Thai Recipe Pad Kra Pao

Pad Kra pao (Pad krapao), fried with Krapao Thai basil,
is one of the hottest and most fiercy Thai recipes
and that´s maybe the reason why Pad Krapao is so popular in Thailand.
In our Recipe we use Squid (Pla myk),
but minced pork, beef or chicken is also well-liked.

© Thai Eyes
Image: Pad Kra Pao Pla Myk, Squid fried with Krapao Thai basil
Photographer: Kitisak “Nat” Jaidee

Thai Recipe: Pad Kra Pao Pla Myk, Squid fried with Krapao Thai basil
Ingredients for 2 servings:
Oil to fry
200 g Squid or meat
2-3 garlic cloves
3-10 red and green Thai chili Prik Kee Noo
1 Teaspoon Fish sauce
1 Teaspoon light Soy sauce
2 Teaspoon Oyster sauce
a bit chicken broth to deglaze
3-4 stalks Krapao Thai basil
1/2 -1 Teaspoon sugar
1/2 Teaspoon Umami, MSG Monosodiumglutamat

Preparation:
Clean the squid and cut it in bite-sized pieces. Remove the chili stems and mash the chili together with the garlic cloves in a mortar. It should still be chunky. Heat oil in a wok and fry the squid at high heat. Add chili and garlic and fry fr about one minute, deglaze with chicken broth and reduce, until it´s nearly dry. Add soy sauce, fish sauce and oyster sauce and fry it for a short while, then add Krapao basil, stir well and fry it just about one more minute. Garnish with cucumber slices and serve the Pad Krapao with steamed Thai jasmine rice and a small bowl of Prik nam pla to spice up. For the very hungry add a fried egg on top.