What is Thai basil fried rice?
This authentic variation of Thai fried rice is just as good as traditional Chinese fried rice–and depending on my mood, even better. What makes it so flavorful is the addition of its namesake: Thai basil. It’s important to note that Thai basil is different from regular basil you can find at an American grocery store, which is usually Italian basil. Based on looks, Italian basil typically has bright green stems and leaves with round edges, whereas Thai basil has dark purple stems and dark green, narrow leaves. Flavor is also a big difference when comparing these two cousins. Italian basil is more peppery in flavor, while Thai basil is a more spicy, savory, and bolder flavor. Some liken Thai basil to the same flavor as licorice or star anise. One of my favorite things to eat with Thai basil is phở. Using Thai basil in this fried rice gives us a different type of savory flavor that pairs well with the other seasonings like Thai oyster sauce and fish sauce.
Ingredients in Thai basil fried rice
To make Thai basil fried rice, the main components that are different from traditional Chinese fried rice are Thai basil (obviously!), jasmine rice, oyster sauce, fish sauce, and Thai chilis. Everything else you would expect in fried rice is also included: garlic, onions, protein (chicken, pork, shrimp, tofu, etc.), eggs, and other options like bell peppers.
Oyster sauce
Unlike traditional Chinese fried rice that salts and seasons the rice with soy sauce as the main ingredient, Thai basil fried rice typically does not include soy sauce (and if it does, it doesn’t use very much). Instead, Thai basil fried rice focuses on oyster sauce and fish sauce as its main liquid seasoning. I like using Thai oyster sauce to align with the Thai flavor profile: it’s slightly sweeter than traditional Chinese oyster sauce.
Rice
Just like Thai basil, Jasmine rice is very important in this dish because of its fragrant and simple flavor, but also its texture. Using day-old (and cold) cooked jasmine rice in this fried rice helps soak up the seasoning.
Chilis
If you’ve ever been friends with a Thai person in your life, you know that spice level is a super important part of any Thai dish and that “Thai spice level” is very VERY hot. To add some heat to this fried rice (but not too much) are Thai chilis. These are the red and green tiny peppers you might see at an Asian grocery store. Don’t let their size fool you, they may be small, but they pack a very large punch of heat. For this recipe, I didn’t want to overpower the fried rice with spiciness since we’re already using Thai basil, so I opted for one Thai chili. If you love to spice up your life, you can add more.
Cuts of meat to use
For this recipe, I used deboned chicken thigh and cut into thin strips (about ¼ inch thickness) because it’s a super tender and flavorful cut of meat. I don’t marinade the meat because there’s already so much flavor and saltiness in the seasoning. If you want a leaner option you can always go with chicken breast too! Thai basil fried rice is also great with other forms of protein, like shrimp, pork, tofu, or beef.
Type of rice to use
The best type of rice to use in Thai basil fried rice is day-old jasmine rice. Day-old and straight from the fridge is preferred because it’s a little drier than freshly steamed rice and this allows the rice to soak up all the flavorful seasoning in the pan. Jasmine rice helps for this because it’s not too sticky to stir fry in the pan, and is a variety common with Thai cuisine so you could buy a bag and enjoy this with other Thai recipes. If you don’t have day-old rice, you can still use fresh rice. I like to take the rice out of the rice cooker and spread it over a plate, put it in the fridge for about 15-20 minutes to cool down and dry out a bit.
How to make basil fried rice
The best way to cook Thai basil fried rice (well really ANY fried rice) is using a carbon steel wok because it’s easier to move the ingredients around and mix. If you don’t have a wok, you can also use a cast iron or a very large stir fry pan. Here’s how to make it: This process makes cooking Thai basil fried rice super simple and all you need is one pan!
Serving and storage
Thai basil fried rice is best served fresh off the wok or pan so you can enjoy it hot and steamy. It’s traditionally served with crisp and cold slices of cucumbers on the side, but this is also optional. I like eating Thai basil fried rice with an iced cold glass of Thai tea, a side of pad see ew, Panang curry, and afterward, mango sticky rice for dessert–an absolute must! If you have extra leftovers, you can pack it away in an airtight container and put it in your fridge for up to 3-5 days. I just reheat my leftovers in the microwave for about 1 minute on high, depending on how much rice you’re heating up.
