Thai spicy ground pork stir fry with holy basil (Pad Kra Pao) is a simple and delicious 30-minute meal you must try! Loaded with fresh basil and green beans, this nutritious stir fry is typically served with rice, but can also be enjoyed on its own.
Heat oil in a large skillet or wok over medium-high heat. Peel and thinly slice the shallot and mince the garlic. Sauté shallot for 3-4 minutes, then add garlic, stirring until soft and fragrant, about 2-3 minutes.
Chop or crush the dried chiles and stir them into the pan with the shallot and garlic. Sauté for 1-2 minutes.
Add the ground pork to the pan and reduce the heat slightly. Break it up using a wooden spatula as it browns, stirring frequently.
While the meat is cooking, trim and cut the green beans into halves or thirds, and set aside.
Once the pork is fully cooked, stir in soy sauce, coconut sugar, fish sauce, and oyster sauce to the pan and stir until the pork is well-coated.
Add the green beans and stir-fry for about 5 minutes or until they are crisp tender. The meat and sauce should start to caramelize slightly but not burn. Stir frequently.
Coarsely chop the basil leaves and add to the pan. Remove from heat and stir until basil leaves wilt.
If using, fry the eggs right before serving. You will want to cook one egg per person. Enjoy the stir fry by itself or serve with rice (or cauliflower rice for a lower carbohydrate option).
How to cook a Thai-style Fried Egg
Eggs with Thai food typically have a super crispy white and a perfectly gooey yolk. While you can prepare the eggs however you prefer for this recipe, to make a tasty Thai-style egg you will need a very hot pan and a good amount of oil. Heat the oil in a pan over medium-high heat. Once the oil is hot, crack the egg into the pan making sure the egg is surrounded by the oil (you may need to tilt the pan so that the egg and oil get wedged into the corner). Spoon the hot oil over the top of the egg to cook to the top (no need to flip) and continue to cook until the edges of the white become perfectly crispy and bubbly. Remove from the pan and serve on top of the finished stir fry.
Notes
Store leftovers in an airtight container for 3-4 days in the fridge.Reheat on medium in a skillet for the best flavor, adding a touch more oil to the pan. To reheat in the microwave, do so at 30-second intervals, stirring between. Although you can freeze this dish, ideally it is best eaten fresh.Variations
Can't find Bird's Eye chile peppers? | Thai chiles can be found fresh in the produce section. Fresh peppers can be substituted 1:1 for dried ones. Substitute with several Serrano chili peppers. Serrano peppers are larger but less spicy, so you may need to adjust the quantity to taste. Dried bird’s eye chiles can also be substituted for 1⁄2-1 tsp of crushed red pepper flakes.
Ground chicken | For a slightly different flavor, try ground chicken or even turkey. If it is extra lean, you may need to add a bit more cooking oil before adding the beans to the pan.
Coconut Aminos | For a slightly sweeter, rich umami flavor, try substituting 3 tablespoons of coconut aminos in place of regular soy sauce.
Sub asparagus for green beans.
Thai holy basil | Harder to find out of season, if needed, use regular basil or Thai basil in place of holy basil.
Rice| For a healthier twist, serve with brown rice or cauliflower rice or simply on its own.
Gluten-Free Ground Pork Stir Fry - Simply substitute the soy sauce for 3 tbsp. coconut aminos. If gluten-free, be sure to check that the oyster and the fish sauce are also certified gluten-free.