, and chilis until they have softened, about 30 seconds.
- Add ground meat and break it up into smaller pieces (not chunks). Cook until liquids in the pan have evaporated and the meat is slightly browned.
- Add sauce and stir fry for 30 seconds. Then pour in stock and stir fry for another 30 seconds.
- Add basil and stir fry until softened, about 15 seconds. Transfer the dish to a large serving plate.
- Serve with steamed white rice and a fried egg on top. Enjoy!
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Nutrition
Calories: 393kcal | Carbohydrates: 14g | Protein: 43g | Fat: 19g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 4g | Monounsaturated Fat: 8g | Trans Fat: 0.1g | Cholesterol: 196mg | Sodium: 1237mg | Potassium: 1431mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 7g | Vitamin A: 859IU | Vitamin C: 38mg | Calcium: 64mg | Iron: 3mg