This was one of my frequent go-to recipes pre-kids, but I altered the recipe to make it more kid-friendly! You can use your protein of choice; in the past, I used to cook this dish using ground pork, but now I use ground chicken since it is not as greasy and is a healthier option.
This dish may require you to be near an Asian market for the ingredients since I have not been successful in finding these at our local American grocery stores.
Ingredients:
1 – 1.5 lbs. ground chicken
4-5 cloves minced garlic
Asian basil leaves
4-5 tbsp oyster sauce
1 tbsp fish sauce
1 tbsp dark soy sauce
1 tbsp sugar
*Optional – 8-12 Thai chili peppers (I used to infuse this directly into the recipe when I was just cooking for adults which made the dish VERY spicy. Now I put the peppers on the side mixed with a little garlic and fish sauce to eat with the chicken dish.)
Directions:
In a wok on high heat, cook the chicken until almost fully cooked for several minutes. Add oyster sauce (a generous amount is good – this will give the dish the most flavor), fish sauce, and dark soy sauce, along with finely minced garlic and stir until the garlic is cooked. Sprinkle sugar on top. Turn off the heat, and add the Asian basil leaves – these will cook down with the residual heat from the dish.
We usually eat this two ways – 1) on top of rice with a fried egg and 2) with rice inside a romaine lettuce leaf – lettuce wrap style.
This is one of my favorite dishes because it is super easy, delicious, and quick to cook and prepare. Enjoy!
hostess / wonderful persimmon / 25556 posts
Mmmm this is one of my favorite Thai restaurant dishes, I never thought to make it at home! Surprisingly, my local Walmart grocery store sells fish sauce and oyster sauce. I’ve never found thai basil anywhere except the Asian market (or my backyard pots) before, though. I’m going to try this one soon.
blogger / wonderful cherry / 21628 posts
That looks really good!
pomegranate / 3244 posts
That looks super tasty. The Asian grocery store is right next to the bank where I have to stop after work. I think I know what we’re having for dinner!
cherry / 158 posts
YUM!!! It’s still morning but I think I could eat this right now…
honeydew / 7968 posts
Alrighty, I am definitely trying this! Just need to get a few items…. Asian basil and regular basil…. Major difference? Just cuz I can get everything else at the regular supermarket….
blogger / persimmon / 1220 posts
@tequiero21: You could probably substitute the Asian basil with regular basil if you don’t have access to it. They do taste different – the Asian basil gives off a more anise flavor that you’ll find in the Chinese & Southeast Asian dishes.
Here’s a link on the major differences: http://www.wisegeek.org/what-is-thai-basil.htm#slideshow
hostess / eggplant / 11068 posts
I guess this is my dinner tonight!
grapefruit / 4671 posts
I love this dish, I can’t believe it never occured to me to sub chicken for the pork.
wonderful olive / 19353 posts
Simple enough!
blogger / eggplant / 11551 posts
I was going to use my leftover ground pork this week to make sloppy joe’s, but I think I’ll try this instead since I have all the ingredients on hand except the Asian Basil Leaves! Looks YUM!
blogger / pear / 1964 posts
I’m adding this to next week’s menu. I’m loving any recipe that uses up that bottle of fish sauce that seems to sit in my refrigerator for six months.
apricot / 286 posts
hmm.. looks soo good. WHat’s that dipping sauce on the left? Can you share the recipe?
blogger / persimmon / 1220 posts
@cokiezombie: Yes! It’s just chopped up Thai chilies (and if you’ve never had them, they are SUPER SPICY) doused in fish sauce mixed with garlic.
apricot / 286 posts
@Mrs Checkers: Thanks
blogger / pineapple / 12381 posts
Yum, I’m totally going to try this!
hostess / wonderful apple seed / 16729 posts
Looks so good. Thanks!
pomegranate / 3329 posts
Now that looks tasty!
I have everything but the Thai Basil!
coffee bean / 40 posts
totally going to try this! thanks for sharing! yum.
blogger / persimmon / 1398 posts
This looks amazing!!! I’ll have to get some Asian basil leaves the next time I’m at my {Asia} market. Thanks for sharing!