Description
Spicy Thai Basil Chicken, also known as Pad Krapow Gai, is a quick and flavorful stir-fry dish featuring minced chicken, fragrant Thai basil, and a savory-sweet sauce. Perfectly balanced with spicy chili heat and aromatic garlic, this classic Thai street food favorite is served over hot steamed rice for an easy yet authentic meal.
Ingredients
Scale
Sauce Ingredients
- ⅓ cup chicken broth
- 1 tablespoon oyster sauce
- 1 tablespoon soy sauce, or as needed
- 2 teaspoons fish sauce
- 1 teaspoon white sugar
- 1 teaspoon brown sugar
Main Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
- 1 pound skinless, boneless chicken thighs, coarsely chopped
- ¼ cup sliced shallots
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 tablespoons minced Thai chilies, Serrano, or other hot pepper
- 1 cup very thinly sliced fresh basil leaves
- 2 cups hot cooked rice
Instructions
- Prepare Sauce: In a bowl, whisk together chicken broth, oyster sauce, soy sauce, fish sauce, white sugar, and brown sugar until well blended to create the flavorful sauce base.
- Heat Pan and Cook Chicken: Heat a large skillet over high heat and drizzle in the vegetable oil. Add the coarsely chopped chicken thighs and stir-fry until the chicken loses its raw pink color, about 2 to 3 minutes.
- Add Aromatics and Chilies: Stir in the sliced shallots, minced garlic, and chopped chilies. Continue cooking on high heat until some of the juices start to caramelize at the pan’s bottom, roughly 2 to 3 more minutes.
- Add Sauce Mixture in Stages: Pour about one tablespoon of the prepared sauce into the skillet and cook while stirring until the sauce begins to caramelize, approximately 1 minute.
- Deglaze and Glaze: Add the remaining sauce to the skillet, stirring well to deglaze the pan’s bottom. Continue cooking until the sauce thickens and glazes the chicken evenly, about 1 to 2 minutes. Then remove the pan from heat.
- Incorporate Basil: Stir in the thinly sliced fresh basil leaves. Cook and stir just until the basil wilts, about 20 seconds, to release its aromatic flavor.
- Serve: Serve the spicy Thai basil chicken immediately over hot cooked rice for a delicious and satisfying meal.
Notes
- Use fresh Thai basil for authentic flavor; if unavailable, sweet basil is a suitable substitute.
- Adjust chili quantity depending on desired spice level.
- Chicken thighs offer juicier texture compared to breast meat.
- Ensure high heat during cooking to achieve proper caramelization and flavor development.
- Serve immediately for best taste and texture.
