Pad Kra Pao Recipe

Name: Pad Kra Pao
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 20 min
Yield: 2 servings
Cuisine: Thai
Ingredients: 2 tablespoons vegetable oil; 4 cloves garlic, minced; 2-3 Thai bird's eye chilies, finely chopped (adjust to taste); 8 ounces ground pork (or chicken, beef, or tofu); 1 tablespoon fish sauce; 1 tablespoon soy sauce; 1 teaspoon dark soy sauce; 1/2 teaspoon sugar; 1/4 cup chicken broth or water; 1 cup holy basil leaves (or Thai basil), loosely packed; 2 cups steamed jasmine rice; 2 fried eggs (optional)

Thai · Main course · 20 min total

Pad kra pao recipe videos

A popular Thai street food stir-fry with holy basil, ground meat, and a savory-sweet sauce, served over rice with a fried egg.

10
min prep

10
min cook

2
servings

650
kcal/serving

Ingredients

2 tablespoons vegetable oil
4 cloves garlic, minced
2-3 Thai bird's eye chilies, finely chopped (adjust to taste)
8 ounces ground pork (or chicken, beef, or tofu)
1 tablespoon fish sauce
1 tablespoon soy sauce
1 teaspoon dark soy sauce
1/2 teaspoon sugar
1/4 cup chicken broth or water
1 cup holy basil leaves (or Thai basil), loosely packed
2 cups steamed jasmine rice
2 fried eggs (optional)

Instructions

Heat oil in a wok or large skillet over high heat. Add garlic and chilies; stir-fry for 30 seconds until fragrant.
Add ground pork and stir-fry, breaking it apart, until cooked through and lightly browned, about 3-4 minutes.
Stir in fish sauce, soy sauce, dark soy sauce, and sugar. Add broth and cook for 1 minute.
Remove from heat and immediately stir in holy basil leaves until wilted. Serve immediately over rice, topped with a fried egg if desired.

Tips

For extra heat, add more chilies or serve with prik nam pla (fish sauce with chilies).
Holy basil is key; if unavailable, use Thai basil but note the flavor difference.
Serve with cucumber slices to balance the spiciness.

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