• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Hot Thai Kitchen
  • Recipes by Categories
  • Kitchen Tips & Ingredients
  • Thailand Vlogs
  • My Cookbooks
  • Newsletter
  • Patreon
  • Shop Ingredients & Tools
  • Find an Asian Grocer
  • Merch
  • About
  • Contact
menu icon
go to homepage
subscribe
search icon
Homepage link
  • Recipes by Categories
  • Kitchen Tips & Ingredients
  • Thailand Vlogs
  • My Cookbooks
  • Newsletter
  • Patreon
  • Shop Ingredients & Tools
  • Find an Asian Grocer
  • Merch
  • About
  • Contact
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
  • ×

    Home » Recipes » All Recipes » Entrées » The "Original" Thai Holy Basil Stir Fry with Beef (Pad Kra Pao)

    The "Original" Thai Holy Basil Stir Fry with Beef (Pad Kra Pao)

    Published: Oct 7, 2022 by Pailin Chongchitnant · This post may contain affiliate links

    Jump to Recipe
    a plate of pad kra pao beef on rice with a fried egg on top. With a bowl of fish sauce condiment on the side. Text overlay "Thai Basil Stir Fry Pad Kra Pao"

    Pad kra pao is a Thai holy basil stir fry that I think deserves the title: "National dish of Thailand". It’s a favourite of Thai people and Thai food lovers around the world, and if you're getting into Thai cooking, this has to be on your to-do list. (Not to mention it's super quick and easy!)

    The more modern rendition of pad kra pao (the one your local Thai restaurant probably makes) contains veggies like green beans and onions; along with a more complex seasoning that might include oyster sauce, soy sauce, and dark soy sauce. This recipe, however, is an old-school, traditional style that is much simpler. Many Thais call this the original pad gaprao!

    🛎 For the modern pad kra pao see my Thai holy basil chicken recipe.

    What is pad kra pao?

    Or is it "pad krapow"? Or "pad gaprao"? However you write it (more on that in the FAQ), it's a stir fry of meat (typically ground meat), holy basil, and loads of chilies. It’s served on rice, and usually with a fried egg on top.

    In Thailand you can find it cooked to order from a street food vendor, served in a fancy restaurant, or provided in a box ready-to-eat from a grocery store. Anywhere you go in Thailand, you’re never far from a pad gaprao. It really IS the food of the people!

    Pad kra pao literally means "holy basil stir fry," so the holy basil is the key ingredient here. This recipe uses ground beef, but can be made with any kind of protein. Of all Thai stir fries, this is one of the easiest to make, and a great weeknight recipe as minimal prep is required. And it's gluten free!

    Ingredients

    Here are the ingredients you'll need, and as you can see, it's super simple!

    ingredients for pad kra pao
    • Garlic
    • Thai chilis, or another spicy chili such as serrano. This is your source of heat, and for a truly authentic pad kra pao, you want to add as many as you can handle!
    • Mild red chilis. We want to have a lot of chili flavor here, but not so much as to hurt ourselves, so we can add some milder ones. Anything red and mild will work such as red anaheim, long red pepper, mini bell pepper or even red bell pepper if all else fails.
    • Ground beef, regular or lean. Beef flavour goes very well with holy basil, but feel free to substitute with ground pork, ground chicken, or even plant-based meat substitutes.
    • Fish sauce. Fish sauce is your only seasoning in traditional pad kra pao, so it’s important to use a good one. Read this post on how to choose a good fish sauce.
    • Sugar
    • Unsalted beef stock, chicken stock, or water
    • Ground black pepper if using beef. For chicken and pork white pepper will also work.
    • Holy basil or regular fresh basil leaves. Thai basil will also work, more on substituting holy basil below.
    • Eggs, for making fried eggs. Technically optional, but highly recommended.
    • Oil for stir frying, I use avocado oil but anything neutrally flavoured is fine.
    • Oil for frying eggs, I use canola oil for frying as it's cheaper than avocado oil, but anything neutral and high heat resistant is fine.
    • Jasmine rice for serving.
    • Prik nam pla (optional) is a spicy fish sauce condiment classically served with pad gaprao. I like to put it on my fried egg to season it, but some people put it on their rice. You just need some fish sauce, chilis, and a squeeze of lime.

    TIP: If you've got leftover basil after making this dish, bookmark my all-purpose Thai basil stir fry sauce recipe as a great way to use it up!

    How to Make Pad Gaprao

    Here's a bird's eye view of the steps. Before you make it, be sure to watch the video tutorial in order to ensure success, especially if this is your first time! If you enjoy it, check out my YouTube channel for more Thai cooking videos!

    Process shots for making pad kra pao steps 1-4
    1. In a mortar and pestle, pound the Thai chilies into a fine paste. Add the garlic and the chopped mild chilies and pound just into a rough paste.
    2. Heat a wok over high heat, then add the beef and spread it out. Sear the beef without moving it until the underside is browned. Toss and keep cooking until liquid from the beef starts to come out.
    3. Let the beef cook, stirring occasionally, until all liquid has evaporated and the beef starts to sizzle and brown further to develop flavour. 
    4. Push the beef to one side of the pan, add a little more oil and add the garlic and chili mixture, then sauté until garlic starts to turn golden.
    Process shots for making pad kra pao steps 5-8
    1. Toss the garlic with the beef then add about half of the stock or water, fish sauce and sugar; toss to mix well.  
    2. Add the julienned mild chilis and toss for 30 seconds; if it’s looking too dry, add a splash more water or stock.
    3. Turn off the heat, add the basil and mix just until wilted. Taste and adjust seasoning with more sugar or fish sauce as needed.
    4. To fry eggs with crispy whites an runny yolk. Heat about ¼ inch of frying oil to a small nonstick frying pan over medium-high heat. Once hot, add only the egg white and let it fry until the edges start to turn brown, then using a spoon, push the middle of the white down to make an indent for the yolk to sit in. Break any big bubbles that form in the center. (If you want a firmer yolk, simply fry the whole egg.)
    Process shots for making pad kra pao steps 9-12
    1. Once the egg white is browned around the edges, carefully place the yolk into the indentation on top of the white.
    2. Use a spoon to baste some oil around the edges of the egg yolk to help it stick. Let it cook for a bit longer if you prefer the yolk to be a little bit more set.
    3. Use a wire skimmer to remove from the pan and allow to drain.
    4. Spoon pad kra pao over some jasmine rice, and top with the fried egg. You can then drizzle the prik nam pla on top of the egg.

    How to Make Prik Nam Pla

    Prik nam pla is the classic condiment that is served with many Thai dishes, and is used as a tableside seasoning booster. Pad kra pao is usually served with it because the fried egg can always use some extra seasoning.

    You don't need a recipe for prik nam pla, in the same way that you don't need a recipe for a PB & J sandwich, because you can make it to your preference. But here is a guideline to get you started:

    process shots for how to make prik nam pla, steps 1-2
    1. Combine chopped chilies and fish sauce in a small bowl. You can also add thinly sliced garlic and/or shallots if you want to make a fancier one. You can add as many chilies as you like.
    2. Add a squeeze of lime for some acidity. The amount is up to your preference (some people don't even add any), but a good start is 1 part lime juice to 3 parts fish sauce.

    Holy Basil vs. Thai Basil

    A bunch of holy basil
    Holy Basil

    Many of us are familiar with Thai basil (called horapa in Thai), the sweet-smelling herb with purple stems that come with your pho. But few have come across holy basil.

    Compared to Thai basil, holy basil has a fragrance that is less floral and more peppery; which is why it’s paired with very spicy dishes like pad kra pao or jungle curry. The aroma is always hard to describe, but trust me when I say the two smell quite different.

    a bunch of thai basil
    Thai basil

    The fragrance is also milder than Thai basil, and unless it’s freshly picked from a healthy plant, it can be rather faint. This is why even in the rare occasion where I can find fresh holy basil, it’s not always a good purchase.

    Note: if you’ve ever had pad kra pao in a Thai restaurant outside of Thailand, they might be actually be using Thai basil because holy basil is unavailable. Unless, of course, you live in a big enough city with enough Thai restaurants to warrant a supplier bringing it in.

    The Best Substitute for Holy Basil

    While you might be tempted to use Thai basil as a substitute because it's...well...Thai, in my experience, you're better off using regular basil, also known as Italian basil. The flavour of Thai basil is so distinct from holy basil that you will end up with a dish that tastes quite different (though still tasty).

    A bunch of italian basil
    Good old regular Italian basil is my preferred substitute for holy basil. It's also much easier to find!

    Regular Italian basil, while not the same, is a closer flavour match. And I’m usually perfectly satisfied with it when I have to use it. Having said that, if your goal is to replicate that pad kra pao you love from your takeout place, they might actually be using Thai basil!

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Is it pad kra pao or pad krapow or pad gaprao or...?

    You may have seen this word written out in different ways because there just isn't a "correct" way to write Thai words using English letters. So really, they're all approximations with various degrees of wrong.

    But it gets further complicated by the fact that gaprao is a word that is commonly mispronounced by Thai people, so there are various English spellings of both the correct and the wrong ways!

    The correct placement of the R is in the last syllable, so ka-prao and ga-prao are variations of the correct pronunciation. But because many more Thai words start with kra- than ka-, it's common for Thai people to say kra-pao instead out of habit.

    The choice of K or G, or -ao or -ow, are all minor issues, but if you ask me, the closest spelling to the Thai pronunciation is gaprao.

    So...why did I title this post pad kra pao, you ask? Because that seems to be the most common English spelling, so I've chosen it in order to help you find my recipe when you search for it!

    Can I substitute another meat for the beef?

    Yes! If using ground chicken, use dark meat rather than breast so it will not be too dry. If using pork, stick with regular or lean, not extra lean. You should also skip the prolonged browning technique that I use with beef here because chicken and pork can become too dry.

    How can I make a vegetarian pad kra pao?

    Instead of ground beef you can use ground plant-based meat substitute, or use crumbled extra firm tofu and/or chopped mushrooms. Instead of fish sauce, use soy sauce.

    A Useful Tool for Navigating Beef Cuts

    There are so many cuts of beef on the market, and if you've ever wanted to try a new beef cut but not sure what to do with it, check this out. Canada Beef, our sponsor for this post, has launched the Canadian Beef Information Gateway which breaks down over 70 cuts of beef, complete with info on how to best cook them and new recipes you can try out.

    Check it out and you'll be amazed! Access the Gateway here or scan the QR code below!

    qr code for Canadian Beef Information Gateway
    a plate of pad kra pao beef with a fried egg on top

    Thai Holy Basil Stir Fry with Beef (Pad Kra Pao)

    Pad kra pao, also written as pad gaprao, is a popular Thai stir fry of ground meat and holy basil. This beef version is an old-style traditional recipe with a simpler ingredient list; perfect for a quick meal. For a more modern version that may be closer to what your local Thai restaurant serves, see this chicken pad kra pao recipe.
    5 from 8 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe Share
    Prep Time 15 mins
    Cook Time 10 mins
    Course Main Course
    Cuisine Thai
    Servings 3 servings

    Ingredients
     
     

    • 6 cloves garlic
    • 3 Thai chilies, or as many as you can handle
    • ¼ cup chopped mild red chilies, (see note 1)
    • ⅓ cup julienned mild red chilies
    • 2 tablespoon vegetable oil
    • 12 oz ground beef, regular or lean
    • 1 tablespoon + 2 teaspoons fish sauce
    • 1 tablespoon granulated sugar
    • ½ cup unsalted beef or chicken stock or water
    • ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
    • 1 ¼ cups holy basil or regular basil leaves, (see note 2)
    • Cooked Jasmine rice for serving
    • 3 eggs, for fried eggs (1 per person)
    • Oil for frying eggs, as needed

    Prik Nam Pla (optional condiment)

    • 1-2 Thai chilies, chopped
    • 2 tablespoons fish sauce
    • 2 teaspoons lime juice
    • 1 clove galirc, thinly sliced or chopped (optional)
    Check Out Ingredients and Kitchen Tools I Use

    Notes

    1. Mild red chilies are for colour and flavour, while the Thai chilies are for heat. Traditionally we use spur chilies (prik chee fa) for the mild peppers, but red anaheim or mini bell pepper will work. Regular red bell pepper flesh is a little thicker and more watery than ideal, but it will also be fine if that's the only thing you have! 
    2. Italian basil is my preferred substitute if holy basil is unavailable. Thai basil can also be used, and the dish will be just as tasty, but I find that the flavour of regular Italian basil is closer to that of holy basil.

    FULL VIDEO TUTORIAL

    All my recipes come with step-by-step video tutorials with extra tips not mentioned in the blog post, so make sure you watch the video to ensure success. If you enjoy them, consider subscribing to the YouTube Channel to not miss an episode. Thank you!

    Subscribe to my YouTube Channel

    Instructions
     

    For the Prik Nam Pla

    • Add chopped Thai chilies and garlic into a small bowl, then add the fish sauce and lime juice. Let this sit while you make the stir fry.
      1-2 Thai chilies, 2 tablespoons fish sauce, 2 teaspoons lime juice, 1 clove galirc

    For the Stir Fry

    • In a mortar and pestle, pound the Thai chilies into a fine paste. Add the garlic and the chopped mild chilies and pound into just a rough paste.
      6 cloves garlic, 3 Thai chilies, ¼ cup chopped mild red chilies
    • Heat a wok or a large skillet over high heat, adding about 1 tablespoon of the oil if your beef is lean. Once the wok is very hot, add the beef and spread it out. Sear the beef without moving it until the underside is browned. Toss the beef, and notice how the beef will start to release quite a bit of liquid - keep stirring until all of this liquid has evaporated, and the beef starts to sizzle in its own fat. Once the beef is sizzling, allow it to cook without stirring for 15-20 seconds to brown the beef further and develop flavour, then toss, and repeat the browning 1-2 more times.
      12 oz ground beef, 2 tablespoon vegetable oil
    • Turn the heat down to medium, push the beef to one side of the pan, and if there isn’t much fat in the pan, add a little bit more oil just so there’s enough to saute the garlic. Add the garlic and chili paste and sauté in the oil for 30 seconds until aromatic and the garlic starts to turn golden, and then toss it with the beef.
    • Turn the heat up to high and add about half of the stock or water, fish sauce, sugar, and black pepper; toss to mix well. Add the julienned mild chilies and toss for 30 seconds; if it’s looking too dry, add more of the stock or water.
      ⅓ cup julienned mild red chilies, 1 tablespoon + 2 teaspoons fish sauce, 1 tablespoon granulated sugar, ½ cup unsalted beef or chicken stock or water, ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
    • Turn off the heat, add the basil and mix just until wilted. Taste and adjust the seasoning with more sugar or fish sauce as needed, and add a little more water or stock if it feels too dry. Set this aside while you fry the eggs.
      1 ¼ cups holy basil or regular basil leaves

    For the Crispy Fried Eggs

    • To fry the eggs Thai-style, I recommend frying them 1 at a time to prevent them from sticking to each other. There are 2 options for frying eggs:
      For crispy whites and semi-set yolk: Add about ¼ inch of frying oil to a small nonstick frying pan and put it over medium-high heat. Once the oil is hot, add the egg and allow the egg white to bubble. Use a spoon to occasionally baste the top of the egg with oil to cook the yolk. Once the whites are crispy and browned around the edges and the yolk is set to your liking, you can remove it from the pan.
      For eggs with crispy whites and runny yolk: Separate the egg white and the egg yolk. Add about ¼ inch of frying oil to a small nonstick frying pan and put it over medium-high heat. Once the oil is hot, add the egg white and let it fry until the edges start to turn brown. Use your spatula to push the middle of the white down to make an indent for the yolk to sit in. Once the egg white is browned around the edges, carefully place the yolk into the indentation, and use a spoon to baste some oil around the edges of the egg yolk to help it stick to the egg white. Remove from the pan and allow to drain.
    • To serve, put jasmine rice on a plate, spoon the pad kra pao over half of the rice, and top everything with the fried egg. You can then drizzle the prik nam pla on top of the egg when ready to eat.
      Cooked Jasmine rice for serving
    Watch my videos AD-FREE and get bonus content on Patreon!
    Tried this recipe? Share a pic!Tag @hotthaikitchen on Instagram and Twitter!

    More Tasty Stir Fries You Might Like...

    • Sweet and sour pork in a blue plate on blue napkin
      Sweet and Sour Pork (No Frying!)
    • a plate of pad thai with with glass noodles with a fork picking up the noodles
      Easier & Healthier Pad Thai (with glass noodles)
    • a plate of tomato and egg stir fry
      Chinese Eggs & Tomato Stir Fry
    • a plate of cashew chicken
      Thai Cashew Chicken Recipe
    « FISH SAUCE: How to Choose, Use, Store & Substitute
    Authentic Thai Yellow Curry with Beef & Potatoes »

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. CGThai

      February 27, 2023 at 2:04 am

      5 stars
      You definite use fish sauce. Lemon is a nice touch. But why one star such a good recipe?

      Reply
    2. Pilar

      February 18, 2023 at 8:02 am

      5 stars
      Pad kra pao has to be my favorite Thai recipe ever! I just made it today for lunch, with regular basil as tulsi is impossible to find in Spain. It was really easy and as delicious as the one I remember eating in Thailand. Thank you sóó much for this recipe!

      Reply
    3. Michael M

      December 22, 2022 at 6:27 pm

      5 stars
      This is the 3rd recipe that I have cooked from your collection, and as always with the written and video tutorial it worked perfectly. I have just come back from Bangkok, and while there on business I always eat street food.
      I have now decided because your recipes are so good, to cook much more Thai at home. I will do you deep fried chicken next, as this is a staple for me from the street venders. Oh, and I am cooking the crispy skin pork belly tonight.

      Reply
      • Pailin Chongchitnant

        December 27, 2022 at 2:58 pm

        So glad to hear!! Thank you for the review and the kind words!

        Reply
    4. Brad

      December 13, 2022 at 12:10 pm

      5 stars
      Bought your book, follow you all the time. Lived and brought up in Thailand and your dishes are fabulous. Thanks so much!!

      Reply
    5. Mark

      December 11, 2022 at 9:14 am

      Let's see, a guy named David Johnston-citing a place in Australia-claims this is not authentic; that's a good one!

      Reply
    6. Chita

      November 07, 2022 at 8:01 am

      5 stars
      Authentic and delicious! Glad to find a recipe with fish sauce without soy/oyster which is Chinese. This dish must use fish sauce, not sure why someone said that made it not authentic… five stars!

      Reply
    7. Charles Pascual

      October 25, 2022 at 4:42 am

      5 stars
      Terrific dish! Your recipe is straight-forward and easy to follow. The video showed me all the steps and gave me confidence I was doing it right. It comes together quickly yet I wasn't rushed and had time to clean up and put away ingredients as I went along. My wife, who is averse to spicy food, said this had the right balance between spicy heat and flavors. It's a keeper in our house. Thank you.

      Reply
    8. Molly

      October 09, 2022 at 5:20 pm

      5 stars
      I NEVER review recipes. I was very scared of the spice and there are no Thai peppers in my area so I used 1/2 of one Serrano. I plan to use 1.5 Serrano peppers next time (0.5 was too little). Having a variety of peppers was delicious and well worth it! (I used Serrano, Anaheim and red bell peppers.) Also, this is the first time I’m endorsing fish sauce!!! Thank you for giving me the courage for using/trying fish sauce again. My family wants me to make this again tomorrow. Now I gotta buy more hamburger!!!

      Reply
      • Tananda D

        October 12, 2022 at 5:25 am

        5 stars
        I have had this made with chicken and with duck at restaurants. This was my first time trying this at home. I made your version with the beef and I was nervous about the extended browning but I stuck with it and was very happy with the result

        I did not have access to Holy Basil so I went ahead with Thai Basil and it was indeed much like the local restaurants versions I've had...

        I think I messed up a little.. I used a bit more ground beef than you did and thus I think the other flavors were a little "light" - I should have doubled the fish sauce, Thai Chilies, and garlic etc...

        The issues were entirely on my side.. your recipe/instructions were spot on.. though, I asked my wife to do the eggs and she struggled to get the nice shape you did...they tasted fine but it was not quite as pretty as yours - I chalk that up to our experience level as this was a totally different egg frying technique than we ever tried before.

        Reply
        • Pailin Chongchitnant

          October 18, 2022 at 1:47 pm

          So glad to hear! And thank you for the review! Yes if you scale up the beef you should scale up all ingredients proportionally. I'm glad you trusted the browning! The eggs will come with experience, and sometimes a little luck. Some eggs just come out prettier than others, lol!

          Reply
      • Pailin Chongchitnant

        October 18, 2022 at 1:48 pm

        Thank you!! And thank you for taking the time to review! And yay for the courage to use fish sauce again!!

        Reply

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    Primary Sidebar

    Connect With Me!

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
    Image of Pailin

    Sawaddee ka! I'm Pai, a chef, author, and YouTuber. I'm here to demystify Thai cuisine and help you cook great Thai food at home. How did a girl from Thailand come to teach Thai cooking to millions worldwide? Here's my story.

    My Latest Cookbook

    Featured On...

    Meatless Recipes

    • a black bowl of vegan green curry on an orange napkin
      Vegan Thai Green Curry Meat Eaters Will Love
    • A plate of pad see ew with rice vermicelli with a side of chili vinegar
      Pad See Ew with Rice Vermicelli
    • A plate of chili garlic noodles with thai basil
      Chili Garlic Noodles Recipe
    • a plate of marble eggs on rice with red and green chilies on top and cucumber on the side
      Fast & Easy Marble Eggs with Prik Nam Pla

    Vegetable Recipes

    • A plate of roasted kabocha squash wedges with basil leaves
      Soy Caramel Roasted Kabocha Squash
    • A plate of pan seared brussel sprouts with fried garlic on top.
      Maple Fish Sauce Brussels Sprouts
    • Gai Lan Oyster Sauce Stir-Fry
    • Cucumber challenge
      Cucumber Challenge! Spicy Chicken & Cucumber Stir-Fry

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    About

    • Privacy Policy
    • Accessibility Statement
    • Merch
    • All Recipes

    Newsletter

    Sign Up!

    Contact

    • Contact
    • My Cookbook
    • Patreon

    As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Copyright © Pailin's Kitchen Inc. 2023