Pad Kra Pao Gai (Thai Basil Chicken)
A quick Thai stir-fry of minced chicken with garlic, chilies and holy basil, served over rice with a crispy-edged fried egg.
- Prep
- 10 min
- Cook
- 10 min
- Total
- 20 min
- Serves
- 2
- Level
- Easy
Ingredients
Tick off what you have ready.
Method
Tap a step when it's done.
The story of this dish
Pad kra pao means "stir-fried with holy basil". Holy basil, krapao, is different from Thai basil, horapha: its aroma is sharper, peppery and slightly clove-like.
It is one of the most commonly ordered street and office lunches in Thailand, and although its history is not well documented, it is thought to have become widespread in its current form in the mid-20th century. The most common version uses minced pork (pad kra pao moo), but chicken pad kra pao gai is just as classic. The crispy fried egg on top is called khai dao.
Thai Cuisine
Pad Thai (Chicken or Shrimp)
Thailand's most famous street dish: rice noodles stir-fried in a sweet, sour and salty tamarind sauce with egg, bean sprouts and peanuts.
Thai Green Chicken Curry
A spicy yet creamy and fragrant Thai curry of chicken and vegetables simmered in coconut milk with green curry paste.