Thai Basil Chicken Wok Steam
Fragrant Thai holy basil chicken steamed in a wok with chilies and garlic. Authentic, aromatic, and ready in under 20 minutes.
- Total time
- 20 min
- Servings
- 4
- Calories
- 285
- Protein
- 38g
Ingredients
- 1.5 lb chicken breast
- 1 cup fresh Thai holy basil
- 6 count garlic cloves
- 2 count red Thai chilies
- 2 tbsp fish sauce
- 1 tbsp soy sauce
- 1 tbsp lime juice
- 1 tsp palm sugar
- ½ cup chicken stock
- 2 tbsp vegetable oil
Instructions
- 1
Pat chicken breasts dry and cut into 1-inch cubes. This ensures even cooking and allows the sauce to coat the meat properly. Set aside on a clean plate.
- 2
Slice garlic cloves thinly and deseed red Thai chilies, then slice them into thin rings. Roughly chop the Thai holy basil leaves, keeping stems separate for layering.
- 3
Whisk together fish sauce, soy sauce, lime juice, palm sugar, and chicken stock in a small bowl until the sugar dissolves. Taste and adjust seasoning—it should be balanced between salty, sour, and slightly sweet.
- 4
Heat 2 tablespoons of vegetable oil in a wok or large skillet over medium-high heat until shimmering, about 1 minute. Add garlic and chilies, stirring constantly until fragrant, about 30 seconds—do not burn.
- 5
Add chicken cubes to the wok and stir-fry for 2–3 minutes, breaking them apart as they cook, until the outside is opaque and lightly golden. The chicken does not need to be cooked through at this stage.
- 6
Pour the sauce over the chicken and stir to combine. Add basil stems and reduce heat to medium-low, then cover the wok with a lid or aluminum foil and steam for 5–7 minutes until chicken is cooked through and tender.
- 7
Remove from heat and stir in the chopped basil leaves, reserving some for garnish. The residual heat will wilt the basil and release its aromatic oils.
- 8
Transfer to a serving bowl or individual plates, pour sauce over top, and garnish with remaining fresh Thai basil and thinly sliced red chilies. Serve immediately with jasmine rice.
Tools you’ll need
- Wok
- Wok lid or aluminum foil
- Small mixing bowl
- Whisk
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