20-Minute Pad Kra Pao (Thai Basil Chicken)

⏱ 20 min · Serves 2

The Bangkok street-food classic: minced chicken seared hard in a hot wok with garlic, chilli and a salty-sweet sauce, then flooded with handfuls of holy basil until the kitchen smells incredible. Pile it over jasmine rice with a crispy fried egg and dinner is done before the rice cooker finishes.

Per serving: 735 kcal · 45.0g protein · 52.0g carbs · 38.0g fat

Ingredients

• 300g chicken mince (or 2 chicken thighs, finely chopped)
• 3 tbsp vegetable oil, plus 2 tbsp for the eggs
• 4 garlic cloves, roughly crushed
• 2-4 red bird's eye chillies, roughly chopped
• 1 small shallot, thinly sliced
• 1 tbsp oyster sauce
• 1 tbsp light soy sauce
• 1 tsp dark soy sauce
• 1 tsp fish sauce
• 2 tsp palm or light brown sugar
• 3 tbsp chicken stock or water
• 1 large handful (about 30g) Thai holy basil or Thai sweet basil leaves
• 2 eggs
• 300g cooked jasmine rice, hot
• Cucumber slices and lime wedges, to serve

Method

1. Stir the oyster sauce, both soy sauces, fish sauce, sugar and stock together in a small bowl until the sugar dissolves.
2. Pound or roughly crush the garlic and chillies together in a mortar (or chop finely) so they release their oils.
3. Heat 3 tbsp oil in a wok over high heat. Add the garlic, chilli and shallot and stir-fry for 20-30 seconds until fragrant but not browned.
4. Add the chicken mince, spread it out and let it sear untouched for 1 minute, then break it up and stir-fry for 3-4 minutes until cooked and slightly caramelised at the edges.
5. Pour in the sauce mixture and stir-fry 1-2 minutes more until it clings to the meat and only a little glossy liquid remains.
6. Kill the heat, throw in the basil and toss just until wilted. Taste and add a splash more fish sauce if needed.
7. In a separate small frying pan, heat 2 tbsp oil until shimmering and fry the eggs until the whites are crisp and lacy but the yolks are still runny.
8. Serve the chicken over hot jasmine rice, top each plate with a fried egg, and add cucumber and lime on the side.