Pad Kra Pao (Thai Basil Chicken)

Method

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1. Pound the garlic and chillies in a mortar into a rough paste. Do not use a machine.

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2. Mix the oyster sauce, both soy sauces, fish sauce, sugar and stock in a small bowl.

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3. Heat a wok over the highest heat with the 2 tablespoons of oil until smoking. Add the garlic-chilli paste and stir for 15 seconds only — it burns fast.

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4. Add the pork and press it flat against the wok. Leave 45 seconds to catch and brown, then break it up and stir-fry 2 minutes more.

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5. Pour in the sauce mixture and toss for 60 to 90 seconds until it reduces and coats the meat.

   Mark done Start 60 sec timer

6. Take the wok off the heat and fold through the basil leaves, which will wilt in the residual heat.

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7. In a separate pan, heat the remaining 4 tablespoons of oil until shimmering and fry the eggs hard for 90 seconds, spooning hot oil over the whites, until the edges are brown, bubbled and lacy and the yolk is still runny.

   Mark done Start 90 sec timer

8. Serve the pork over jasmine rice with a crispy egg on top and lime wedges alongside.

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Chef’s Tips

• The egg is not optional. A khai dao — crispy fried egg — is what makes this a complete Thai meal.
• Holy basil is worth hunting down; its peppery bite is quite different from sweet Thai basil.
• Let the pork catch and brown before breaking it up. Constant stirring steams it grey.

Common Substitutions & Variations

• A pinch of dried chilli flakes works in place of fresh chilli — start with about a third of the quantity the chillies in the list implies, since dried chilli is more concentrated, and add more to taste.
• Lemon is the everyday swap for lime in this kind of dish — the acidity plays the same role even though the flavour is not identical.
• An eighth of a teaspoon of garlic powder per clove is the usual stand-in when you are out of fresh garlic — it will not caramelise the same way, but it carries the flavour.

Pairing Suggestions

• A cold lager or iced Thai tea
• Serve with prik nam pla — fish sauce with sliced chillies
• Finish with fresh pineapple

Storage & Reheating

Refrigerate 2 days. Reheat in a hot pan and add fresh basil, then fry a new egg.

Common questions

Nutritional Highlights

Per serving, calculated from the ingredient list. Treat these as an estimate — brands and cuts vary.