In this pad krapow moo recipe, I’m showing you how to make a Thai holy basil stir-fry in minutes using my premade Thai basil sauce. Try it with pork or choose your favorite protein and serve with jasmine rice and a fried egg for a complete meal.
🤔 What is pad krapow?
Pad krapow is a spicy Thai stir-fry made with minced meat, garlic, chilies, and holy basil. It’s a bold, savory street food dish from Thailand, often served over jasmine rice with a fried egg on top. The flavor is spicy, salty, and fragrant thanks to the fresh basil.
Pad krapow sauce
Pad krapow sauce is made with water, soy sauce, oyster sauce, fish sauce, sugar, garlic, and Thai chilies. It creates a salty, slightly sweet, and spicy flavor base that’s perfect for quick stir-fries.
You’ll find the full sauce instructions in the recipe card below (don’t worry, it’s super easy), but you can also read more about my basil sauce here.
Once you’ve made the sauce, just keep it in the fridge. Next time, making this Thai holy basil stir-fry takes only 5 minutes; heat a pan, toss in your protein, add the sauce, and stir-fry. Done!
🍚 Ingredient tips & substitutes
For the stir-fry sauce
- Holy basil Adds a peppery, clove-like aroma; use Thai holy basil for authentic flavor.
- Dried chilies Crushed and sautéed for heat; adjust quantity to control spice level.
- Garlic Don’t substitute with garlic powder.
- Water Used to thin the sauce slightly.
- Fish sauce Provides deep umami and saltiness; I recommend the Megachef brand.
- Oyster sauce Adds saltiness and a slight sweetness; mushroom oyster sauce works for a vegetarian option.
- Dark soy sauce (optional) Deepens color and adds mild molasses-like sweetness.
- Chicken bouillon powder Intensifies savory flavor; I use Thai rosdee brand but Knorr is good too.
- Sugar Balances the saltiness.
- Oil Use a neutral oil like sunflower or vegetable oil for cooking without affecting flavor.
For stir-frying
- Ground pork Juicy and flavorful; chicken or beef also work well. Avoid extra lean cuts for better flavor.
- Oil Use a neutral oil with a high smoke point.
- Pad krapow sauce Our homemade stir-fry sauce.
- Water (optional) Add a splash only if the stir-fry looks too dry; pork releases fat as it cooks, so extra water usually isn’t needed unless using leaner proteins.
🥘 More Thai stir-fries to try
If you’re craving something quick and spicy, this stir-fried holy basil is just the thing! Now that you’ve got all the tips, let’s jump into the full recipe. Don’t forget to follow me on Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest!
Thai Holy Basil Stir-Fry (Using Pad Krapow Sauce)
Equipment
- Measuring spoons and cups
- Mortar and pestle
- Mixing bowl for preparing the stir-fry sauce
- Wok or large skillet
- Spatula
Ingredients
For the stir-fry sauce
- 2 tbsp oil
- 3 cloves garlic
- 6 dried chilies to taste
- ½ cup water
- ½ cup oyster sauce
- 3 tbsp fish sauce
- 1 tsp dark soy sauce optional
- 1 tbsp chicken bouillon powder
- ¼ cup sugar
- 2-3 handful holy basil
For stir-frying
- 2 tbsp oil
- 10 oz ground pork
- 6 tbsp stir-fry sauce
Instructions
Make the stir-fry sauce
- Mix oyster sauce, fish sauce, water, sugar, bouillon powder, and dark soy sauce (if using).
- Use a mortar and pestle to pound garlic and dried chilies separately.
- Heat oil and fry garlic until golden, then add chilies and fry until fragrant.
- Add sauce mixture and simmer until slightly thickened.
- Turn off heat and stir in holy basil. Let wilt and set aside. Refrigerate leftovers.
Stir-fry
- Heat oil in a wok or skillet.
- Add ground pork and cook until almost done and the fat begins to render.
- Pour in the pad krapow sauce and stir-fry until evenly coated.
- Serve with jasmine rice and a crispy fried egg, if you like.
Video
Notes
- Nutrition information is provided as a courtesy and should be considered approximate.
👩🍳 How to make pad krapow
Make the stir-fry sauce
- Mix oyster sauce, fish sauce, water, sugar, chicken bouillon powder, and dark soy sauce (if using) in a bowl. Stir until dissolved.
- Pound garlic in a mortar and pestle. Set aside.
- Pound dried chilies.
- Heat oil in a small pan. Fry garlic until golden, then add chilies and fry until fragrant.
- Add the sauce mixture and simmer gently until slightly thickened.
- Turn off the heat and stir in fresh holy basil. Let it wilt, then set the sauce aside. Store leftovers in the fridge for easy meals later.
Stir-fry
- Heat oil in a wok or skillet over medium-high heat.
- Add ground pork and stir-fry until it’s almost cooked and the fat begins to render.
- Pour in the pad krapow sauce and stir-fry until everything is evenly coated.
- Serve hot with jasmine rice and a crispy fried egg, if desired.
