PAD KRA PAO.- Thai Basil Stir Fry... A must for your recipe collection!!

 

       PAD KRA PAO.- The most iconic dish and favorite street food in Thailand!... This Thai Basil Stir Fry can be made with protein, vegetarian or vegan. It can be a main dish or a side one, anyway you like it, spicy or not, juicy or not, your family's special ingredients and done in a flash!...

Don't be taken aback by the ingredients, these are the basic ones needed for a Thai kitchen, so if you like Thai food you'll be using them over and over... 

A very easy dish to prepare, just follow the steps and you'll see the changes you can make, the ingredients you can add or remove and produce a wonderful meal for your family.

To prepare this, you'll need:

10 oz protein, your choice, raw or cooked - in small spoon size bites

2 tsp Fish Sauce

1 Tbls Oyster Sauce

1 Tbls Soy Sauce

2 Tbls water

2 tsp sugar, or more according to your taste

1-5 Thai Chilies or the chilies you like or have

5-8 Garlic cloves

1 Tbls Ginger - grated or chopped fine

1/4 cup mild red chilies, red bell pepper, capsicum, chopped

1/2 medium onion, small dice

1 1/2 cup Basil Leaves

Vegetable oil as needed

Eggs - 1 per serving

Jasmine Rice or whichever you have - to serve along with

1-    Make the sauce by combining oyster sauce, soy sauce, fish sauce, black or dark soy sauce, sugar, ginger and water. Stir until the sugar is completely dissolved.

2-    Pound the Thai chilies into a fine paste in a mortar and pestle, then add the garlic and the mild chilies, ginger and pound into a rough paste, just until there are no more big chunks.

3-    If using raw protein, heat a wok or a skillet until very hot on high heat, add just enough oil to coat the bottom and add the protein, spreading the pieces out into one layer. Let them sear until browned on the underside, then give it a toss and stir until it’s done. This should only take a few minutes in total. Remove from the pan. Note: You can skip searing the protein and just add it to the wok raw, but the browning does add a nice flavor.

4-     In a wok on medium-high heat, add the chili garlic mixture and stir until the garlic starts to turn golden, about 2 minutes. Add the onions and cook it for 30 seconds to a minute to soften slightly. 

5-     Turn the heat up to high and add the protein and the sauce, and toss everything together just for 30 seconds or so, until the meat is well coated and heated through. If you didn’t pre-cook the protein, take your time and keep tossing until it’s cooked through.

6-    Turn off the heat, add the basil, and toss just to wilt.

7-    Make the fried eggs if you wish, and serve the stir fry with jasmine rice and topped with a fried egg

I hope you will try this dish and see why we love it! The flavors are classic and unmatched! Also an economical dish to prepare and serve.

 

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