Description
This vibrant Thai Basil Chilli Chicken recipe is a quick and flavorful stir-fry that combines tender chicken thigh fillets with aromatic garlic, dried red chillies, fresh bok choy, and fragrant Thai basil. Tossed in a savory stir-fry sauce made from oyster sauce, fish sauce, and soy sauce, it’s a perfect spicy weeknight dinner served over steamed rice.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients
- 2 tbsp vegetable oil
- 4 garlic cloves, finely chopped
- 6 large dried red chillies, roughly chopped
- 1 onion, sliced
- 500g (1 lb) chicken thigh fillets, thinly sliced
- 4 baby bok choy, sliced lengthways
- 1 cup Thai basil leaves
Stir-fry Sauce
- 1/3 cup oyster sauce
- 2 tbsp fish sauce
- 2 tsp dark sweet soy sauce
- 1 tsp sugar
- ½ tsp corn flour (cornstarch)
To Serve
- Steamed rice
Instructions
- Prepare Stir-Fry Sauce: In a small bowl, combine oyster sauce, fish sauce, dark sweet soy sauce, sugar, and corn flour. Mix well until the sugar and corn flour are dissolved. Set aside for later use.
- Heat Oil and Aromatics: Place a wok or large frying pan over high heat and add the vegetable oil. Once hot, add the finely chopped garlic, roughly chopped dried red chillies, and sliced onion. Stir-fry these aromatics for about 20 seconds until fragrant.
- Cook Chicken: Add the thinly sliced chicken thigh fillets to the pan. Immediately spread them out in a single layer to get a good sear. Let the chicken cook undisturbed for nearly a minute, then stir-fry and repeat spreading and letting the chicken sear until it is just cooked through.
- Add Sauce and Vegetables: Pour in the prepared stir-fry sauce and cook, stirring, until the sauce thickens and coats the chicken evenly. Add the sliced baby bok choy and stir-fry for another minute until just wilted.
- Add Thai Basil and Serve: Toss through the fresh Thai basil leaves, allowing them to wilt slightly in the heat. Remove from heat and serve immediately with steamed rice.
Notes
- For less heat, reduce the number of dried chillies or remove the seeds before chopping.
- Substitute chicken thigh fillets with chicken breast if you prefer leaner meat, but thigh meat is more flavorful and tender.
- Thai basil is essential for authentic flavor; if unavailable, use sweet basil as a substitute.
- Serve with jasmine or basmati rice for best results.
- Ensure high heat is maintained throughout cooking to achieve a proper stir-fry texture.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Stir-frying
- Cuisine: Thai
Keywords: Thai basil chicken, chilli chicken stir-fry, Thai stir-fry, easy chicken recipe, quick weeknight dinner, spicy chicken stir-fry
