Description
A flavorful and spicy Thai Basil Chicken stir-fry featuring ground chicken cooked with garlic, chilies, onions, and bell peppers, seasoned with a savory blend of soy sauce, oyster sauce, and fish sauce, finished with fresh Thai basil leaves. Perfectly balanced with a hint of sweetness and served over fragrant jasmine rice.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients
- 1 pound ground chicken
- 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 Thai chilies, finely chopped (or to taste)
- 1 small onion, sliced
- 1 red bell pepper, thinly sliced
Sauce
- 3 tablespoons soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon oyster sauce
- 1 tablespoon fish sauce
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- 1/4 cup chicken broth or water
Finishing
- 1 cup fresh Thai basil leaves
- Cooked jasmine rice for serving
Instructions
- Heat the oil and aromatics: Heat the vegetable oil in a large skillet or wok over medium-high heat. Add the minced garlic and finely chopped Thai chilies, stir-frying for about 30 seconds until fragrant but not burnt.
- Cook the ground chicken: Add the ground chicken to the skillet, breaking it up with a spatula as it cooks. Continue to cook for 5–7 minutes until the chicken is browned and fully cooked through.
- Add vegetables: Stir in the sliced onion and thinly sliced red bell pepper. Cook for another 2–3 minutes until the vegetables soften slightly but retain some crunch.
- Prepare and add the sauce: In a small bowl, mix together soy sauce, oyster sauce, fish sauce, sugar, and chicken broth or water. Pour this mixture into the skillet with the chicken and vegetables. Stir well to combine all ingredients.
- Simmer to meld flavors: Let the sauce simmer with the chicken and vegetables for 2–3 minutes, allowing the flavors to blend and the sauce to thicken slightly.
- Finish with basil: Turn off the heat and stir in the fresh Thai basil leaves until they are wilted but still vibrant.
- Serve: Serve the spicy Thai basil chicken immediately over cooked jasmine rice for a complete meal.
Notes
- Thai basil has a unique sweet flavor with hints of licorice; if unavailable, substitute with Italian basil, but flavor will differ.
- Adjust the heat level by increasing or decreasing the number of Thai chilies or substitute with red chili flakes for convenience.
- This dish is naturally dairy-free and can be enjoyed as part of a gluten-free diet if gluten-free soy sauce is used.
- For an extra protein boost, you can add a fried egg on top when serving.
