Thai Style Basil Rice Recipes

THAI SPICY BASIL FRIED RICE

Steps:

• Whisk together oyster sauce, fish sauce, soy sauce, and sugar. Set aside.
• Spray a wok or large frying pan with olive oil spray and heat over medium-high heat.
• Add the garlic and chili (or serrano) peppers and stir fry for 30 seconds.
• Add the red pepper and onion and stir fry until the onion is translucent. If using chicken or beef, add it with the the onion and red pepper. Cook until chicken is done, or beef is about medium.
• Push ingredients in the wok/pan aside and quickly scramble the egg.
• Add the oyster sauce mixture and stir everything together.
• Raise the heat to high and add the chilled rice. Stir until blended with the sauce and other ingredients, breaking up clumps of rice with the back of a spoon.
• Add more soy, oyster, or fish sauce, if necessary (or to taste).
• When everything is blended together and rice is hot, remove from heat and stir in the basil.
• Garnish with cilantro, if desired.

THAI-STYLE BASIL RICE

Steps:

• In a large, heavy saucepan, melt the butter and oil together over medium heat.
• Add the shallots and chopped basil and cook until shallots are slightly soft, about 5 minutes; add garlic and green onion and sauté another 2 to three minutes.
• Add the uncooked rice and stir to coat well; sauté for 3 minutes while stirring.
• Mix together the water and chicken bouillon and stir until dissolved; add bouillon liquid to rice in saucepan and bring to a boil.
• If using, stir in red pepper and coconut flakes.
• Cover saucepan, reduce heat to low, and cook for 15 to 20 minutes or until the liquid is absorbed and rice is to preferred texture.
• Fluff with fork, serve, and enjoy.
• Makes 4 servings.

THAI BASIL FRIED RICE

Steps:

• CHILI: Add the garlic, red chilies, and a small pinch of salt to a mortar and break it down with a pestle. You want the garlic and chilies to be completely minced; set aside.
• SAUCE: Add oyster sauce, soy sauce, fish sauce, brown sugar, and white pepper to a bowl, stir to combine; set aside for now.
• EGGS: Heat a large dutch oven or wok over medium-high heat until hot. Add the oil to the pan. Add the eggs and scramble them in the pan quickly, breaking up any large pieces. Remove to a bowl and set aside for later.
• SAUTE: Add the butter to the pan and allow it to melt. Then add the shallots and cook for 3 minutes or until softened, then add the chili paste from step 1. Cook for 30 seconds before adding the shrimp. Cook the shrimp for 30 seconds. Then add the cooked rice to the skillet. Stir everything to combine. Flatten the rice out into a thin layer and allow the rice to sizzle for 30 seconds untouched. Toss, then let sit again for 30 seconds. Alternating gives the rice time to heat through. You'll notice the rice starts to sizzle and pop in the pan.
• FINISH: Drizzle the prepared sauce over the rice, stir, and allow it to sizzle and soak into the rice. When the sauce is absorbed, add the eggs and basil. Stir to combine and allow the basil to wilt a bit. Turn off the heat and serve!

THAI-STYLE BASIL SHRIMP WITH BASIL-COCONUT RICE

Steps:

• Whisk the lime juice, vegetable oil, curry paste, fish sauce and garlic in a large bowl. Add the shrimp; toss to coat. Refrigerate at least 30 minutes or up to 1 hour. Meanwhile, soak ten 8-inch bamboo skewers in water at least 30 minutes; drain. Thread the shrimp onto the skewers, rubbing any excess marinade on the shrimp; set aside.
• Preheat a grill to medium high. Puree the coconut milk, 2 cups basil, the jalapeno and a pinch of salt in a blender, about 30 seconds. (Do not over-blend or the coconut milk might separate.) Set aside.
• Melt the butter in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat. Add the scallion whites and cook, stirring occasionally, until softened, about 2 minutes. Add the rice, 1/2 cup water, the coconut milk-basil puree and 1/2 teaspoon salt. Bring to a simmer, stirring and scraping the bottom of the pot with a wooden spoon to prevent the rice from sticking. Reduce the heat to low. Cover and cook until the rice is tender and the liquid is absorbed, 15 to 17 minutes. Remove from the heat and keep covered.
• Meanwhile, brush the grill grates with vegetable oil. Grill the shrimp skewers until well marked and just cooked through, 2 to 3 minutes per side. Fluff the rice with a fork, stir in the scallion greens and season with salt. Combine the bean sprouts, peanuts and remaining 2 cups basil. Top the lettuce leaves with the bean sprout mixture and shrimp skewers. Serve with the rice and lime wedges.

THAI SPICY BASIL CHICKEN FRIED RICE

Steps:

• Whisk together the oyster sauce, fish sauce, and sugar in a bowl.
• Heat the oil in a wok over medium-high heat until the oil begins to smoke. Add the garlic and serrano peppers, stirring quickly. Stir in the chicken, bell pepper, onion and oyster sauce mixture; cook until the chicken is no longer pink. Raise heat to high and stir in the chilled rice; stir quickly until the sauce is blended with the rice. Use the back of a spoon to break up any rice sticking together.
• Remove from heat and mix in the basil leaves. Garnish with sliced cucumber and cilantro as desired.