beef

Thai Basil Beef Stir-Fry (Pad Krapow Neua)

Minced beef cooked in an aromatic stir-fry sauce with chillies and heaps of holy basil — the Thai street-food classic that takes just 15 minutes start to finish.

By BellyFruit KitchenApril 5, 2025
Thai Basil Beef Stir-Fry (Pad Krapow Neua)
Prep Time
10 mins
Cook Time
10 mins
Servings
2

Ingredients

  • 400 g beef mince
  • 3 tbsp vegetable oil
  • 6 cloves garlic, finely chopped
  • 4 red bird's eye chillies, thinly sliced
  • 2 tbsp oyster sauce
  • 1 tbsp fish sauce
  • 1 tbsp soy sauce
  • 1 tsp dark soy sauce
  • 1 tsp sugar
  • 2 large handfuls holy basil leaves (or Thai basil)
  • 2 eggs
  • Steamed jasmine rice, to serve

Instructions

  1. 1

    Have all ingredients prepped and measured before you start — this dish moves fast.

  2. 2

    Heat 2 tbsp oil in a wok or large skillet over the highest heat possible until beginning to smoke.

  3. 3

    Add garlic and chillies and stir-fry for 30 seconds until fragrant but not burnt.

  4. 4

    Add the beef mince. Do not stir immediately — let it sear for 1 minute, then break it up and cook for 2–3 minutes until browned.

  5. 5

    Add oyster sauce, fish sauce, soy sauce, dark soy sauce, and sugar. Toss everything together and stir-fry for 1 more minute.

  6. 6

    Remove from heat and fold in the basil leaves — residual heat will wilt them perfectly.

  7. 7

    In a separate small pan, fry the eggs in the remaining oil over high heat until the whites are crispy and set but yolks are still runny.

  8. 8

    Serve the beef over steamed rice topped with the fried egg.

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