Gai Pad Krapow / Thai Spicy Basil Chicken

Ahha! Gai Pad Krapow… you know?…there is a bunch of Gai Pad Krapow recipes flying around all over the net and I little bit hesitate to come up with mine. But, I’ve been craving for this dish for quite sometimes now and I think it’s my turn to put mine up. I’m pretty sure you see most of recipe use ground chicken for this dish but I think I’m just gonna use sliced chicken meat instead. Of course, you can use any kind of meat you like, including seafood.

This dish is one of the most popular dishes in Thailand that everyone LOVE it! It’s kind of a street food that whenever the vendor cooking this dish, everyone get affected by it. The smoke from the wok when cooking garlic and chilies will make you choke and cry! No kidding! You just want to run as fast and as far as you can because the fume is sooo unbearable, BUT I swear, it will make you really want to have some and want to order the same thing. Again…no kidding! For heaven sake! We are Thais and it’s all about Hot and Spicy!
Gai pad krapow is so tasty-licious with the fragrant of Thai holy basil and to make it authentic Thai, it has to be fiery HOT, serves with steamed Jasmine rice, of course, and MUST have fried egg on top to make it a complete meal…again, you don’t have to, but trust me, they meant to be together!
Oh…when you are having this dish, don’t forget to have a big glass of Thai ice tea…because you are really gonna need it.

*since this dish need quite of a high heat to cook it fast, have everything cut up and ready is a smartest way to go.
What you need: (just for 1 serving! :P )

1 cup chicken tight meat sliced (more flavor that chicken breast)
3 clove garlic minced
5 Thai bird chilies sliced
1/2 small red or green bell pepper* optional
1/2 small onion sliced – white or yellow or red
1 tsp sugar
2 tbsp soy sauce
1/2 tsp dark soy sauce* optional
1/4 cup Thai holy basil leaves only
1 spring green onion chopped* optional
3 tbsp water
3 tbsp vegetable oil
1 egg – quick fried or poached

*for those optional items above, if you can find them, I guarantee that they will make the dish more savory and delish!

How to:

- heat a sauté pan over medium-high heat, add vegetable oil
- when the oil gets sizzling hot, add garlic and chilies, and quickly stir, and then add chicken
- add sliced onion, bell pepper (if used) and keep stirring until the chicken is cooked through
- season with soy sauce, dark soy sauce, sugar, and add some water to prevent the dryness
- add holy basil leaves and green onion and turn off the heat
- serve with jasmine rice with a little dash of white ground pepper and top with fried egg! voila!

Enjoy!

^__^