🍗🌿🥥🍚 Thai Basil Chicken with Coconut Jasmine Rice
Juicy ground or chopped chicken stir-fried with garlic, chili, and fresh Thai basil, served over fluffy coconut-simmered jasmine rice. It’s bold, fragrant, and comes together in under 30 minutes!
📝 Ingredients (Serves 2–3)
🍚 For the Coconut Jasmine Rice:
1 cup jasmine rice 🍚
¾ cup coconut milk 🥥
¾ cup water 💧
¼ tsp salt 🧂
1 tsp sugar (optional) 🍯
🍗 For the Thai Basil Chicken:
1 lb (450g) ground chicken or finely chopped chicken thighs 🍗
1 tbsp oil (vegetable or coconut oil) 🛢️
4 garlic cloves, minced 🧄
1–2 Thai chilies, thinly sliced (adjust to taste) 🌶️
1 small shallot, finely chopped 🧅
1 tbsp soy sauce 🧂
1 tbsp oyster sauce 🥄
1 tsp fish sauce (optional, for depth) 🐟
1 tsp brown sugar 🍯
½ cup fresh Thai basil leaves (or regular basil if needed) 🌿
Juice of ½ lime (optional) 🍋
🌿 Garnishes:
Fried egg with crispy edges (optional, highly recommended) 🍳
Fresh cucumber slices 🥒
Extra basil or chili for topping 🌿🌶️
👨🍳 Instructions
1. Cook the Coconut Jasmine Rice:
Rinse rice under cold water until the water runs mostly clear.
In a pot, combine rice, coconut milk, water, salt, and optional sugar.
Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 15 minutes.
Turn off heat and let it sit, covered, for 5–10 minutes. Fluff with a fork before serving.
2. Make the Thai Basil Chicken:
Heat oil in a skillet or wok over medium-high heat.
Add garlic, chilies, and shallots. Stir-fry until fragrant, about 30 seconds.
Add chicken and break it apart while stir-frying until fully cooked (about 5–7 minutes).
Stir in soy sauce, oyster sauce, fish sauce (if using), and sugar. Mix well and cook for another 2 minutes.
Turn off heat and toss in fresh basil leaves. Stir until wilted.
Squeeze in lime juice if using.
3. Assemble & Serve:
Serve Thai basil chicken over a scoop of coconut jasmine rice.
Top with a crispy fried egg, extra basil, and fresh chilies if desired.
Add cucumber slices on the side for a refreshing contrast.
🔥 Pro Tips
Use Thai holy basil (bai gaprao) for authenticity if available, but sweet basil works great too.
Coconut rice can be made in a rice cooker using the same liquid ratio.
Don’t overcrowd the pan when cooking chicken; high heat gives the best caramelization.