One of my all time favorite dishes is Thai Basil Fried Rice. So of course I had to recreate it. This fried rice is so flavorful. Rice tossed with thin pieces of chicken, loads of Thai basil, and chili peppers. Garlicky, spicy goodness. It’s comforting yet packs a punch. So so good!
This recipe comes highly requested. And since it’s the season of giving, I decided to share my Spicy Thai Basil Fried Rice recipe from my digital cookbook. If you haven’t grabbed my E-cookbook, RUN, don’t walk and go get it!
If you know me, then you know how much I LOVE Thai food. And Thai Basil Fried Rice is one of my favorite dishes to order. Fried rice, packed with protein, spicy chilis, and tons of Thai basil. It’s flavorful, spicy and so so good!
Growing up getting Thai food was one of my favorite things to do. Literally the highlight of my day. Ordering family-style and trying different Thai dishes. Between the 5 of us, we’d have at least 5-7 dishes lol. Thai food quickly became my favorite cuisine. And it still is! If you ask me to make dinner plans or where I want to eat, 9/10 I’m choosing Thai food.
So many delicious flavors. When you talk about range? Thai food has it! Sweet, spicy, salty, and sour. So flavorful, and SO delicious.
Thai Basil Fried Rice Ingredients
What you’ll need
- Jasmine Rice– you want to use day old rice. It cooks better when stir fried.
- Thai Basil– The star of the show. adds such a delicious flavor .If you can’t find Thai basil, Italian basil will work.
- Sweet onion or yellow onion – I prefer the sweet onion. but yellow onion will work great.
- Garlic– as much as your heart desires.
- Thai Chili Peppers (use to your discretion) If you can’t find fresh Thai chillies, dry Thai chillies work just as well.
- Oyster Sauce
- Soy Sauce– light and dark soy sauce are used for the recipe. Dark soy sauce is thicker and has a sweetness that low sodium soy sauce doesn’t.
- Brown Sugar
- Fish Sauce
- Limes
Note- for the individual rice grain effect, you want to use old rice. Rice that has been refrigerated and some what dried out. Freshly made rice is too sticky and will cause the rice to sticky together when you add sauce. To speed up drying out the rice if you’re short on time, pop the rice in the freezer.
How to make it
Step 1: In a mortar, add garlic cloves and Thai chili peppers. With the pestle, mash down ingredients to create a paste.
Step 2: Make the sauce- In a bowl, combine oyster sauce, fish sauce, brown sugar and dark and light soy sauce. Mix well until the sugar dissolves.
Step 3: Season protein of choice with white pepper, garlic powder and a pinch of salt.
Step 4: In a wok or large skillet, add in oil over medium heat. Once the oil shimmers and easily coats the pan, add protein and sear until cooked. Remove meat from the pan.
Next add in chili garlic paste and onions. Sautè for a few minutes until fragrant. Push onions to the side of the skillet/wok. Add more oil if needed then pour in beaten eggs. Using a spatula, scramble the eggs. Once the eggs are cooked, combine with the sautéed onions.
Next, add in day old rice, cooked protein and mix together. Break down the rice so that it is not clumped. Then pour in sauce. Stir and mix until rice is heated and sauce is well combined. Reduce heat to low and add in Thai basil. Stirring well.
Serve warm. Garnish red pepper flakes, basil and fresh
Tips for the best Thai Basil Fried Rice
- Use day old rice
- Slowly add in the sauce to not make sure the rice doesn’t get too saucy
- If you can’t find Thai basil or Holy basil, Italian basil will work.
- When you add in the basil be sure to reduce the heat so the basil won’t get bitter.
- Use less chilis for a milder dish.
- You can make this with any protein you’d like. My favorite is with chicken or shrimp. I’ve made both and they never disappoint.
Serving options
- Fresh cucumbers
- Limes
- Red Pepper Flakes
- Crispy fried egg
Looking for more weeknight meals?
Honey Harissa Chicken Rice Bowl
Pineapple Steak Bowl
Green Chile Chicken Enchiladas
Chili Garlic Ramen
If you try this Spicy Thai Basil Fried Rice, please be sure to leave a comment, and or tag me on Instagram @cookwithci. I would love to see your recreations and hear your thoughts.
Spicy Thai Basil Fried Rice
Equipment
- Wok
Ingredients
- Your choice of protein
- 1 tbsp olive oil or sesame oil
- 1-2 cups Jasmine rice at least 1 day old
- 1/4 cup Thai basil or Holy Basil Italian will work
- 1/2 sweet onion or yellow onion sliced
- 4-6 Thai chili peppers use to your discretion
- 4 cloves garlic minced
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 2 eggs
- 1/2 tsp crushed red pepper flakes optional
For the sauce
- 2 tbsp oyster sauce
- 1 tbsp low sodium soy sauce
- 1 tbsp dark soy sauce
- 1 tbsp brown sugar
- 1 tbsp fish sauce
For the shrimp
- 1/2 tsp white pepper
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp soy sauce
- 1/2 tsp fish sauce optional
Serve with
- limes
- Thai basil
- Crispy fried egg
Instructions
- In a bowl, season protein of choice with white pepper, garlic powder and soy sauce. Set aside for later
- In a mortar, add garlic cloves and Thai chili peppers. With the pestle, mash down ingredients to create a paste.
- In a small bowl combine oyster sauce, fish sauce, brown sugar and dark and light soy sauce. Mix well until the sugar dissolves.
- In a wok or large skillet, over medium heat, add in oil. Once the oil shimmers and easily coats the pan, add protein and sear until cooked. Remove meat from the pan. Next add in chili garlic paste and onions. Sautè for a few minutes until fragrant. Push onions to the side of the skillet/wok. Add more oil if needed then pour in beaten eggs. Using a spatula, scramble the eggs. Once the eggs are cooked, combine with the sautéed onions.
- Next, add in day old rice, cooked protein and mix together. Break down the rice so that it is not clumped. Then pour in sauce. Stir and mix until rice is heated and sauce is well combined. Reduce heat to low and add in Thai basil. Stirring well.
- Serve warm. Garnish red pepper flakes, basil and fresh limes
Notes
Did you make it?
Tag @cookwithci on Instagram and hashtag #CookwithCi
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