Pad Kra Pao (Thai Basil Stir Fry)

This is a dish I had for the first time while visiting Thailand. I loved it so much that I ate it almost every single day while I was there. Now it is one of my favorite dishes to cook at home. It is super simple, cheap, and flavorful!

Ingredients

•3 TB oil (vegetable, canola, or olive)

•4 medium thinly sliced shallots

•4 cloves garlic, minced

•1-5 Thai chillies, finely chopped into paste(Substitute with a habanero pepper, use caution)

•1 lb ground pork or beef

•2 tsp granulated sugar

•1.5 TB fish sauce

•1.5 TB low sodium soy sauce

•2 tsp oyster sauce

•3 packed cups Thai basil(substitute with sweet basil)

•1 small lime

Instructions

1. Heat the oil in a large nonstick pan or wok on medium high heat. Add the shallots and cook until soft and starting to brown, about 3 minutes. Once browned, add the garlic and cook until fragrant, about 1 minute. Add the peppers and sauté for another minute.

2. Once the garlic, shallots, and peppers are ready, turn the heat up to high. Add the meat, and break it up into little crumbles to allow the bits to crisp up.

3. In a bowl, combine the sugar, fish sauce, soy sauce, and oyster sauce. Once the meat is nearly cooked through, add the sauce to the meat and cook for another minute. The sauce should begin to bubble and thicken. Stir meat and sauce until thoroughly combined. Add the basil and stir until it is all wilted.

4. Serve with a lime wedge, and over a bed of Thai sticky rice. Top with a crispy fried egg and crunchy garlic!

3 Servings