Pad Kra Pao is a quick and easy Thai dish that’s fragrant, flavorful, and so filling. It only takes minutes to prepare!
What is Pad Kra Pao?
Pad kra pao is one of Thailand’s most famous dishes. Translated, the name means “holy basil stir fry”.
You can find the dish being sold via street vendors in Thailand or in most Thai restaurants. It’s absolute perfection served over rice and with a perfect crispy fried egg on top.
I love making pad kra pao for especially busy or lazy days. It’s so incredibly easy, you could probably cook up this whole meal in just half an hour!
Instructions for Pad Kra Pao
Prepare the sauce by combining all the ingredients together in a bowl until smooth. Set aside.
In a mortar and pestle, pound together the garlic cloves and Thai chilies until you reach a fine paste.
Heat the oil in your wok/pan over medium high. Fry the chili-garlic paste for about 1 minute, or until fragrant (be careful not to burn)
Add in the ground pork, and cook until no longer pink and most of the water released has evaporated.
Add in the chopped long beans and pour in the prepared sauce. Continue to stir fry the ground pork until fully coated and the sauce begins to caramelize and reduce, about 3-5 minutes.
Toss in the basil leaves, and stir fry for an additional 1 minute until the leaves have wilted slightly.
Serve on top of rice with a crispy fried egg. Enjoy!
FAQs
What’s the difference between Holy Basil and Thai Basil?
As the name suggests, Pad Kra Pao literally translates to “stir-fried holy basil” -hence, replacing this key ingredient would essentially defeat the whole purpose of the dish…
Many recipes would opt for you to use either Thai basil or regular Italian basil if finding the traditional Holy basil is too difficult (how many times have I said basil?)
Flavor-wise, the traditional holy basil lends pad kra pao an almost peppery, spicy, clove-like taste. Thai basil, on the other hand, has a very distinct anise or liquorice flavor. If you can find holy basil, go for that 100%. Otherwise, the most common substitute would be Thai basil (which I still find delicious either way).
Can I substitute the protein?
The ground protein of this dish can definitely be substituted. Feel free to use ground beef, chicken, or even turkey.
For vegetarian-friendly options, you can also use crumbled plant-based meats or firm tofu.
Looking for more quick and easy meal ideas? You might love these:
Pad Kra Pao (Thai Basil Stir Fry)
Course: MainCuisine: Thai2
servings15
minutes10
minutesPad Kra Pao is a quick and easy Thai dish that’s fragrant, flavorful, and so filling. It only takes minutes to prepare!
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Ingredients
2 tbsp oil, for frying
6 cloves garlic
2 -3 Thai chilies, to preference
365 g ground pork
1/2 cup long beans, chopped into small pieces
1.5 cup Holy Basil or Thai Basil leaves
2 eggs, fried sunny-side up (one per person)
- Pad Kra Pao Sauce:
1 tbsp sugar
1 tbsp soy sauce
1/2 tbsp dark soy sauce
1/2 tbsp oyster sauce
1/2 tbsp fish sauce
Directions
- Prepare the pad kra pao sauce by combining all the ingredients together in a bowl until smooth. Set aside.
- In a mortar and pestle, pound together the garlic cloves and Thai chilies until you reach a fine paste.
Heat the oil in your wok/pan over medium high. Fry the chili-garlic paste for about 1 minute, or until fragrant (be careful not to burn!) - Add in the ground pork, and cook until no longer pink and most of the water released has evaporated.
- Add in the chopped long beans and pour in the prepared sauce. Continue to stir fry the ground pork until fully coated and the sauce begins to caramelize and reduce, about 3-5 minutes.
- Toss in the basil leaves, and stir fry for an additional 1 minute until the leaves have wilted slightly.
- Serve on top of rice with a crispy fried egg. Enjoy!
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