Pad Kra Pao with minced meat, Thai basil, chilli, rice and fried egg
Thai Recipe

Kra Pao

For Pad Kra Pao, high heat and short cooking time are what counts. Roast garlic and chilli, roast minced meat until crumbly and add Thai basil to the pan at the end.

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Total time 22 min
Calories 560 kcal
Servings 4 servings
Difficulty Easy
By the Published Updated Editorially approved

Why this recipe works

Pad Kra Pao with Thai basil and fried egg

Pad Kra Pao tastes strong, salty-hot and smells of basil. Holy Basil works best, replacing Thai basil. The dish is not braised for long, but fried quickly to keep the meat and basil their character.

Lunch One-Pot Recipes Dinner Meat

Recipe

Kra Pao

Pad Kra Pao is a quick Thai wok dish with minced meat, lots of garlic, chilli, fish sauce, oyster sauce and Thai basil. Classic with rice and a fried egg.

Ingredients

4 servings

Method

  1. 1

    Prepare seasoning paste

    Roughly chop the garlic and chilli or lightly crush them in a mortar.

  2. 2

    Roast minced meat

    Heat oil in a wok or a pan. Sauté garlic and chilli briefly, then fry minced meat until crumbly.

  3. 3

    Add sauce

    Stir in the oyster sauce, fish sauce, soy sauce and sugar. Fry briefly until the meat is shiny.

  4. 4

    Fold in basil

    Remove pan from heat, fold in basil and just let it fall apart.

  5. 5

    Serve with egg

    Serve with jasmine rice and a crispy fried egg if desired.

Kitchen know-how

Tips for Kra Pao

Very hot frying

Pad Kra Pao needs high heat. So roast the minced meat instead of absorb liquid.

Do not boil basil

Fold in the basil at the end, and long heat takes away the typical fragrance from the dish.

Roast fried egg separately

The egg becomes crisper when it is fried separately in hot oil and only served.

Variations

How to adapt this recipe

Chicken mince is particularly popular and cooks quickly. Do not fry too long to keep it juicy.

Crumble firm tofu and sauté vigorously. Use soy sauce instead of fish sauce.

Nutrition per serving

560kcal
45.0 gCarbohydrates
29.0 gProtein
28.0 gFat

Values are estimates and may vary depending on the ingredients, brands, portion size and preparation method used.

Frequently asked questions

FAQ about Kra Pao

Holy Basil is classic. If it is not available, Thai basil works better than normal basil.

The meat was often fried for too long. Fry briefly over high heat and add the sauce in time.

Jasmine rice and a crispy fried egg are classic, while cucumber or a little lime will bring freshness.

Yes, with crumbled solid tofu or mushrooms. Soy sauce replaces fish sauce and oyster sauce.

Keep cooking

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