Stir-Fried Chicken with Holy Basil

By
Caroline Russock
Caroline Russock is a contributing writer at Serious Eats.
Caroline Russock
Caroline Russock is a writer who splits her time between Philadelphia and the Caribbean covering food, travel, leisure, lifestyle, and culture.  Her writing is featured in PhillyVoice, Eater, Eater Philly, Serious Eats, and The Tasting Table. 
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Updated April 11, 2019
20120314-holy-basil-chicken.jpg
Luk Thys

Basil is serious business in Thai cooking, so much that there are three different cultivars used in distinct dishes. This Stir-Fried Chicken with Holy Basil from Bangkok Street Food by Tom Vandenberghe and Eva Verplaetse calls for bai krapao (holy basil), a favorite for stir-frying. Holy basil is heartier with a peppery nose that can stand up to the big flavors like the chiles, garlic, and fish sauce in this dish.

And aside from being spicy and fresh in a way that's borderline habit-forming, this stir-fry is a great way to break into the world of Thai cooking. It's really just a matter of stocking up on the basic pantry ingredients, getting comfortable with with high-heat stir-frying, and discovering the magical powers of fish sauce.

Reprinted with permission from Bangkok Street Food by Tom Vandenberghe and Eva Verplaetse. Copyright © 2010. Published by Lannoo. Available wherever books are sold. All rights reserved.

Recipe Details

Stir-Fried Chicken with Holy Basil

Active 15 mins
Total 15 mins
Serves 2 to 3 servings

Ingredients

  • 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
  • 2 garlic cloves, crushed
  • 8 ounces chicken breast, boned and chopped in small pieces
  • 2 big red chiles, chopped finely
  • 2 handfuls of holy basil (bai krapao)
  • 2 tablespoons fish sauce
  • 1 tablespoon sugar
  • 2 tablespoons water or chicken stock

Directions

  1. Heat the wok on a medium heat. Add oil and garlic, stir-fry for

    a few seconds. Turn on the heat and add the chicken. Add chilli

    and half of the basil. Stir-fry for 1 minute, add fish sauce, sugar and

    water or stock. Turn down the heat on low. Add the rest of the basil,

    stir-fry for a few seconds and serve on rice.

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