Thai Basil Sauce for Stir Fry
Looking for a flavorful sauce that makes meal prep a breeze? My Thai Basil Sauce for stir fry is the perfect way to add bold, fresh flavors to dishes like Pad Kra Pao, Drunken Noodles, and Basil Fried Rice. Best of all, it keeps in the fridge for a week and several months in the freezer, so you can always have it ready to go!
What Does Thai Basil Sauce Taste Like?
This sauce is sweet, savory, and spicy. If you’re not a fan of spicy food, simply make the sauce without the basil, garlic, and chili—you’ll still have a great base for stir fry dishes like beef and broccoli or shrimp and asparagus. But if you love the combination of sweet, spicy, savory, and a hint of star anise flavor, this recipe is a must-try!
Basil that Works for Basil Sauce
Basil varieties that work well for Thai stir fry include Holy Basil, Thai Basil, and Sweet Italian Basil. Each type adds a slightly different aroma to the dish, but all three create a delicious and aromatic stir fry! In the picture above, I used Holy Basil, which gives my sauce an authentic Thai Pad Kra Pao flavor.
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How to Use Homemade Basil Sauce?
Pad Kra Pao: Cook your choice of protein, then add about three tablespoons of basil sauce to the pan. Mix well for an authentic Pad Kra Pao, and feel free to toss in more fresh basil or vegetables like onions, green beans, or long beans for extra flavor.
Basil Fried Rice: Stir in cold, cooked rice with the protein and basil sauce to create a flavorful basil fried rice. It’s a great way to use up leftover rice!
Drunken Noodles: Swap the rice for spaghetti or wide rice noodles, and you’ll have drunken noodles. Add vegetables like bell peppers, carrots, Gai Lan, broccoli, and Bok Choy for a colorful, hearty meal.
How to Store Basil Sauce.
Store the sauce in a clean, airtight container and refrigerate it. It’s a great way to use up basil before frost hits your garden or when you have an abundance in the kitchen. This sauce can be refrigerated for up to one week. While many Thai people use it for up to 30 days without issues, the USDA recommends consuming products with garlic and oil within seven days. If you’d like to store the sauce longer, simply freeze it in silicone molds. Then transfer the cubes to an airtight container, label, freeze, and enjoy!
Thai Basil Sauce for Stir Fry
Equipment
- 1 jar (32 oz jar)
Ingredients
- 2 tbsp vegetable oil
- ½ cup minced garlic
- 10 Thai chili (fresh or dry but fresh will be less spicy.)
- 250 ml water (1 cup)
- 1 tbsp chicken bouillon
- 4 tbsp sugar
- ½ cup oyster sauce
- 5 tbsp soy sauce
- 2 tbsp fish sauce
- 1 tbsp dark soy sauce (optional)
- 4 cups basil (or as much as you can find. Holy basil, Thai basil, and Italian basil work for this recipe.)
Instructions
- Wash and clean the basil, then set them aside.
- On medium-low heat, heat vegetable oil. Do not wait until oil becomes hot. Add minced garlic and chilies. Stir fry garlic and chili until fragrant. (1-2 minutes)
- Add water, sugar, and chicken bouillon. Stir to combine and bring the mixture to a boil.
- Add oyster sauce, soy sauce, fish sauce, and dark soy sauce. Stir and simmer the mixture 10- 15 minutes.
- Let the mixture cool for 5 minutes.
- Place the basil leaves in a jar, ready to go.
- Pour the hot stir-fry sauce over the basil in the jar and stir to combine. The basil will wilt quickly in the hot sauce.
- Store the basil sauce in the fridge for up to one week. If you haven't used the sauce by the 5th day, transfer it into ice cube trays, freeze, then move the frozen cubes to a ziplock bag for longer storage. Use as needed and enjoy!
Video
@stickyricethaikitchen Another hurricane just passed but who knows what’s coming next. Hard frost? Ingredients list below ⬇️ 2 tbsp vegetable oil ½ cup minced garlic 10 Thai chili (fresh or dry but fresh will be less spicy.) 250 ml water (1 cup) 1 tbsp chicken bouillon 4 tbsp sugar ½ cup oyster sauce 5 tbsp soy sauce 2 tbsp fish sauce 1 tbsp dark soy sauce (optional) 4 cups basil (or as much as you can find. Holy basil, Thai basil, and Italian basil work for this recipe.) #basil#thaibasil#italianbasil#holybasil#stirfry#sauce#homemadesauce#basilsauce#thaifood#thaicookinthairecipe#hurricane#mealprep#preserve#gardentotable#easyrecipe#tiktokfood#harvesttime#autumnrecipe#fallrecipe
♬ Autumn Leaves – Timothy Cole
