Holy Basil Fried Rice | Khao Pad Kra Pao | ข้าวผัดกระเพรา

This Spicy Holy Basil Fried Rice is just like Pad Kra Pao, only reimagined in fried rice form. Just like the famous stir fried version, this fried rice dish is bursting with flavor from Thai chilis and holy basil.

Pad Kra Pao is one of Thailand's most famous dishes for good reason. It's got so much flavor packed into every single bite. Spice from the Thai chilis, umami from the garlic and Thai seasoning sauces, and tons of unique peppery flavor from holy basil make this dish truly stand out. Usually, pad kra pao is served over a bed of warm jasmine rice, and topped with a fried egg.

This Spicy Holy Basil Fried Rice (Khao Pad Kra Pao) is made with the same flavors as Pad Kra Pao. It features minced chicken or pork, lots of spice, and the strong peppery flavor of holy basil. However, instead of serving it as a stir fry over rice, this fried rice dish is made by incorporating the rice. This way, each grain is thoroughly permeated with the delicious flavors of Pad Kra Pao.

Just like the stir fried version, this Holy Basil Fried Rice makes a great weeknight meal. It's quick and easy to make. You can make it all in one pan. And it has all of the major food groups in a single dish - protein from the chicken, carbs from the rice, fat from the oil, and veggies/fiber from the green beans. But best of all, it's absolutely delicious!

Jump to:

• The Star of the Show: Holy Basil
• Ingredients
• Instructions
• Serving Suggestions
• Variations
• Recipe

The Star of the Show: Holy Basil

The main flavor of this dish comes from the holy basil. In Thai, holy basil is known as kaprow (often spelled as Kra Pao in English). What sets holy basil apart from its other basil counterparts are its fuzzy stems, leaves with serrated edges, and a truly distinctive flavor profile. Holy basil boasts a robust peppery taste, similar to fresh green peppercorns, coupled with a lingering spicy aftertaste.

It can sometimes be hard to find holy basil outside of Southeast Asia. In many western Thai restaurants, Thai basil is used as a stand-in, although the flavor profiles of these two basil varieties are very different.

Ingredients

• Garlic: Several cloves of garlic are used to give the fried rice lots of umami-rich flavor. Peel and mince finely, then stir fry with the chopped Thai chili peppers.
• Thai chili peppers: This recipe calls for two Thai chili peppers which will result in a medium level of spice. If you prefer more or less spice, feel free to adjust the number of chilis you use.
• Pork or chicken: Feel free to use whatever protein source you have on hand, whether chicken or pork or something else. Just as in Pad Kra Pao, the protein is minced so that each bite is coated with flavor.
• Holy basil: Holy basil is the star of this dish, and the key ingredient. It can sometimes be found during the Spring and Summer months at local farmer's markets and Southeast Asian grocery stores. If you're not able to find it near you, seeds are available online to grow your own.
• Chinese long beans: I like the addition of Chinese long beans for some extra crunch in this dish. Slice the beans into 1" lengths.
• Oyster sauce: Oyster sauce adds a salty umami flavor with a slight sweetness.
• Thick black soy sauce: Thick black soy sauce also adds that sweet saltiness. It also adds a darker color to the rice.
• Thin soy sauce: Thin soy sauce adds a salty umami flavor to the rice. You can use the regular thin soy sauce or the mushroom flavored variety.
• Cooked Jasmine Rice: The jasmine rice should be cooked and then left out for 1-2 hours so that it dries out slightly. You could alternatively store the cooked rice in the refrigerator for several hours or overnight to help it to dry out.
• Eggs: Fried eggs top this fried rice dish, just as in the stir fried version.

Instructions

This fried rice only takes about 30 minutes to make, making it a great option for a weeknight meal. The only preparation necessary is ensuring that you have leftover rice saved in the refrigerator, as well as procuring the sometimes elusive holy basil.

• Prepare Your Ingredients: Chop the garlic and Thai chilis finely. You can use already ground chicken or pork, or mince the meat yourself. Slice the long beans / green beans into approximately 1" pieces.
• Stir Fry the Chicken: Add a tablespoon or so of a mild-flavored oil such as canola oil to a wok. Heat the wok over medium high heat. Add the chopped garlic and Thai chilis and stir fry until the garlic is golden brown. Then add the minced meat and cook until it's cooked through. While the meat is cooking, add the seasoning sauces.
• Stir Fry the Vegetables: Next, add the long beans and cook until they are tender. If you are using green beans instead, you may need to add a tablespoon or so of water and cook for longer to achieve tender, but firm beans.
• Add the Rice: Add the cooked rice and mix together with the other ingredients until it absorbs all of the sauces and is uniformly brown. Toss in the holy basil leaves, give everything another quick toss and then remove from the heat. Serve with a fried egg on top, and Nam Pla Prik on the side.

Serving Suggestions

This Spicy Holy Basil Fried Rice is not lacking in flavor. However, in Thailand, it's common to accompany Fried Rice dishes with a condiment known as Nam Pla Prik. This flavorful accompaniment is a combination of fish sauce, Thai chilis, lime juice, and sometimes garlic or shallots. You can spoon some of this sauce onto the rice or mix it with the fried egg to add additional flavor.

Variations

This Spicy Holy Basil Fried Rice features the distinctive flavor of holy basil. If you're not able to find holy basil near you, you could make a variation of this dish with Thai basil. This Thai Basil Fried Rice is similar, but it features the sweet licorice flavor of Thai basil. In addition to using a different basil, Thai Basil Fried Rice also has less spice, more veggies, and bite-sized pieces of chicken in an effort to mimic more of what you might find at a western Thai restaurant.

Whenever I'm lucky enough to find holy basil at my local markets, this Spicy Holy Basil Fried Rice (Khao Pad Kra Pao) is at the top of my list of dishes to make. It's quick and easy to make in one pan, and has all of the major food groups in one dish, making it perfect for a weeknight meal. And with plenty of the unique peppery flavor of holy basil, each bite is an absolute delight!

Recipe