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Pad Kra Pao 38.png

Pad Kra Pao

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5 from 1 review

🌶️ Experience the bold, aromatic flavors of Thailand with this quick 15-minute stir-fry that brings restaurant-quality Thai street food to your kitchen
🍃 Master the authentic taste of Pad Kra Pao with fragrant holy basil and perfectly seasoned ground pork for a satisfying weeknight meal

  • Total Time: 15 minutes
  • Yield: 4 servings 1x

Ingredients

Scale

3 tablespoons vegetable oil

2 shallots, thinly sliced

7 cloves garlic, sliced

3 Thai bird or Holland chilies, de-seeded if desired, and thinly sliced

1 pound (450g) ground pork

1 teaspoon sugar

1 tablespoon fish sauce

1 tablespoon soy sauce

2 teaspoons dark soy sauce

2 teaspoons oyster sauce

⅓ cup chicken broth or water

About 1½ cups packed holy basil leaves

Instructions

1-First, prepare all ingredients by slicing shallots, garlic, and chilies, then measure out sauces for quick access.

2-Heat 3 tablespoons of vegetable oil in a wok over medium-high heat, then add sliced shallots and garlic, frying for about 3 minutes until fragrant.

3-Add the sliced chilies and cook for another minute to build the spice level.

4-Increase the heat to high, add 1 pound of ground pork, and break it into small pieces, letting it crisp up for even cooking.

5-Stir in 1 teaspoon sugar, 1 tablespoon fish sauce, 1 tablespoon soy sauce, 2 teaspoons dark soy sauce, and 2 teaspoons oyster sauce; cook for one more minute to blend the flavors.

6-Pour in ⅓ cup chicken broth or water to deglaze the pan, which helps lift all the tasty bits.

7-Finally, add about 1½ cups packed holy basil leaves and stir-fry until they wilt, then serve over jasmine rice with a fried egg on top if you like.

Last Step:

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Notes

🌿 Holy basil has a distinct licorice-like flavor that’s essential for authentic taste – if unavailable, Thai basil or cinnamon basil work best, not regular sweet basil
🔥 Keep the heat on high when cooking the pork to get those crispy edges that add texture and authentic street-food flavor
🍳 Don’t skip the fried egg on top – the runny yolk mixing with the savory sauce creates the perfect finishing touch for this Thai classic

  • Author: Brandi Oshea
  • Prep Time: 10 minutes
  • Cook Time: 5 minutes
  • Category: Main Course
  • Method: Stir-Frying
  • Cuisine: Thai
  • Diet: Not Suitable

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 1 cup stir-fry over rice
  • Calories: 380
  • Sugar: 6
  • Sodium: 850
  • Fat: 22
  • Saturated Fat: 6
  • Unsaturated Fat: 14
  • Trans Fat: 0
  • Carbohydrates: 12
  • Fiber: 1
  • Protein: 28
  • Cholesterol: 75