Thai Basil Fried Rice

5 from 2 votes

Make easy and delicious Thai Basil Fried Rice at home. A restaurant-worthy dish that's full of savory umami flavor and only takes 15 minutes to make! Lots of aromatic Thai Basil and a chili garlic paste make this simple recipe shine. Serve with a fried egg for a satisfying, quick meal.

Prep Time5

Cook Time10

Course: Main Course, Side

Cuisine: Thai

Keyword: Basil Fried Rice, Thai

Servings:

Calories: 438kcal

Author: The Subversive Table | Lis Lam

Equipment

Wok
Large spatula
Mortar and Pestle

Ingredients

3 cups Jasmine rice *previously cooked, day-old leftover cold rice
4 garlic cloves
1-2 Thai chilies
1 large shallot
1/2 cup sliced pork butt *swap with chicken or shrimp, if you like
2 bunches Thai basil *or Holy Basil
black pepper

Sauce

2 Tbsp Oyster sauce
2 Tbsp fish sauce
1 tsp sugar

Instructions

Make garlic chili paste. Using a mortar and pestle, crush the garlic cloves and chilies into a thick paste. Pound until they are completely broken down and juicy.
Mix sauce. In a small bowl, combine oyster sauce, fish sauce, and sugar. Set aside.
Cook aromatics. Heat a large wok on medium-high heat. Add 1-2 Tbsp vegetable oil (or avocado oil) and chili garlic paste. Cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Add shallot and mix until softened, about 1 minute.
Add pork. Add pork and cook until cooked through and no longer pink, about 2 minutes.
Add rice. Add cold leftover rice and stir, breaking up the big clumps of rice, about 2 minutes.
Add sauce. Drizzle the oyster sauce mixture over the rice. Stir and continue cooking until all the grains are well coated and hot, another 2-3 minutes.
Add basil. Toss in the basil and stir until wilted, about 1 minute.
Serve. Add freshly cracked black pepper. Divide evenly between two bowls. Add a fried egg on top. Enjoy!

Video

Notes

*Store leftovers in the fridge, in an airtight container, for 3-4 days.

PRO Tips:

- Prep ingredients in advance. The cooking time goes fast! To ensure it doesn't burn, prep everything in advance. Place in separate bowls and keep nearby.

- Adjust the heat level. Thai food is notoriously spicy. The beauty of cooking Thai fried rice at home is the ability to adjust the spice level. For subtle heat, add 1 Thai chili. For medium heat, add 2 chilies. For intense heat, add 3-4 chiliies.

- Turn on the exhaust! Chilies contain capsaicin, a compound that makes them spicy. When cooked, the capsaicin is released into the air. If inhaled, it can irritate airways and throats. Make sure to turn on the exhaust fan to avoid coughing.

- Chill rice in the freezer. If you don't have leftover rice, spread hot, freshly cooked rice onto a sheet pan. Store in the freezer for 20 minutes until the grains are cold and hard.

Nutrition