Pad Kra Pao (Thai Holy Basil Stir Fry)
This pad kra pao is a bold, well-balanced holy basil stir-fry made with ground pork (or chicken), crisp green beans, and a savory-salty-slightly sweet sauce that comes together in minutes. It’s spicy but totally adjustable, packed with fragrant holy basil, and best served over hot jasmine rice with a fried egg on top.
Servings: 4 servings
Calories: 225kcal
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
- 2 small shallots finely diced
- 2 garlic cloves minced
- 1-2 Thai bird chilies sliced, or ½ teaspoon chili flakes for gentle heat
- 1 pound ground pork or ground chicken
- ½ cup green beans chopped
- 1 tablespoon light soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon oyster sauce
- 2 teaspoons dark soy sauce
- 1 teaspoon fish sauce
- 1 teaspoon sugar or honey
- 1 handful holy basil leaves
Instructions
- Heat some vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add shallots and stir-fry briefly until softened. Add garlic and chilies and stir-fry for about 30 seconds until fragrant (don’t let the garlic burn).1 tablespoon vegetable oil, 2 small shallots, 2 garlic cloves, 1-2 Thai bird chilies
- Add ground pork (or chicken) and stir-fry, breaking it up with a spatula, until just cooked through.1 pound ground pork or ground chicken
- Add green beans and stir-fry until bright and just tender, about 3–4 minutes.½ cup green beans
- Stir in light soy sauce, oyster sauce, fish sauce, dark soy sauce, and sugar. Stir fry for 1-2 minutes until well-combined.1 tablespoon light soy sauce, 2 teaspoons dark soy sauce, 1 teaspoon fish sauce, 1 teaspoon sugar or honey, 1 tablespoon oyster sauce
- Add holy basil and toss just until wilted, about 30 seconds.1 handful holy basil leaves
- Spoon over hot jasmine rice and top each portion with a fried egg. Enjoy!
Notes
- Spice level: Use 1 chili for mild-medium heat, 2 for spicier — or swap in ½ teaspoon chili flakes for gentle heat.
- Deglaze if needed: If the pan gets dry or the sauce starts sticking, add a splash of water and scrape up the browned bits.
- Basil options: Holy basil is traditional (and what’s used for Pad Kra Pao). If you can’t find it, Italian basil works too — it’ll be a little less “Thai” in flavor, but still really delicious.
Nutrition
Serving: 1serving | Calories: 225kcal | Carbohydrates: 7g | Protein: 22g | Fat: 13g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 4g | Monounsaturated Fat: 5g | Trans Fat: 0.1g | Cholesterol: 98mg | Sodium: 731mg | Potassium: 730mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 229IU | Vitamin C: 19mg | Calcium: 25mg | Iron: 2mg