Pad Kra Pao (Thai Holy Basil Stir-Fried Minced Meat with Egg)
Pad kra pao is the single most common everyday meal in Thailand - a wok-fried dish of minced meat with holy basil and chilies, spooned over steamed rice and topped with a fried egg. Garlic and fresh chilies are roughly pounded and fried in a smoking-hot wok until fragrant, then ground pork goes in and is broken apart quickly. Oyster sauce, fish sauce, soy sauce, and a pinch of sugar create the seasoning base. A generous handful of holy basil leaves is tossed in at the end, releasing a peppery, clove-like aroma that defines the dish. The fried egg should have crispy lacy edges and a runny yolk that becomes a sauce when broken.
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Instructions
- 1
Mince garlic and chop chilies.
- 2
Heat oil on high and stir-fry garlic and chili.
- 3
Add ground pork and break apart while cooking.
- 4
Season with oyster sauce, fish sauce, soy sauce, sugar.
- 5
Add basil, stir-fry briefly, serve over rice with fried egg.
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