Thai Basil Chicken, a classic dish from Thailand, is packed with flavors, offering a perfect blend of spicy, sweet, and savory notes. This deliciously satisfying dish, known as ‘Pad Krapow Gai,’ is a staple in Thai homes, restaurants, and street food stalls. Let’s dive into this culinary journey of savory flavors and easy-to-follow steps that will guide you to create this exotic dish at home.
A Peek into Thai Basil Chicken
Thai Basil Chicken is a popular stir-fry dish from Thailand, known for its robust flavors and minimal preparation time. The key ingredients include chicken, Thai basil, garlic, Thai chilis, and a savory sauce. Often, it’s served with a crispy fried egg, making it an ideal option for those craving Thai food.
Crafting Thai Basil Chicken Stir Fry
Creating this delectable dish involves a few straightforward steps. Here’s a simplified breakdown:
1. Preparation of Ingredients: Start by preparing the sauce, combining oyster sauce, soy sauce, dark soy sauce, and sugar in a small bowl. Mince the garlic, chop the chilies, wash and dry the basil, and cut your chicken into even chunks.
2. Frying Aromatics: Heat oil in a wok or frying pan, then lightly fry the garlic and chilis.
3. Cooking Chicken: Add the chicken and cook until it turns golden and is thoroughly cooked.
4. Adding Sauce: Stir in the sauce and reduce it to a thick consistency.
5. Adding Basil: Remove the pan from heat and mix in the basil.
This process is faster than waiting for a delivery order, isn’t it?
Essential Ingredients for Thai Basil Chicken
The ingredients needed for this dish are quite simple. They include sugar, oil, garlic, chicken thighs (or you can substitute with chicken breast for a leaner option), oyster sauce, dark soy sauce, Thai chilies, and Thai basil.
Oyster Sauce: This is a thick, flavorful brown sauce that intensifies the taste of the dish. You can easily find it in the Asian section of any grocery store.
Dark Soy Sauce: This dish requires both soy sauce and dark soy sauce. While regular soy sauce adds the salty and umami flavor, dark soy sauce gives a hint of caramel and color.
Thai Chilies: Known for their intense heat, Thai red chilies add a kick to the dish. If you prefer a less spicy version, remove the seeds from the chilies or reduce the amount.
Thai Basil: The authentic Thai Basil Chicken recipe uses Thai holy basil, which might be challenging to find outside Thailand. A good substitute is regular Thai basil, which has a slight licorice/fennel flavor.
Choosing Your Chicken
Thai Basil Chicken can be prepared with ground chicken, chicken thighs, or breasts. In Thailand, the meat is usually cut into small pieces. However, if you prefer larger chunks of chicken or ground chicken, feel free to do so.
Complementing Your Dish
This dish is traditionally served with fluffy white rice, which perfectly complements the chicken and sauce. You can also choose other grains or even noodles as per your preference. Adding some cucumbers can provide a refreshing crunch, and a crispy fried egg can enhance the savory goodness.
Heat Level
Yes, Thai Basil Chicken is traditionally spicy, but you can adjust the heat level according to your preference. If you are not a fan of spicy food, feel free to decrease the chili amount, de-seed the chilis, or leave them out entirely.
Recipe of Thai Basil Chicken
This dish is quick to prepare and offers an incredible taste payoff for the minimal work involved.
Preparation Time: 10 minutes
Cooking Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 20 minutes
Ingredients
- 2 tsp oyster sauce
- 1 tsp soy sauce
- 1 tsp dark soy sauce
- 1 tsp sugar
- 1 tbsp oil
- 5 cloves garlic, minced
- 3-4 Thai bird’s eye chili, deseeded and finely chopped
- 1/2 lb boneless skinless chicken thighs, cut into 1 inch chunks
- 20-30 leaves Thai basil
- Crispy fried egg (optional)
- Rice to serve
Instructions
- In a small bowl, mix 2 tablespoons of water with the oyster sauce, soy sauce, dark soy sauce, and sugar.
- Heat the oil in a wok or frying pan over medium-high heat. Add the garlic and chili, stir for about 10-30 seconds, ensuring they do not brown or burn.
- Add the chicken and cook until it turns golden brown and cooked through.
- Add the sauce and cook until it slightly reduces and coats the chicken.
- Remove the pan from the heat, stir in the basil, and serve immediately with fluffy white rice and a crispy egg, if desired.
Note: Estimated nutrition does not include rice or egg.
Nutritional Information
| Nutrition Facts | Thai Basil Chicken Recipe |
|---|---|
| Calories | 306 Calories from Fat 137 |
| % Daily Value* | — |
| Fat | 15.2g 23% |
| Saturated Fat | 3.2g 20% |
| Cholesterol | 101mg 34% |
| Sodium | 690mg 30% |
| Potassium | 312mg 9% |
| Carbohydrates | 6.8g 2% |
| Fiber | 0.2g 1% |
| Sugar | 3.6g 4% |
| Protein | 3.5g 7% |
% Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.