You may have noticed, I’ve been cooking Thai dishes in a row and that’s because Thai food is one of my favorite dish to make. My obsession with Thai food will continue and this Thai Basil Chicken is just the tip of the iceberg.
There’s something intriguing about chicken mixed with chili and garlic and delicately flavored with the licorice flavor of sweet basil. Besides, this recipe is super easy to make, it only takes 15 minutes and your dinner is ready to devour. And the taste is truly just like what you get at Thai restaurants, something you’ll get from the streets of Thailand with the fried egg of course.
What type of Basil?
Three preferred kinds of basil used for Thai cooking are Thai sweet basil, holy basil, and lemon basil. Holy basil has a peppery flavor that delivers the zing to Thai Basil Chicken but isn’t always available outside of Thailand.
If you don’t find it at a specialty produce shop or local Asian market, substitute Thai sweet basil. Add just a pinch of white pepper to deliver a unique peppery flavor.
Like many Thai recipes, this dish is a one-plate meal. Double the ingredients if you’re cooking for two.
Put the utensils, pans, and ingredients on the counter in order of their use. Start by cooking a pot of rice (Jasmine is especially tasty!) so it is ready to eat when the Thai Basil Chicken recipe is completed. The average cooking time for the recipe is 15 minutes – just enough time for the rice to be done!
Ingredients
-
- 7-8 small red fresh Thai red chilies
- 7-8 cloves of fresh garlic
- 1 lb boneless chicken thigh (thinly cut into small pieces)
- 1.5 cup Thai basil leaves
- ½ halve of red bell pepper
Seasoning Sauce:
- 2 tbsp hoisin sauce
- 1 tbsp light soy sauce
- 1 tbsp dark soy sauce
- 1 tsp Gochujang (Korean hot pepper paste fermented) – this is optional but taste better
- 5-6 tbsp chicken stock (or water)
- 1 tsp brown sugar
Step by step instructions
1 Heat the oil in a skillet. Don’t add the egg until the oil is hot. Unlike ordinary fried eggs, the Thai method adds an extraordinary amount of crispiness to the outer edge.
2 Carefully put some of the hot oil on top of the yolk. Can you see how appealing the egg will appear when added to the rice and chicken?
3 Put a paper towel on a saucer to absorb the extra oil from the cooked egg. Remove the egg from the skillet and put it on top of the napkin until the rest of the recipe is completed.
Now make the Thai basil chicken
4 Rinse and cut the chicken into small pieces. This step can be done ahead of time if you like. I find it very convenient to have it ready to drop into the pan.
5 Rinse and peel the garlic and chilies. Use a pestle and mortar to grind the chilies and garlic for this meal. Coarse grinding allows the oils and juices from these two ingredients to flow freely. The result? A spicy taste that appeals to the appetite!
6 Mince or use a garlic press if you do not have access to a pestle and mortar. The taste will be almost the same as what you get from the original method.
7 Gently pull off a large handful of basil leaves. Rinse the leaves and pat them dry. Set them aside for a few minutes.
8 Heat the wok on high, adding a tablespoon of oil. As soon as the oil gets hot, add the garlic and chilies. I always start stirring them immediately, so they don’t dry out or burn. Doesn’t the aroma make you hungry? The natural oils blend together and send a delicious fragrance throughout the kitchen. It’s hard to believe this step takes just 20 seconds!
9 Now add the cut chicken. Continue the stir-fry process as you spread the pieces across the bottom of the wok. Allow 4-5 minutes for it to cook. Turn the pieces so all sides are browned and the meat cooks through.
10 Add the seasoning sauce and a tsp of sugar and stir-fry until the sauce thickens.
11 Now comes the best part! Fold the basil leaves into the chicken. If you’re using a gas stove, turn the flame off. If you have an electric stove, turn off the heat and move the wok out from the burner.
12 It only takes a few seconds to cook the basil. Continued heat makes the basil chewy and less colorful.
13 Place some rice on a third of the plate. Place the egg on one side and the Thai basil chicken on the other. You’ve created a delicious meal you, your friends and family will enjoy eating any time of year.
Watch the video
Related recipes:
Thai Chili Basil Chicken
Print Pin RateEquipments:
- Wok
Ingredients:
- 7-8 small red fresh Thai red chilies
- 7-8 cloves of fresh garlic
- 1 lb boneless chicken thigh thinly cut into small pieces
- 1.5 cup Thai basil leaves
- ½ halve of red bell pepper
Seasoning Sauce:
- 2 tbsp hoisin sauce
- 1 tbsp light soy sauce
- 1 tbsp dark soy sauce
- 1 tsp Gochujang (Korean hot pepper paste fermented - this is optional but taste better)
- 5-6 tbsp chicken stock or water
- 1 tsp brown sugar
Instructions:
- Mix the seasoning sauce and set aside.
- Coarsely slice the garlic and chilies and pound together in a mortar and pestle
- Heat some oil in a wok and sauté the chili garlic mixture.
- Add the chicken and cook and stir for 5 minutes or until done
- Add the seasoning sauce and stir well until thickens. Add the bell peppers and stir quick.
- Turn off the heat and add the basil leaves. Give them a quick stir and you're done.
- Serve hot with rice and fried egg.
Watch the Video:
Notes
Nutrition Information:
Please note that all nutrition information are just estimates. Values will vary among brands, so we encourage you to calculate these on your own for most accurate results.
Cathe Mo says
Basil!!! love any dish with basil on it. Hmmm.. the smell goes thru the monitor that makes me drooling. With the addition of over easy egg? Sign me up, please!!
Sarah says
Thai basil chicken is one of hubby’s favorite takeout dishes! Its awesome to find a quick and easy recipe for it! Also, it is perfect for Stir Fry-day!
Mirlene | Savory Thoughts says
My husband loves Thai food. He would go crazy for this dish. Looks great and delicious.
Luci says
Quick, easy and very flavorful chicken, that doesn’t take that much time to make it. Right up my alley. I’ll have to make this soon.
swathi says
This thai basil chicken looks delicious, I agree with you this is better than any take out. I like the way you spiced up with thai chili and garlic. Yum.
Molly Kumar says
The Thai Basil Chicken looks soooo good and definitely one of our Fav Thai recipe to make at home. The combination of fresh spices/herb just makes it even more tantalizing!
Joanna @ Everyday Made Fresh says
I love any type of chicken recipe. I really love your blend of flavors. The thai flavors always go so wonderful with chicken.
Marisa Franca @ All Our Way says
What wonderful photos!! They are so inviting I could dive right into the screen. And we love our basil and herbs. They impart such a layer of flavor to any dish.
Soniya says
Me and my family are a big Thai food and flavors fan!! This is something I will definitely try in my kitchen.!
Catherine says
My family would absolutely love this! I love Thai food and definitely need to make it more often.
Uma says
Thai chilies and basil gives good aroma in any dish. This looks like perfect and flavorful meal.
Kylee from Kylee Cooks says
I absolutely LOVE Thai flavors. Those eggs you made are seriously good looking, too! This is a keeper.
Karyl | Karyl's Kulinary Krusade says
This looks fabulous! I like that you add an egg to the dish…a very unique twist to me. I’m definitely adding this to my collection
Pavani says
Wow, what a flavorful and delicious looking Chicken dish.
April says
I bet your kitchen smelled amazing! I also love Thai basil chicken. It’s so easy and flavorful!
Gloria @ Homemade & Yummy says
Stir fries are so quick and delicious. I would have never thought to put a fried egg on top. What a great idea.
Adriana Lopez Martin says
I love Thai basil I actually grow it in my garden and try to use it in so many dishes. The plating of your recipe is so tasty I enjoy eggs so this is a dish I would be happy to dig in.
Veena Azmanov says
This is perfect for me! My kids don’t fancy Asian so much but I love it.. So making one just for me would be ideal!! Love Thai food – saving this for later.
Marlynn | UrbanBlissLife says
I’ve been making a lot of Thai dishes lately as well, and this one is right up my alley! Love all of the big flavors and veggies here!
Lauren says
Stir fry is one of my favorite things to make! So easy, but so good! Yours looks great. Saving for later 🙂
tara says
I absolutely love that this setting is for one person. It is impossible to find meals that are only for one. Thank you, thank you, thank you!
`Diana says
I’m a huge fan of Thai flavors! This looks and sounds very delicious!
Tina says
Thai stir fry is my go to. I love the freshness of the ingredients, it ALWAYS turns out great:) Yours looks amazing!
Liz says
I’ve been craving all kinds of thai food lately! This looks really yummy!
Michelle @ Vitamin Sunshine says
I crave Thai flavors! This looks like an amazing meal.