Description
Spicy Thai Basil Chicken, also known as Pad Krapow Gai, is a vibrant and flavorful stir-fry featuring tender chicken thighs, fresh basil, and a savory-spicy sauce. This quick and easy Thai classic is perfect for a satisfying weeknight dinner, served hot over steaming rice.
Ingredients
Scale
Sauce Mixture
- 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: Whisk together the chicken broth, oyster sauce, soy sauce, fish sauce, white sugar, and brown sugar in a bowl until well blended to create a balanced, flavorful sauce.
- Heat Oil and Cook Chicken: Heat a large skillet over high heat and drizzle in the vegetable oil. Add the coarse chopped chicken thighs and stir-fry until the chicken loses its raw color, about 2 to 3 minutes, ensuring it cooks evenly on all sides.
- Add Aromatics: Stir in sliced shallots, minced garlic, and chopped chilies. Continue cooking on high heat until the juices released begin to caramelize at the bottom of the skillet, about 2 to 3 minutes, which helps build a deep, savory flavor.
- Incorporate Sauce Base: Add about a tablespoon of the prepared sauce mixture to the skillet. Cook and stir until the sauce starts to caramelize, approximately 1 minute, intensifying its richness.
- Add Remaining Sauce: Pour in the rest of the sauce mixture, cooking and stirring to deglaze the pan—this lifts the flavorful browned bits from the bottom. Continue cooking until the sauce thickly glazes the chicken, about 1 to 2 minutes.
- Add Basil: Remove the skillet from heat and stir in the fresh basil leaves. Cook and stir until the basil wilts lightly, about 20 seconds, to release its aromatic fragrance.
- Serve: Plate the spicy Thai basil chicken hot over freshly cooked rice. Enjoy immediately for the best flavor and texture.
Notes
- You can adjust the level of heat by varying the amount or type of chili used.
- Use chicken thighs for a juicier, more flavorful dish; chicken breast can be substituted but may result in a drier texture.
- Fresh Thai basil is essential for authentic flavor; however, sweet basil can be used if Thai basil is unavailable.
- Serve with jasmine rice for a fragrant complement to the spicy chicken.
- Allow the sauce to caramelize well to develop the signature savory-sweet depth of the dish.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Frying
- Cuisine: Thai
