This authentic Thai Basil Fried Rice recipe is an incredible twist to your classic fried rice, as this one is filled with mouthwatering aroma and vibrant flavor that you will certainly love.
An excellent way to enjoy fresh Thai basil is in a savory fried rice dish. The dish itself is a staple in many Asian cuisines and consists of cooked rice mixed with an egg and jumbo shrimp for more flavor!
Check also Chimichurri Rice and Thai Fish Cakes.
The sweet and spicy flavors of Thai basil pieces complement the savory umami of fish sauce and the luxurious sweetness of oyster sauce in this fried rice dish. If you are fond of experimenting with cuisines from different countries, you should try this one out!
Parts of Southeast Asian countries, particularly the Philippines, treat fried rice as a breakfast staple. For them, it is a bit incomplete to eat breakfast without fried rice on the table. Hence, serve this Thai Basil Fried Rice for your breakfast! Indulge yourself in a savory with hints of umami flavor as you get yourself ready for the day. This dish will pair well with chicken, meat, and other breakfast-y food you have at home.
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What Is Thai Basil?
You might be wondering what Thai Basil is so let's take a detour and explain what it is. Thai basil is a variety of basil native to Southeast Asia with an anise or black licorice flavor. It has a purple stem and flowers, as well as thin, dark green leaves.
Why Does This Recipe Work?
The flavors of this fried rice recipe are already enough to make this recipe a must-try, but here are some of the best things about this recipe that you will surely fall in love more with it:
- This is a quick and easy recipe perfect for a hectic morning. Don't start your day with an early stomach. Make this recipe at home and eat something filling before you trudge on to your busy day!
- A savory dish that will satisfy your tastebuds. It has the perfect combination of sweet, savory, and umami, with hints of spice.
- This is one of the best Thai recipes ever and a great way to use leftover rice.
Thai Basil Fried Rice Ingredients
Garlic Cloves. Garlic cloves will elevate all the flavors found in this recipe giving it a robust flavor.
Thai Chili Peppers. A bit of spice will always be a good thing in a savory dish, so add Thai Chili to the mix! It has a heat that will explode throughout this dish, giving it a warm and spicy taste.
Onion. Onion is another aromatic for this recipe, plus it will also add caramelization that will improve the umami taste of the dish.
Butter. Use butter in sauteing garlic and onion along with the shrimp and chili because although it has a low smoking point, it will still add a superior rich, nutty flavor. It can be replaced with vegetable oil or olive oil.
Cooked Rice. Will it be really fried rice without cooked rice in it? Add cooked rice to complete this recipe. I used white rice in this recipe; however, if you like to use brown rice, that's totally up to you.
Jumbo Shrimp. Add jumbo shrimp to add more context to this recipe. It would be like eating extremely flavorful rice and well-seasoned shrimp in one!
Eggs. Make sure to add eggs for an improved great flavor, texture, and protein.
For the Sauce
Fresh Basil. Now, it is a main ingredient and will add a slightly spicy, licorice-like flavor to your fried rice that will surely be a staple in your kitchen from now on.
Fish Sauce. The fishiness of the sauce is unmistakable and pungent, but it is balanced off by other flavors, including a brininess, sweetness, and saltiness that are reminiscent of caramel. The presence of the fish sauce in this recipe will help give a vibrant taste to the shrimp!
Oyster Sauce. Oyster sauce not only imparts a savory and tangy flavor to your fried rice, but it will also give color to the dish that will make it not appear bland.
Honey. Your fried rice will have a more interesting flavor and a more subtle floral sweetness if you add honey to it.
Soy sauce: Adds extra flavor, you can use dark or light soy sauce.
Black Pepper. Use black pepper as an ingredient in this recipe to add flavor and spice.
“See the recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities.”
How To Make Thai Basil Fried Rice - Step By Step
One: In a small bowl, mix oyster sauce, fish sauce, soy sauce, honey and black pepper until combined.
Two: 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: Crack 2 eggs, cook for 1 minute, then toss everything together.
Five: Add the rice and the oyster sauce mixture. Cook everything together for 2 to 3 minutes.
Six: Toss in basil and turn off the heat. Serve hot!
Top 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.
- Combine the garlic and Thai chili in a mortar and pound it with the pestle. In this manner, the natural oil that is contained within the chili and garlic will be released, resulting in more aromatic fried rice.
- You can make vegetarian Thai basil by simply skipping the shrimp and using a vegan fish sauce.
Recipe Variations
- Add more veggies to this recipe by including peas, sliced carrots, and zucchini!
- You may always swap the jumbo shrimp with a protein of choice, such as sliced chicken fillet or steak.
- You may use serrano pepper if you have no access to Thai chili. Both have almost the same level of heat and will work well in this recipe.
- If you like spicy food, you may add some green chilies or half a teaspoon of Thai chili paste as well.
- Substitute oyster sauce by adding more soy sauce or hoisin sauce.
Serving Suggestions
A very classic fried rice combination: top your fried rice with a sunny-side-up egg. This Thai Basil Fried Rice is already fully loaded with lots of ingredients, the egg topping will already be simple enough to finish off this dish.
Hot and Sour soup is another Thai cuisine that will go well with your fried rice. It balances vinegar acidity and red pepper spice. Carrots add crispness, and tofu makes it smooth. These few ingredients produce a lovely soup and a great appetizer for fried rice.
Storage
It is always best to serve fried rice fresh from the skillet. But for some reason, if you still have leftovers, you may place them in an airtight container before refrigerating them for up to three days. Place in the microwave to reheat until piping hot.
Recipe FAQs
This recipe particularly calls for Thai Basil since it has the slightly spicy, licorice-like flavor that we want in our fried rice. Don't worry, Thai Basil can easily be found in your local grocery at the Asian section or local Asian market. You can even buy it online too!
Unfortunately, with the butter and the carbs in the cooked rice, this recipe is not a keto-friendly dish.
The best rice to use in making all Thai food is jasmine rice.
Yes, you can follow the exact instruction for using the instant pot and adjust the cooking time accordingly.
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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
- bunch of Thai basil , chopped
Instructions
- 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
- 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.
- Crack 2 eggs, cook for 1 minute, then toss everything together.2 eggs
- Add the rice and the sauce mixture. Cook everything together for 2 to 3 minutes.3 cups cooked rice
- Toss in basil and turn off the heat. Serve hot!bunch of Thai basil
Notes
- 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.
- Combine the garlic and Thai chili in a mortar and pound it with the pestle. In this manner, the natural oil that is contained within the chili and garlic will be released, resulting in more aromatic fried rice.
- You can make vegetarian Thai basil by simply skipping the shrimp and using a vegan fish sauce.
Variations
- Add more veggies to this recipe by including peas, sliced carrots, and zucchini!
- You may always swap the jumbo shrimp with a protein of choice, such as sliced chicken fillet or steak.
- You may use serrano pepper if you have no access to Thai chili. Both have almost the same level of heat and will work well in this recipe.
- If you like spicy food, you may add some green chilies or half a teaspoon of Thai chili paste as well.
- Substitute oyster sauce by adding more soy sauce or hoisin sauce.
Greta
Easy to make; however, I replaced the shrimp with chopped chicken breasts.
Lydia
This is a time-saving recipe; thanks for sharing it.