I published a Japanese take on a Thai green curry a couple of weeks ago and here is another Thai recipe that my Thai friend, Pam, taught me.
This time, it's Thai fried minced Pork with Basil or Pad Gaprao in the local tongue. When my friend Pam makes this recipe, it really is a little too hot for my tender Japanese taste buds to cope with so my version dials down on the heat and adds a little more sweetness. If you can find some Thai basil, that's great as it has a distinct flavour compared to what is grown typically in the UK but the homegrown version is an acceptable substitute if there isn't an Asian/Chinese store near you that stocks the Thai version.
I put green beans in this recipe because I like the colour contrast but that's up to you - you could use a different vegetable of you prefer. (PS: I like my green beans to be a little crunchy but if you prefer yours softer, then put them in at the first stage rather than later on.)
I used one small chilli in this recipe but do use more if you like a hotter flavour. The egg is optional - the original Thai version features a fried egg but if you prefer something a little more calorie-lite, then you can do without. Those caveats apart, this is a quick tasty way of enjoying the flavours of Thailand with little effort - door to door, it probably takes about 20 mins to get this ready to eat.
If you'd like to try this out, you can find the youtube tutorial by clicking Pad Gaprao or scroll to the bottom of the page. The written recipe is just below.
Happy cooking! Kurumi XXXX.
If you likeThai foods, check out my Thai Green curry recipe.
Thai spicy minced Pork with Basil - Pad Gaprao
ingredients:
(makes 2 servings)
1/2 pointed sweet pepper
50g green beans
4 cloves garlic
1 dried or fresh chilli (adjust the amount to your taste)
1.5 tbsp vegetable oil
250g mince pork
2 tbsp fish sauce
1 tsp soy sauce
2 tsp brown or palm sugar
3 tbsp water
15g basil (or thai sweet basil - bai horapha - if available)
2 eggs
2 servings of Thai jasmine rice
how to:
cut off both ends of the green beans then cut into small pieces
halve the pointed sweet pepper longways, and thinly slice
slice and then mince the garlic
cut the chilli pepper into small pieces
heat 1 tbsp of the vegetable oil in a pan, stir fry the garlic & chilli for 30 seconds
add the minced pork & stir fry for 1-2 mins, then add the pepper & green beans & stir fry for 3-4 mins
add the fish sauce, soy sauce, sugar & water & stir fry for a further 1-2 mins or until the green beans are cooked but still a little crunchy
add the basil & stir for 30 seconds
heat 1/2 tbsp of vegetable oil in a separate frying pan and fry the eggs
serve with jasmine rice, topping the rice with the egg