Thai Basil Beef

Name: Thai Beef Basil
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 15 min
Ingredients: 2 shallots (, chopped coarsely); 10 garlic cloves (, chopped coarsely); 2 red chili (, chopped coarsely); 1 lb minced beef; 1 cup packed sweet basil leaves; 1 tbsp fish sauce; 1 tbsp low-sodium soy sauce; 1 tbsp oyster sauce; 1/2 tsp dark soy sauce (, optional); 1 tsp sugar

Indulge in a delectable Thai basil beef dish that's easy to prepare and ready in under 15 minutes. This exquisite meal boasts an impeccable blend of savory, spicy, and sweet flavors that will tantalize your taste buds. Don't rely on takeout—treat yourself to this mouth-watering recipe, even on your busiest day!

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Why This Recipe Works
Ingredients For This Recipe
Step-By-Step Instructions
Recipe Expert Tips
What To Eat It With
How To Store And Freeze
Recipe FAQs
More Quick Dinner Recipes
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Why This Recipe Works

Half-eaten plate of basil stir fry with rice.

I'm an Asian, and despite living in Spain, I eat Asian meals daily. I shamelessly admit that most delicious Asian recipes take a long time to make, but I'm proud to say that this basil stir fry, also famously known as pad kra pao, is an exception! Here's why I keep making it; even my Argentine husband is a huge fan!

Fast—This Thai basil beef should be cooked in 6-8 minutes, and prep would take 5 minutes, depending on how fast you chop. Yes, it's that fast! Waiting for takeout takes longer than that! Our peanut sauce stir-fry noodles, quick curry laksa, and stir-fry glass noodles are also excellent for fast dinners.

Easy—It's easier to make than you think, and you cook everything in one wok or pan. We also use sweet basil, which is easier to find than holy basil. This Thai basil beef recipe is perfect for weekday dinners when you're tired and busy but still want to enjoy a fantastic homemade meal, like my honey sriracha chicken and easy Pad Thai.

Cheaper—This basil stir fry requires just a few basic ingredients, like our Chinese steamed fish. It's cheaper than ordering takeout! Why pay more for something that you can do even better at home?

Ingredients For This Recipe

Minced beef—We like to mix it briefly to make it homogenous and eliminate the small-cylinder strands of minced meat look. Minced chicken or pork works amazingly, too.

Chili—It's for the heat, and traditionally, Thai red chilies are used. We love using the long red chilies because they're milder, just like in my Malaysian satay sauce. Bird eye chilies, chili flakes, or dried cayenne peppers also work. Sriracha and sambal oelek work, too, but be mindful of the amount as they might make the dish salty since they have salt.

Basil—The authentic Thai basil beef recipe uses Thai holy basil leaves, but it's not as easy to find. We planted our Thai holy basil once and used it in this recipe. Over time, we realized that the most common sweet basil works just as well!

Soy sauce—We highly recommend using low-sodium soy sauce as you can use more to get more flavor without oversalting your basil stir fry. We only use low-sodium soy sauce to season our Asian recipes when they call for soy sauce, like our char kway teow recipe! If using common soy sauce, use half the amount and adjust accordingly.

Dark soy sauce—It's optional. We use it purely to make the whole dish look a bit darker and more beautiful, like in our easy lo mein noodles and Malaysian char kway teow! It's very mild and doesn't season the dish like soy sauce.

Oyster sauce—It has a touch of caramel and is deliciously savory. We promise it is a must-have sauce in the pantry if you're into Asian food. Although it's different, you could substitute it with soy sauce.

Fish sauce—It's not fishy at all, trust us! Yes, it tends to have a foul smell when not cooked, but it's packed with fantastic umami flavor. That's why I use it in my village-style fried rice. Along with soy sauce and oyster sauce, it helps to season this basil stir fry. Although it's not the same, you could substitute soy sauce.

See the recipe card for complete information on ingredients and quantities.

Step-By-Step Instructions

1. Saute the veggies—Heat oil in a wok over medium-high heat. Add coarsely chopped shallots, garlic, and chilies, and cook until the garlic is golden brown.

2. Cook the meat—Add minced beef, mix well, and continue cooking until it's almost fully cooked, for 2-3 minutes. This will ensure the meat stays tender and juicy. Break it into smaller pieces with the spatula as you go.

3. Add the sauces—Add soy sauce, oyster sauce, fish sauce, and sugar. Mix well for 30 seconds.

4. Add the basil—Turn the heat off. Mix in the basil leaves until they're just wilted. Serve immediately. Enjoy your Thai basil beef with white rice, fried egg, and wedges of lime!

Recipe Expert Tips

If you're going to make this Thai basil beef recipe, make sure to follow these top tips!

Use medium-high heat. This is important so the meat doesn't steam instead. You'll also get the golden brown bits from the veggies, which is amazingly delicious! The whole dish should not take more than 6-8 minutes of cooking.
Break the meat into small pieces. The delicious sauce will coat and season them better.
Chop the veggies and chilies coarsely. Traditionally, they're pounded coarsely using a pestle and mortar, but chopping them coarsely is the same. It also prevents them from being easily burnt.

What To Eat It With

This delicious Thai basil beef has a slightly more robust flavor because it's meant to be eaten with something mild and plain, like white rice. It will transfer its fantastic flavor to the rice. Follow our tips and recipe for cooking jasmine rice without a rice cooker to get fluffy rice every time.

We also highly recommend eating this with a fried egg with a runny yolk and a squeeze of lime. You won't regret it!

How To Store And Freeze

Store—This basil stir fry can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days. Reheat it for a few seconds in the microwave, and it will be as impressive as when it was recently made.

Freeze—Place it in an airtight container in the freezer for up to 6 months. Thaw in the fridge or microwave and then reheat.

Recipe FAQs

What is pad kra pao?

It's one of the most popular Thai dishes. Pad means "to stir-fry," and kra pao means "holy basil." So pad kra pao means "holy basil stir-fry." This stir-fry dish originated from Chinese immigrants to Thailand and has since been adapted to Thai flavors. The key components are holy basil, minced meat, garlic, sugar, and Thai chilies seasoned with fish sauce, soy sauce, and oyster sauce. Additionally, it can have onion, green beans, or bell peppers.

What if I don't have fish sauce?

Although different, you could use the same amount of low-sodium soy sauce instead. If using the common soy sauce, use half the amount and adjust accordingly.

What can I use to replace Thai basil?

We've used Thai holy basil in this basil stir fry recipe, but we've realized that common sweet basil also works amazingly over time.

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