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    Home » Thai

    Thai Basil Fried Rice

    Published: Oct 27, 2020 · Modified: Jan 23, 2023 by Archana · This post may contain affiliate links · As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases · 13 Comments

    4647 shares
    Jump to Recipe

    Flavor-packed Thai basil fried rice with a combination of sweet and earthy basil and spicy chili paste. It takes about 10 minutes to cook in a wok and is a perfect meal for the entire family to enjoy. I used all vegan ingredients, including tofu as the main protein. If you aren't vegetarian or vegan you can add your favorite meat to it.

    Two bowls of Thai Basil fried rice
    Jump to:
    • Origins
    • Ingredients
    • How to Make Thai Basil Fried Rice
    • Serving
    • How to Store Thai Fried Rice
    • Variations
    • Tips
    • More Easy Thai Recipes
    • FAQ
    • Recipe

    This dish is named after the large Thai basil leaves that give it a unique aroma and flavor. Not only is this rice dish bursting with flavor, but it's a delight to look at, too. The green Thai basil leaves complement the red bell pepper slices. It's like a party on your plate. I often make this fried rice when I am having a really busy day and don't have time to cook an extravagant meal.

    There are lots of recipes for this fried rice that call for it to be fried in a wok on the stove with different types of protein or meat. My version of the EASY Thai basil fried rice recipe is vegetarian and uses baked tofu.

    fried rice in a wok

    Origins

    The fresh Thai basil leaves are what sets this recipe apart from other fried rice recipes. It is native to Southeast Asia - many people believe it originated in India, but others consider it native to Thailand.

    There are actually three different types of basil used in Thai cooking.

    • Holy Thai Basil - In Thailand, people call this basil kra phao. It has a spicy or peppery flavor and is similar to cloves.
    • Horapa or Horapha - This type of basil has strong anise and licorice notes.
    • Maeglak or Manglak - This basil is also called lemon basil and has a lemon scent and flavor.

    One thing I noticed is that Thai basil is able to withstand longer cooking times than the Mediterranean variety. It also gives the rice a lot more flavor.

    A bowl of Thai basil fried rice

    Ingredients

    • Jasmine rice - cooked jasmine rice you can also use brown rice or basmati rice
    • Tofu - extra firm tofu baked or stir-fried
    • Fresh produce - garlic, yellow onion, red bell pepper, yellow bell pepper
    • Thai basil leaves  - available in Asian grocery stores like H-mart
    • Sauces - soy sauce, oyster sauce (hoisin sauce vegan option), and chili garlic sauce

    How to Make Thai Basil Fried Rice

    • Make Instant Pot Jasmine Rice and allow it to cool down.
    • Heat oil over medium heat. Then, add the garlic and red chilis and saute them until they are fragrant, or about 30 seconds. (photo 1).
    • Saute peppers, onions, and salt for about 4-5 minutes, or until they are slightly tender (photo 2).
    • Add half the basil leaves, soy sauce, hoisin sauce, and chili garlic paste. Stir this well and fry them together (photos 3-4).
    The first steps to make Thai basil fried rice in the wok
    • Add baked tofu to the wok and stir it all together (photo 5).
    • Turn up the heat to high and fold in cooked rice (photo 6).
    • Allow the rice to cook for 4-5 minutes or until the rice is golden brown on the bottom. Add the rest of the Thai basil leaves (photos 7-8).
    Making Thai Basil fried rice in a wok

    Serving

    Thai Basil Fried rice makes for a hearty meal on its own. Add some scrambled or fried egg on top for extra protein. You can also pair it with Chicken Massaman Curry or Vegetable Massaman Curry.

    How to Store Thai Fried Rice

    This Thai fried rice makes for a great meal prep recipe. Bake, air fry or stir fry the tofu and prep the vegetables over teh weekend to make a quick weeknight meal. Any leftovers can also be refrigerated for 2 to 3 days or frozen for up to 2 months.

    Variations

    If you aren't vegetarian, here are some meats that you can use in fried rice instead of tofu.

    • Chicken - Shred some boneless, skinless, chicken breasts and mix them in with the rice
    • Beef - For this recipe, some tender steak strips will taste the best
    • Shrimp - Stir in a few pieces of small shrimp
    • Pork - Shred a pork loin and mix it into the rice

    Tips

    • Use pre-cooked cold rice for the stir fry.
    • Save time and pre-slice the vegetables before you cook.
    • As you make the stir fry, saute the garlic and red chili just until you start to smell it.
    • The best kind of rice to use is Jasmine rice. It has a pleasant aroma and the most flavor.

    More Easy Thai Recipes

    My family loves eating at Thai restaurants so much that I often make Thai curries at home. From the Thai red curry, Instant Pot Thai Massaman curry, Thai Green Curry, Thai Panang Curry to the Instant Pot coconut curry noodle soup, we adore the delicious Thai flavors.

    Spicy Thai food always leaves you craving something sweet. Here are some of my go-to desserts:

    • Badam Burfi
    • The Best Mango Cheesecake
    • Royal Rose Falooda

    FAQ

    What is the best rice to use for fried rice?

    I like to use day-old Jasmine rice for this recipe.

    Can I halve or double this recipe?

    Yes, you can easily cut this recipe in half or even double it. Since you are making this in a wok on the stove, make as much as you need.

    How do you reheat fried rice?

    The best way to reheat leftover fried rice is by frying it again in a wok with more oil. This will make it taste nice and crispy again.

    Recipe

    Tried this recipe? We love your feedback.Please click on the stars in the recipe card below
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    4.64 from 30 votes

    Spicy Thai Basil Fried Rice

    Learn how to make a restaurant-favorite Thai meal at home. This Thai basil fried rice is packed with flavorful veggies and spices for a perfect family meal.
    Prep Time20 mins
    Total Time20 mins
    Course: dinner, Entree
    Cuisine: Thai
    Servings: 4
    Calories: 344kcal
    Author: Archana Mundhe

    Ingredients

    • 4 to 6 cups cooked jasmine rice you can also use brown rice
    • 14 oz extra firm tofu baked or stir-fried
    • 1 tablespoons oil
    • 2 tablespoons garlic minced
    • 1 tablespoon thai red chili sliced optional
    • 1 large yellow onion sliced
    • 1 medium red bell pepper sliced into 1 inch strips
    • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
    • 1 medium yellow bell pepper sliced into 1 inch strips
    • 1 cup packed Thai basil leaves chop if the leaves are big
    • 1 tablespoon soy sauce low sodium
    • 1 tablespoon hoisin sauce or oyster sauce if you are not vegan
    • 1 tablespoon chili garlic sauce

    Instructions

    • Heat oil in a large skillet or wok over medium heat. Add garlic and red chili and saute for 30 seconds or until fragrant.
    • Add onion, peppers, salt and cook for 4 to 5 minutes until the veggies are slightly tender. Next, add half of the Thai basil leaves and stir well. Stir in soy sauce, hoisin sauce, and chili garlic sauce.
    • Add the baked tofu and mix everything together. Turn the heat to high and fold in the cooked rice until all the veggies are mixed in.
    • Allow the rice to cook for 4 to 5 minutes or just until the bottom rice starts to brown and crisp up. Garnish with remaining basil leaves and enjoy hot!

    Video

    Nutrition

    Calories: 344kcal | Carbohydrates: 58g | Protein: 14g | Fat: 6g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 1mg | Sodium: 1174mg | Potassium: 430mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 6g | Vitamin A: 1351IU | Vitamin C: 106mg | Calcium: 74mg | Iron: 2mg
    Tried this recipe?Share your photo and tag @ministry_of_curry or tag #ministryofcurry

    Author: Archana

    Hey there! I am a techie turned recipe developer, cooking instructor, and food blogger. I love food and enjoy developing easy and healthy recipes for busy lifestyles. I live in New Jersey with my husband and two sons.
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    1. Dee says

      October 29, 2020 at 10:31 pm

      Hi Archana,
      How do you make chili garlic. Paste?
      Thank you in advance!

      Reply
      • Archana says

        October 30, 2020 at 8:59 pm

        Hi! I buy store bought chili garlic paste from asian grocery stores

        Reply
    2. ColleenG says

      November 01, 2020 at 10:53 am

      Love your recipes Archana!
      Quick question: Is Chili Garlic Sauce (Tuong ot toi Viet Nam) the same as Chili garlic paste, or or can it be substituted? Also, is red curry paste a good substitute for Chili Garlic Sauce?
      I am off to the Asian market this afternoon and I wanted to check before shopping!

      Reply
      • Archana says

        November 01, 2020 at 11:19 am

        Hi Colleen! Yes I used Tuong ot toi Viet Nam Chili Garlic Sauce. I will make it more clear in the ingredients.

        Reply
    3. Kavita Surana says

      November 01, 2020 at 8:14 pm

      I loved making this dish! I love thai nd oof and this was easy to make. Delicious and my kids loved it as well. I made it with tofu.5 stars

      Reply
    4. Judy says

      November 10, 2020 at 6:42 pm

      So good! Taste and smell was just like at our favorite Thai restaurant.5 stars

      Reply
    5. michelle says

      November 15, 2020 at 9:34 pm

      Looks delicious. Thanks for the meal plans...great time savers.5 stars

      Reply
    6. Kumud says

      November 23, 2020 at 4:14 pm

      Where can we buy thai Basil in US?

      Reply
      • Archana says

        November 24, 2020 at 11:16 pm

        Asian grocery stores like Hmart

        Reply
    7. Lina Bedi says

      November 24, 2020 at 2:13 pm

      Replaced the tofu with broccoli. Came out sooo good, the family pretty much licked it clean and asked to have this at least once a week.5 stars

      Reply
    8. michelle says

      December 02, 2020 at 8:54 pm

      Delicious and.very easy. I followed the recipe except for substituting oyster sauce for the hoisin5 stars

      Reply
    9. Dee says

      December 17, 2020 at 2:53 pm

      Hi Archana,
      ReAlly want to make this recipe for my family but I don’t have access to H mart near me. What can I sub for it? Thank you

      Reply
      • Archana says

        December 17, 2020 at 4:25 pm

        What are you looking to sub? Chili Garlic paste? You can add any spicy red hot sauce

        Reply

    Primary Sidebar

    Hi, I'm Archana: a former software engineer, now a full-time blogger. I am a mother of two boys who share my love for food and cooking. Words I love to hear are, “Mom, what’s for dinner?” The same words I say to my mom every time we speak. I live in the greater New York City Area with my husband and sons.

    Learn More About Me!

    Archana's Essential Indian Instant Pot Cookbook

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