Thai Basil Chicken泰式鸡肉碎tài shì jī ròu suì

This famous Thai street food can be such a hearty meal even though it takes no more than 15 minutes to prepare and cook. Do not confuse the Thai basil (holy basil) with its Italian cousin (sweet basil). The Thai holy basil has small, narrow leaves, purple stems, and pink-purple flowers with distinct, spicy and anise-clove flavor.

Serve 2-4

• 3 tablespoons   cooking oil
• 3 cloves              garlic, minced，蒜末
• 2                          small shallots, thinly sliced 小红葱头
• 3                          bird chili or any 1 big red chili, thinly sliced，
• 1                          yard-long beans (optional), cut into smalls sections in 1cm
• 250g                   ground chicken鸡肉
• 1 teaspoon         fish sauce鱼露
• 1 tablespoon     light soy sauce生抽
• ½ tablespoon    dark soy sauce 老抽 （optional）
• 1 teaspoon         caster sugar白砂糖
• 1 bunch              fresh Thai holy basil (use leaves only)泰式九层塔

Method

1. In a wokover high heat, add the oil. One the oil is hot, add garlic and shallots and fry for 1 minute then add chilies and long beans, and fry for another 1-2 minutes, until fragrance and softened.
2. Add the ground chicken and stir-fry for 2 minutes, breaking up the chicken into small bits. Turn down the heat if you need a longer time to break down the ground chicken.Turn up the heat, add the sugar, soy sauce, and fish sauce. Stir-fry for another minute. Add the basil and mix well. Stir fry for 1 more minute. Remove the wok from the heat. Ready to serve with rice.

Tips

1. Substitute the ground chicken with ground pork or sliced chicken. The flavour will remain the same.