Name: Gai Pad Bai Gaprow
Yield: Serves 6 as part of a rice based meal
Ingredients: 1 pound skinless boneless chicken breast; 1 tablespoon vegetable oil; 3 garlic cloves, chopped fine; 2 small fresh red or green Thai (bird) chilies or serrano chilies, or to taste, seeded and minced (wear rubber gloves); 1/4 cup chicken broth or water; 1 tablespoon Asian fish sauce (preferably naam pla); 2 teaspoons sugar; 1 teaspoon soy sauce; 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper; 1 1/2 cups loosely packed fresh holy basil leaves or Asian basil leaves (from about 2 ounces sprigs), washed well and spun dry; 2 tablespoons fresh lime juice or to taste; Accompaniment: Thai Sticky Rice orThai Jasmine Rice

(Chicken Stir-Fry with Holy Basil)

Two of the common types of basil used in Thailand are now available in North America. Bai horapha tastes like a good strong Italian sweet basil and can be found in Asian markets and some supermarkets, usually sold as Asian basil or Thai basil.

The basil traditionally used in this recipes is bai gaprow, or holy basil which can be harder to find because of its shorter shelf life. Holy basil hasn't much taste when raw, but when cooked it becomes strong and distinctive. Asian basil makes a very good substitute, though it can't be cooked as long or it will lose flavor.

Recipe notes

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