Thai Basil Chicken Curry Recipe: Fragrant, and Delicious!
There are some days when I crave something common yet something different. Thai basil chicken curry is one such recipe that contains simple flavors but the combination of chicken and basil leaves elevate the mood of the dish. You can try this chicken recipe as well.
Today, I have this Thai basil chicken curry recipe for you. It is a low-calorie dish but very filling. Another good thing about this dish is you can make it in under 20 minutes. I will show you the detailed recipe in simple steps and share some secret tips to take the recipe to the next level. Let’s get started.
Table of Contents
Thai Basil Chicken Curry Recipe Overview
Knowing the serving size and calorie information of the recipe is important so that you can adjust the ingredients accordingly. All the necessary information is available below.
| Course: Main | Cuisine: Thai | Difficulty: Easy | ||
| Total Time: 20 minutes | ||||
| Serving | Preparation Time | Cooking Time | Calories | |
| 3 persons | 5 minutes | 15 minutes | 120 kcal | |
Ingredients Needed for the Recipe
Other than chicken and basil, you will need a few spices and sauces to make this delicious dish. I listed the ingredients below.
- Chicken: 600g of skinless and boneless chicken thigh
- Basil Leaves: A handful of Thai basil leaves
- Garlic: 8 cloves, smashed
- Chili: 5 red spur chilies, thinly sliced
- Shallots: 2 medium shallots, thinly sliced
- Oil: 2 tbsp of canola oil
- Light Soy Sauce: 1 tsp
- Dark Soy Sauce: 1 ½ tsp
- Oyster Sauce: 1 tbsp
- Palm Sugar: 1 tsp, finely chopped
Thai Basil Chicken Curry Recipe: Step-By-Step Instructions
The only part where you need to spend some energy is smashing the spices. So, let’s start with that one.
Step 1: Make a Chili and Garlic Paste
Take 8 cloves of garlic and 4 red spur chilies in a mortar and grind them into a coarse paste.
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Step 2: Fry Shallots and the Paste
Put 2 tbsp of canola oil in a pan and heat it. Then, put the shallots in the oil and fry them for 1-2 minutes. Add the chili and garlic paste you made to the pan and fry the paste as well. After one or two minutes, the spices will release their fragrance.
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Step 3: Add the Chicken Strips and the Sauces
Put thinly sliced chicken strips into the pan and cook them for a few minutes. Then, add light soy sauce, dark soy sauce, and oyster sauce to the chicken. Also, add the chopped palm sugar and mix well.
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Step 4: Finish with Thai Basil Leaves and Sliced Chili
After cooking the chicken for about 12-13 minutes, add fresh Thai basil leaves and sprinkle some sliced red spur chilies on top. Cook everything over high heat for 1-2 minutes and the chicken curry will be ready.
Nutrition Facts of the Recipe
Besides the flavors, I have another reason for serving this dish to my family. This low-calorie dish has only 120 calories per serving. This curry also contains the following nutrients.
- Total Carbohydrates: 7g
- Protein: 19g
- Total Fat: 2g
- Saturated Fat: 0.5g
- Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g
- Monounsaturated Fat: 0g
- Total Dietary Fiber: 0.5g
- Total Sugar: 6g
- Cholesterol: 60mg
- Sodium: 570mg
- Potassium: 310mg
Do’s and Don’ts of the Recipe
My grandma had a lot of tips and tricks up her sleeve. Here are a few of them for this recipe.
Do’s
- You can use boneless chicken breast instead of chicken thighs in this recipe. Chicken breast cooks faster.
- Use large chilies for slicing. They enhance the visual appearance of the dish.
Don’ts
- As I used three types of sauces in this recipe, don’t put additional salt.
- Don’t overcook the chicken. Otherwise, it will be chewy and tasteless.
Thai Basil Chicken Curry Recipe
Ingredients
Method
- Take 8 cloves of garlic and 4 red spur chilies in a mortar and grind them into a coarse paste.
- Put 2 tbsp of canola oil in a pan and heat it. Then, put the shallots in the oil and fry them for 1-2 minutes. Add the chili and garlic paste you made to the pan and fry the paste as well. After one or two minutes, the spices will release their fragrance.
- Put thinly sliced chicken strips into the pan and cook them for a few minutes. Then, add light soy sauce, dark soy sauce, and oyster sauce to the chicken. Also, add the chopped palm sugar and mix well.
- After cooking the chicken for about 12-13 minutes, add fresh Thai basil leaves and sprinkle some sliced red spur chilies on top. Cook everything over high heat for 1-2 minutes and the chicken curry will be ready.
FAQs
You might also be interested in the following topics. Check the FAQs to enrich your knowledge about this recipe.
Can I add Basil leaves at the beginning of the recipe?
No. If you add basil leaves at the beginning, they will be mushy. Also, the freshness of the basil leaves will be gone. So, you should add it just before taking the chicken off the heat.
Can I substitute regular basil for Thai basil in this curry recipe?
You can, but I won’t recommend it. The name of this curry comes from Thai basil and you should use Thai basil to get original flavors.
What kind of curry paste is recommended for Thai basil chicken curry?
A simple curry paste made with chili and garlic is recommended for Thai basil chicken curry. If you want, you can put some shallots in the paste as well.
What type of chicken is best for making Thai basil chicken curry?
Free-range chicken is best for making Thai basil chicken curry, as it has maximum natural flavors. Farm-raised chicken will also do the job.
Conclusion
Thai basil chicken curry has some exotic flavors to soothe your tastebuds and fill your heart. This recipe is so easy that you will want to make it regularly. I mentioned all the necessary steps of the Thai basil chicken curry recipe above.
Follow these steps and my secret tips to make awesome Thai basil chicken curry that everyone will love. This dish can be paired with white rice, fried rice, noodles, etc., to give you a complete and healthy meal.
