Bring the flavors of Southeast Asia to the table in this quick and easy Thai Basil Beef dinner.
Thai basil beef, or pad krapow, is one of Thailand’s most popular dishes. If you’ve ever visited the tropical Southeast Asian country or patronized a Thai restaurant, you know Thai basil beef is a must-try dish. The flavorful stir-fry meal became a staple of Thai street food in the middle of the 20th century, and its popularity has only grown around the world since then.
Living in Manhattan, I had a bounty of delicious Thai restaurants to choose from. The restaurant Up Thai, my go-to spot on the Upper East Side, is known for its pad krapow — aka Thai basil beef, which is spicy, bursting with flavor, and completely unforgettable. I also lucked out when I moved to Long Island to find that the most sought-after Thai food was fewer than five minutes away from my home. However, takeout gets expensive. As a lover of Thai food and someone who’s had the privilege to dine at some amazing, authentic spots, I have learned that with the proper ingredients and recipe, you can create dishes like Thai basil beef right at home.
There is a scrumptious flavor medley that makes Thai basil beef so popular. Savory beef, combined with fresh peppers, onions, and garlic, is sautéed in salty soy sauce and fish sauce, with their distinct umami taste, as well as brown sugar. We then add a full cup of Thai basil. If you want to boost the spice, you can garnish with fresh jalapeño peppers, but I often opt for a squeeze of lime to add some zing. Regardless of your tolerance for spicy food, you can enjoy Thai basil beef and adjust the spice accordingly.
This recipe for Thai basil beef is easy to prepare and takes just half an hour. It’s the perfect weeknight meal, yet tasty enough for date night. The ingredients are inexpensive and readily available in most groceries or superstores. Finally, you cook it in one skillet, making clean-up a breeze — and who doesn’t appreciate that?
Is Thai Basil Beef Healthy?
Thai basil beef is rich in protein and low in carbs. The red and green peppers provide vitamins A, C, and K, folate, and potassium. To make the dish gluten-free, ensure you’re using a gluten-free fish sauce, and you can easily swap soy sauce for coconut aminos. Additionally, skipping the brown sugar and using a little monk fruit or date syrup to sweeten your Thai basil beef dish is another potential option.
What Is Thai Basil?
Thai basil is a common ingredient in Thai cooking and can be identified by its anise or licorice flavor. It is also a bit spicy, not sweet like traditional basil. While some ingredients can be a pain to find, I was able to pick up Thai basil at Whole Foods. If you can’t find the herb or simply don’t love the licorice-like taste, you can substitute it with sweet basil. This is also a great option to mellow out the spice and flavor for a kid-friendly Thai meal.
FAQs & Tips
This dish can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. To reheat, add all ingredients to a saucepan and heat until warm.
Yes, you can totally use steak in Thai basil beef. For the best outcome, be sure to use thin-sliced beef, such as flank steak.
While fish sauce adds complexity and flavor to this meal, you can skip it and use more soy sauce or coconut aminos.
Serving Suggestions
Thai basil beef is a satisfying dish on its own, but for a complete meal, I love serving it on top of rice or noodles. You can choose to keep it simple with Basmati Rice, Coconut Rice or jazz it up with Thai Fried Rice. For noodles, make your meal authentic with rice noodles in this Thai Noodles recipe or gluten-free with Soba Noodles. If you fancy a full Thai experience, serve your Thai basil beef as the main, with Thai Lettuce Wraps.
Thai Basil Beef
Ingredients
- 2 1/2 tablespoons soy sauce
- 4 teaspoons fish sauce
- 4 teaspoons brown sugar
- 1 1/2 tablespoons vegetable oil
- 1 pound lean ground beef
- 1 small green bell pepper sliced
- 1 small red bell pepper sliced
- 1 large onion thinly sliced
- 5 cloves garlic minced
- 1 cup Thai basil leaves
- Jalapeño slices for garnish (optional)
Instructions
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In a small bowl, mix together soy sauce, fish sauce, and brown sugar until well combined. Set aside.
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Heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add ground beef, breaking it apart with a spatula. Cook until browned.
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Add bell peppers, onion, and garlic, cooking until vegetables are softened.
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Add the sauce to the cooked beef and vegetables. Stir in the Thai basil leaves and cook until the basil is wilted and the sauce is slightly thickened. Garnish with sliced jalapeño if desired.
Nutrition
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