Thai Holy Basil Beef Stir Fry (Pad Kra Pao)
Pad Kra Pao (Holy Basil Stir Fry) is my ultimate favorite from Thai cuisine and it only takes minutes to make! My recipe is a rift of this classic Thai dish by adding chopped green beans for some color and freshness. Occasionally, I’ll add in diced bell peppers if I have extra in the fridge or want extra vegetables for the day. Super simple and easy to prep and cook and great for leftovers!
ingredients
2 lbs of ground beef (ground pork, chicken, turkey would be great as well)
2 shallots, thinly sliced
4 garlic cloves, minced
3/4 cup oyster sauce
1/2 cup dark soy sauce (light would work too)
1 tbsp fish sauce
4 tbsp of sugar
2 cups of green beans, chopped
2 cups of holy basil leaves*, packed
Eggs
Cucumbers, sliced
Jasmine rice
instructions
In a wok over medium-high heat, add oil, shallots, and garlic, and fry for 3 minutes.
Add ground beef, breaking it up into small bits and allowing it to crisp up.
Once the meat is brown, add oyster sauce, soy sauce, fish sauce, and sugar. Turn heat to high, stir and continue cooking for 5 minutes.
Add green beans to the wok and cook for 4 minutes.
Turn off the heat, add basil leaves, and stir until basil is wilted.
In a small pan, fry up an egg.
Serve with rice, fried egg, and fresh sliced cucumbers! Optional: add Thai red chili peppers on top.
Notes:
*Italian basil is a great alternative if you can’t find holy basil.
When using ground beef, I like a mix of 93% lean and 7% fat and 85% lean and 15% fat. I find the grease to be less minimal. Pork taste is superior though if you enjoy eating pork!
If you don’t have shallots, any onion would work just fine — use a smaller onion or half of a large onion.