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Thai Basil Beef (Pad Kra Pao)

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This Thai Basil Beef (Pad Kra Pao) is a quick and flavorful stir-fry featuring ground beef, garlic, chilies, and fragrant Thai basil. Ready in just 20 minutes, this one-pan dish delivers bold, authentic Thai flavors with a perfect balance of spicy, savory, and slightly sweet notes. Serve it over jasmine rice and top with a crispy fried egg for a restaurant-quality meal at home!

Ingredients

  • 1 lb ground beef
  • 1 cup Thai basil leaves (or holy basil)
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • 2 fresh red chilies (bird’s eye chilies for spice), finely chopped
  • 2 tbsp soy sauce
  • 1 tbsp oyster sauce
  • 1 tbsp fish sauce
  • 1 tsp dark soy sauce (for color and depth)
  • 1 tsp sugar
  • 1 tbsp cooking oil
  • Cooked jasmine rice (for serving)
  • Fried egg (optional, but highly recommended)

Instructions

Prep Ingredients – Mince the garlic and chilies, and separate the Thai basil leaves from the stems.
2️⃣ Cook the Beef – Heat oil in a pan or wok over medium-high heat. Add garlic and chilies, stirring until fragrant. Add ground beef and cook until browned.
3️⃣ Make the Sauce – Stir in soy sauce, oyster sauce, fish sauce, dark soy sauce, and sugar. Mix well and let simmer for 1 minute.
4️⃣ Add Basil – Toss in the Thai basil leaves and stir just until they wilt. Remove from heat immediately to preserve their fresh flavor.
5️⃣ Serve – Spoon the beef over jasmine rice and top with a crispy fried egg for an authentic Thai experience. Enjoy!

Find it online: https://thefamilycooking.com/thai-basil-beef-pad-kra-pao/