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Easy Thai Basil Pork Stir Fry with white rice and lime

Easy Thai Basil Pork

Casey Rooney
This Easy Thai Basil Pork (also called pad kra pao, or holy basil stir fry) really lives up to its name! Packed with incredible Thai flavors, but so simple to make, this amazing dish will be on your table in (way) less than 30 minutes!
4.94 from 16 votes
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 15 minutes
Course Dinner, Main Course
Cuisine Asian, thai
Servings 4
Calories 243 kcal

Ingredients
  

  • 1 lb ground pork See Note 1
  • 5 cloves garlic, finely chopped the best garlic chopper
  • 1 cup fresh basil leaves, roughly chopped Thai basil is ideal but regular "Italian" basil leaves are fine, too!

For the sauce

  • 4 tbsp soy sauce low sodium works best
  • 3 tsp fish sauce See Note 2
  • 4 tbsp brown sugar
  • 1/2 tsp sesame oil
  • 1 tsp hoisin sauce See Note 3
  • 4 tbsp warm water See Note 4

For serving

  • rice any kind!
  • peanuts, chopped (optional)
  • Thai red chili peppers (optional)
  • lime (optional)

Instructions
 

  • Make the Sauce: In a small bowl, whisk together sauce ingredients: soy sauce, fish sauce, brown sugar, sesame oil, hoisin sauce, and warm water. Set aside.
  • Cook Pork: In a large skillet over medium-high heat, brown pork for 2-3 minutes, breaking it up with a wooden spoon so it's nice and crumbly. Pro tip: A potato masher also works GREAT for breaking up the meat!
  • Add: Add garlic and cook one minute more. Then, add sauce and cook 1-2 minutes more, stirring as it cooks. You want the pork to be completely coated with the sauce.
  • Finish: Stir in basil and cook one 1 minute more until the basil is wilted.
  • Serve: Serve immediately over steamed jasmine rice. Garnish with a squeeze of lime juice, peanuts, and Thai chilis, if you like!

Notes

Note 1: Make sure you buy plain ground pork and not ground pork SAUSAGE (big difference!). Look for lean (90% lean or more) pork, if you can! Also, any ground meat can be substituted: ground chicken, turkey, or even beef.
Note 2: Ok, hear me out! You may HATE fish sauce and gag at the thought but you have to know the SECRET! The secret of fish sauce is using sugar and/or acid (like lime juice) to offset the "fishy" taste. If you do this, you will be left with the deep rich, salty "thai" flavor of the fish sauce without the yuckiness. TRY IT! I promise you won't be sorry--it's a must in Thai dishes!
Note 3: Hoisin is a thick, slightly sweet, slightly salty asian sauce. You can find hoisin sauce in most major grocery stores (and even Target!) in the Asian aisle. 
Note 4: Warm water is just used to thin the sauce a bit and help the brown sugar dissolve.
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Nutrition

Calories: 243kcalCarbohydrates: 12.5gProtein: 37.1gFat: 4.7gSaturated Fat: 2.1gCholesterol: 91mgSodium: 1084mgFiber: 0.4gSugar: 9.6gCalcium: 30mgIron: 2mg
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