Thai Basil Fried Rice

🛒 What do I need to make this recipe?

Ingredients:

Possible substitutions:

• Bird's eye chillies - you can use standard long red chillies instead. They are not as hot as bird's eye chillies so you will need to use more if you want to get the same level of spiciness. If you want to make the dish milder reduce the amount of bird's eye chilli or swap them for the long chillies. You can also use chilli powder if you don't have fresh chillies to hand.
• Chicken - I make this dish with chicken because it is easy to acquire and prepare. It also readily takes on the other flavours of the dish. I opt for thighs over breast because they are juicier and succulent but you can use breast if you want to. Pork, turkey and shrimp/prawn will also work well. You could also omit the meat and just enjoy the rice with some fried eggs.
• Red or green pepper - this is an easy vegetable to stir fry and readily absorbs the other flavours in the dish. Other veggies you can try include green beans, broccoli and pak choi.
• Jasmine rice - its slightly nutty and floral flavour complements the heat and tangy flavours in the dish. Feel free to use the rice you have available. Basmati and brown rice are also good choices. If you want to save time, you may want to buy a packet of pre-cooked rice. If you are cooking the rice, it's best to cook it the night before if you can as it ensures the grains stay separate and that they harden a little and does not go mushy, but if you don't have time to do this, don't worry it will still taste really good.
• Thai basil - if you are wondering whether you can switch this for regular basil, the answer is no. Thai basil has a much bolder and spicier taste. I used to have to buy it from an Asian grocery store, but now my normal supermarket stocks it. If you find it's difficult to get hold of, it's worth buying a large batch and freezing some. Make sure you separate the leaves from the stalks when you do this.
• Egg - I always top my Thai basil fried rice with a fried egg, because I love the way the runny yolk combines with the tangy heat of the dish. You can also mix the egg in with the rice like you would in a traditional egg fried rice recipe.

Tools & equipment:

• Wok or large frying pan - a wok is the best type of pan to use for this dish because its high sides allow you to toss the ingredients together quickly on a high heat, but you can use a large frying pan if you don't have one.
• Saucepan or rice cooker- a rice cooker is a great investment if you eat rice regularly but a saucepan also does the job well.
• Sharp knife - for prepping the ingredients
• Small/medium frying pan - for frying the eggs (optional)

🧑‍🍳 How to make Thai Basil Fried Rice

1. Make the sauce

Mix the soy sauce, oyster sauce, fish sauce and sugar in a small jug or bowl and set aside.

2. Fry the onions garlic, and red pepper

Place the wok on a medium to high heat and add the onion and birds eye chilli and sauté until the onion is translucent.

3. Cook the chicken and add garlic

Add the chicken thigh pieces to the wok and fry them until they are cooked through. Then lower the heat to medium, add the garlic and cook for 1 minute until fragrant.

4. Add the rice

Add the cooked rice to the wok and toss at a high heat until it is hot.

5. Add the sauce and Thai basil

Then add the sauce and continue to toss the rice until the sauce is incorporated. Lower the heat and stir in the Thai basil leaves. Serve immediately and top with a fried egg (optional)

👍 Top tips for perfect Thai Basil Fried Rice

1. Prep all your ingredients before you begin cooking - things will move quickly once you start cooking so it's best to have all the ingredients prepared before you begin.
2. Do not swap Thai basil for ordinary basil - Thai Basil and regular basil may look similar but they taste quite different. You need to use Thai basil to do this recipe justice. Asian grocery stores should stock it if you can't find it in your local supermarket.
3. Adjust the level of spice to suit your taste - Thai Basil Fried Rice is a spicy dish. If you are not a fan of spicy food you can reduce the amount of bird's eye chillis or use regular long red chillies.

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