I bought a bunch of Thai basil yesterday to make Thai basil fried rice! A one-pan, 15-minute dish that’s super easy to make and absolutely delicious. Perfect for lunch or dinner!
Thai Basil Fried Rice
I'm all about easy fried rice dishes, and this dish is absolutely incredible! It's made with leftover cooked rice, mixed with shrimp, and perfectly flavored with a delicious Asian-style sauce!
I usually serve this dish as is without any sides for lunch or dinner.
As for the heat, I prefer to keep this dish mildly spicy so my kids can enjoy it, so I use just one chopped, deseeded Thai chili pepper. However, if you like it extra spicy, you can use two chili peppers or add some red pepper flakes for an extra kick.
You'll Need
Thai Chili Pepper. I like to give this dish a warm and spicy taste by adding 1 chopped Thai chili pepper. You may use Serrano pepper instead, it has almost the same level of heat and will work well in this recipe.
Butter. I prefer to use butter in sauteing garlic and onion.
Garlic and Onion. They enhance the flavor of this dish.
Cooked Rice. I use leftover cooked jasmine rice in this recipe.
Tip: If you're cooking fresh rice, use slightly less water than usual. So, I highly recommend using 1:1 ratio of rice to water.
Shrimp. I used jumbo shrimp, washed and peeled. To make this dish vegetarian, skip the shrimp or replace it with tofu. Also, use a vegan fish sauce.
Eggs. I use 2 large eggs.
For the sauce: I use fish sauce, oyster sauce, honey, soy sauce, black pepper and Thai basil.
Tip: Thai basil can easily be found in your local grocery store in the Asian section or at a local Asian market. You may also replace it with regular Italian basil.
See the recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities.
How To Make Thai Basil Fried Rice
One: Make The Sauce. In a small bowl, mix oyster sauce, fish sauce, soy sauce, honey and black pepper until combined.
Tip: I’ve found that mixing the sauce in a bowl and tasting it beforehand is the key to getting the perfect ratio, which is a game changer.
Two: Cook The Shrimp. Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat; add butter, chili, garlic, onion and shrimp.
Three: Stir fry for 1-2 minutes; push everything to a side of the skillet.
Four: Add The Eggs. Crack 2 eggs, cook for 1 minute, then toss everything together.
Five: Add Everything In. Add the rice and the oyster sauce mixture. Cook everything together for 2 to 3 minutes.
Six: Save The Thai basil for last. Toss in basil and turn off the heat. Serve hot!
Helpful Tips!
- Use leftover cooked rice for this recipe. Freshly or newly cooked rice still has so much moisture in them that it will only make your fried rice wet and somewhat lumpy.
- If you’re not a fan of shrimp, you can use chicken instead, just be sure to cut it into small pieces or use ground chicken for best results.
Leftovers?
If you have leftovers, make sure they cool completely before storing them in an airtight container for up to 3 days. To reheat, microwave for about 2 minutes, stirring halfway through.
Pair It With
Candied Carrots and Cabbage Salsa are my favorite sides to serve with this dish. However, it also goes well with Mashed Potato Patties, Pan Fried Green Beans and Zucchini Patties.
More Thai Recipes
For more rice recipes, check Chimichurri Rice.
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Recipe
Thai Basil Fried Rice
Equipment
- Pot
- Frying pan
Ingredients
- 6 cloves garlic , minced
- 1 Thai chili pepper , chopped
- 1 onion , sliced
- 2 tablespoon oyster sauce
- 1 tablespoon fish sauce
- 1 tablespoon soy sauce
- 2 tablespoon butter
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 3 cups cooked rice
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- 400 g jumbo shrimp , peeled & deveined
- 2 eggs
- 1 bunch Thai basil , chopped
Instructions
- Make The Sauce. In a bowl, mix oyster sauce, fish sauce, soy sauce, honey and black pepper until combined.2 tablespoon oyster sauce, 1 tablespoon fish sauce, 1 tablespoon soy sauce, 1 tablespoon honey, ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- Cook The Shrimp. Heat a large skillet over medium heat; add butter, chili, garlic, onion and shrimp.6 cloves garlic, 1 Thai chili pepper, 1 onion, 2 tablespoon butter, 400 g jumbo shrimp
- Stir fry for 1-2 minutes; push everything to a side of the skillet.
- Add The Eggs. Crack 2 eggs, cook for 1 minute, then toss everything together.2 eggs
- Add Everything In. Add the rice and the sauce mixture. Cook everything together for 2 to 3 minutes.3 cups cooked rice
- Save The Thai basil for last.Toss in basil and turn off the heat. Serve hot!1 bunch Thai basil
Notes
- Use leftover cooked rice for this recipe. Newly cooked rice still has so much moisture in it, which is not ideal for this dish.
- If you’re not a fan of shrimp, you can use chicken instead, just be sure to cut it into small pieces or use ground chicken for best results.
Greta says
Easy to make; however, I replaced the shrimp with chopped chicken breasts.