Try these easy and tasty Thai Basil Recipes. From classic Thai Basil Beef to creamy pesto pasta, we've got something for everyone!
Learn how to use this aromatic herb in all your favorite stir-fries, curries, and more.
What is Thai Basil?
Thai basil is a type of basil native to Southeast Asia. It has a slightly spicy, licorice-like flavor and can be identified by its purple stem and small, sturdy leaves.
Thai Basil Vs. Regular Basil
Thai Basil has a much stronger flavor than regular basil (Italian sweet basil). Thai basil is spicy with an anise or licorice flavor, whereas regular basil is mild, peppery, and sweet.
They should not be used interchangeably in recipes unless otherwise specified.
How Is It Used?
Thai Basil can be eaten raw or cooked. Try adding thinly sliced leaves to salads, simmering them with curries, or adding them to high-heat stir-fries.
1. Thai Basil Beef (Pad Gra Prow)
Try this quick and authentic Thai beef basil stir-fry. It's savory, spicy, and packed with the flavor of basil and fish sauce.
It's perfect as a one-pot meal and serves a family of four in under 30 minutes.
Try serving it over a bowl of freshly steamed rice with a crispy, fried egg on top.
2. Thai Basil Pesto
This pesto recipe takes traditional Italian pesto and adds an Asian twist! It goes great with noodles, chicken, and spicy shrimp!
Simply pulse ingredients in a food processor until combined, then stream in oil until a thick paste forms.
My favorite way to use this is to combine it with freshly cooked rotini to make a creamy pasta dish!
3. Thai Basil Eggplant Stir Fry
Try this wok-fried eggplant and Thai basil with sweet chili soy glaze. It's quick and easy to prepare, taking only 30 minutes! Serve it over jasmine rice!
Ensure you use Chinese or Japanese eggplants for this recipe. They're longer, more tender, and contain fewer seeds than American globe eggplants.
4. Slow Cooker Chicken Curry
This recipe has moist and tender chicken cooked in a tasty coconut curry.
Simply combine all the ingredients in a slow cooker and cook on low for 8 hours or high for 3 hours.
Once cooked, shred the chicken and mix in fresh cilantro and basil before serving. Serve this over rice for one of my favorite recipes with Thai basil leaves!
5. Thai Basil Chicken (Gai Pad Krapow)
This Thai Basil Chicken recipe is easy and quick to make, taking just 10 minutes!
This savory sauce is made from chilies, shallots, garlic, soy sauce, and fish sauce.
The key to this recipe is preheating your wok until it's smoking hot. This will give you the authentic flavor you love from Thai basil recipes.
6. Thai Basil Tofu
This easy recipe for Thai-style tofu is completely vegetarian and one even the pickiest eaters will love.
I recommend using extra-firm tofu so that it retains its shape during cooking. A little tapioca starch or cornstarch helps the tofu get extra crispy.
Serve this with rice and optional toppings like cashews, peanuts, and cilantro.
7. Pork Basil Stir-fry (Pad Kra Pao)
Traditionally, Pad Kra Pao is made with Thai holy basil, but I've tried it with Thai basil many times, and it's always delicious.
The savory sauce is full of umami and subtle sweetness and pairs perfectly with jasmine rice. It's made with soy sauce, oyster sauce, fish sauce, and sugar.
And the best part? This dish is ready in 10 minutes.
8. Sesame Cashew Chicken
This Sesame Cashew Chicken is a one-pan, no oven, 25-minute meal.
Start by cooking cashews with sesame oil, honey, and spices until golden and caramelized. Then, pan-fry chicken until crisp before simmering in the flavorful sauce with garlic, ginger, and bell peppers.
This recipe tastes best served with coconut rice, but feel free to use regular jasmine rice.
9. Pesto Pasta
This homemade pesto pesto has all the comfort of regular pasta but with an Asian twist. It also takes only 15 minutes to prepare and has a beautiful green presentation.
To make the pesto, crush garlic, cashews, basil, spinach, and parmesan with olive oil until smooth. Cook pasta until it's just tender, then mix it with the pesto and more parmesan until it's creamy.
Serve it with extra parmesan and a little more olive oil for a luxurious meal.
10. Thai Drunken Noodles (Pad Kee Mao)
Thai Drunken Noodles is a popular take-out dish from the streets of Thailand. The spice level is moderate to high, so have a glass of water ready!
This recipe uses wide rice noodles cooked and tossed with a flavorful sauce, chilis, onions, and chicken.
The basil is mixed in at the end to preserve its aromatic flavor.
Did you enjoy these Thai Basil Recipes? Be sure to check out the other delicious recipes on this blog by checking out our Recipe Index.
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