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Basil is a key ingredient in many recipes, but the different varieties will have completely different flavours.

Thai Basil is ideal for Thai, Laos or Vietnamese Recipes –
and probably one of the best know recipes is Thai basil chicken.

5 Key ingredient options

There are a few different ways of making Thai basil chicken but the key ingredients tend to be

Chicken – either breast or thighs
Basil – either Thai Basil or Holy basil
Peppers – either Thai Pepper or Bird’s eye Pepper
Soy, fish and/or oyster sauce
Garlic, and other vegetables

Especially the type of Basil or Peppers you use make a real impact on the flavour of the dish. The main differences are described lower down the page.

Easy Thai Basil Chicken Recipe

Please note I’ve cheated and made a very easy Thai basil chicken. It’s not authentic but does taste great and is quick & easy to make without to many ingredients.

You will need the following

Ingredients:

300 g Chicken Breast (2 breasts)
1 cup Thai Basil leaves
2 Bird’s eye chilli peppers – deseeded and finely chopped
3 cloves garlic – crushed
1 tablespoon oyster sauce
1 tablespoon dark soy sauce
2 tablespoons water
1 teaspoon brown sugar
2 tablespoons virgin olive oil

Equipment

Chef’s knife
Mixing bowl
Gloves
Wok

Instructions

Cut the peppers length-ways, remove the seeds and then cut diagonally into smaller pieces (Make sure you wear gloves)
Cut the chicken breasts into bite size peaces
Remove the basil leaves from the stems and cut into small pieces
Combine the oyster sauce, soy sauce, water and brown sugar in a small bowl
Heat oil in a wok and add the chicken pieces – until they lose their raw colour
Then add the peppers and garlic and cook for 2 minutes
Pour in the sauce and cook until it starts turning thick and gooey
Finally add in the Thai Basil and slowly stir until it starts to wilt (about 10 seconds)

Serve with rice

Thai Basil or Holy Basil?

Lots of recipes interchange the basil types – but it is very important to realise there is a major difference between the 2 types of basil:

Holy basil (also called tulasi basil) has a very peppery flavour – which is why it’s also often called hot basil
Thai basil has a more standard basil flavour combined with a strong liquorice and anise flavour

The type of basil you use will have a major impact on the flavour of your Thai basil chicken. I’ve used Thai basil in the recipe below, only because it was ready for harvesting !

Thai chilli pepper or Bird’s eye chilli pepper?

Similarly Thai chilli peppers and African Bird’s eye chilli peppers are also often interchanged but they also add a different flavour to the meal:

Thai chilli pepper is very Hot & Fruity
African Bird’s eye chilli pepper is seriously Hot & Tasty

The Thai chilli pepper is the authentic pepper to use, is often difficult to find and will add a more fruity flavour to your Thai basil chicken.

On the other hand the Bird’s eye chilli peppers are available in most shops (and also very easy to grow at home).

Thai basil has a unique flavour

Thai basil has a unique flavour that is great for many recipes, like in the Thai basil chicken recipe.

Fresh Thai Basil is available in many shops ( for example you can Buy it on Amazon)

But it’s also very easy to grow at home from seed.

For example the Thai basil on the right.

The seeds were planted in a seed tray on May 16
Grown using a heat mat & grow light
Transferred into a pot 4 weeks later
Ready for use July 16 – 2 months later
And will keep growing and growing

If you want to grow your own Thai basil then all you need are seeds and a pot.

Although using a seed heat mat and grow light will help you get faster results.

How to grow Thai basil

Print Pin

5 from 2 votes

Easy Thai basil chicken

Very quick and easy to grow but the basil you use makes all the difference

Course Main Course

Cuisine Thai

Keyword holy basil chicken, thai basil, thai basil chicken

Prep Time 5

Cook Time 10

Total Time 15

Servings Meals

Calories 320kcal

Author Minze Vries

Cost £1.80

Equipment

Chef Knife
Mixing bowl
Wok
Gloves

Ingredients

300 g Chicken breasts 2 breasts
1 cup Thai basil leaves Or Holy Basil
3 Bird's eye chilli peppers Or Thai Peppers
3 Cloves Garlic
1 tablespoon Oyster sauce
1 tablespoon Dark soy sauce
1 teaspoon Brown sugar
2 tablespoons Water
2 tablespoons Extra virgin olive oil

Instructions

Combine the oyster sauce, soy sauce, water and brown sugar in a small bowl
Prepare the ingredients:
Cut the peppers length-ways, remove the seeds and then cut diagonally into smaller pieces (Make sure you wear gloves)
Cut the chicken breasts into bite size pieces.
Remove the basil leaves from the stems and cut into small pieces
Heat oil in a wok and add the chicken pieces – until they lose their raw colour
Then add the peppers and garlic a cook for 2 minutes
Pour in the sauce and cook until it starts turning thick and gooey
Finally add in the Thai Basil and slowly stir until it starts to wilt (about 10 seconds)