The Holy Basil Punch
The star here is the holy basil, which has a distinct peppery bite compared to regular sweet basil. The chicken should be minced finely so it absorbs all the fish sauce, garlic, and bird eye chillies. It is a simple stir fry, but when the wok heat is right, the fragrance is incredible.
The Crispy Edge Egg
Never skip the fried egg. A proper Thai style egg is deep fried in hot oil until the edges are brown, bubbly, and super crispy while the yolk remains runny. When that yolk breaks and mixes with the spicy meat and jasmine rice, it is pure magic. This dish is usually high on the spice scale, so be ready.
Quick answers
- Can I ask for less spice?
- You can, but the dish loses its soul without that chilli kick. Medium is usually the sweet spot.
- Is it always made with chicken?
- Minced chicken is the standard at most food courts, but you can sometimes find pork or beef versions too.