Thai Basil Beef (Pad Krapow)
Ground beef stir-fried with garlic, chilies, and a mountain of fresh basil, spooned over rice with a crispy fried egg on top — Thailand's favorite fast food, made at home for a fraction of the cost.
Ingredients
- 2 tbsp vegetable oil
- 4 cloves garlic minced
- 2-3 Thai chilies or 1 jalapeño minced
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1 small onion sliced
- 1 bell pepper sliced optional
- 2 tbsp soy sauce
- 1 tbsp oyster sauce
- 1 tbsp fish sauce
- 1 tsp sugar
- 1.5 cups Thai basil leaves
- 4 fried eggs for serving
- Cooked rice for serving
Instructions
- Heat the oil in a wok or large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the garlic and chilies and stir-fry for about 30 seconds until fragrant.
- Add the ground beef and cook, breaking it apart, for 5-6 minutes until browned and cooked through.
- Add the onion and bell pepper (if using) and cook for 2-3 minutes until just softened.
- Stir in the soy sauce, oyster sauce, fish sauce, and sugar. Cook for another minute, stirring to coat everything evenly.
- Remove from heat and stir in the Thai basil leaves until just wilted.
- Serve immediately over rice, topped with a fried egg.
Notes
- Ground beef keeps this dish budget-friendly, but ground chicken or turkey work just as well if that’s what you have on hand.
- This comes together in well under 30 minutes, making it a great last-minute weeknight dinner.
- No fish sauce on hand? A splash of soy sauce with a pinch of extra salt makes a decent substitute in a pinch.
