{"id":295116,"date":"2025-06-15T14:46:55","date_gmt":"2025-06-15T14:46:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/peraltafinancing.com\/recipes\/category-a-b\/budget-food\/easy-pad-kra-pao-frugal-hausfrau\/"},"modified":"2025-06-15T14:46:55","modified_gmt":"2025-06-15T14:46:55","slug":"easy-pad-kra-pao-frugal-hausfrau","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/fivemor.com\/?p=295116","title":{"rendered":"Easy Pad Kra Pao – Frugal Hausfrau"},"content":{"rendered":"


\n<\/p>\n

\n

If you love Thai food, I think you\u2019re gonna love this easy Pad Kra Pao (Pad Kra Pao translates to stir-fried holy basil). You might even have ordered it or at least seen it on the menu at your favorite Thai restaurant. It\u2019s a classic offering.<\/p>\n

\"Easy<\/a><\/p>\n

Easy Pad Kra Pao<\/p>\n<\/div>\n


<\/a><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

You might be surprised at how easy Pad Kra Pao is to make at home. If you cook many Asian or Asian-leaning dishes, you might have most of the ingredients at home, and for some, I can give substitutions.<\/p>\n

About Easy Pad Kra Pao:<\/h2>\n

What we\u2019re talking about here is a dish that is made with ground pork (or beef, or chicken, or turkey) that\u2019s doused with deep, rich umami flavor. It\u2019s traditionally spicy, but that\u2019s all in your control, and that spiciness is balanced by the earthy, fragrant basil.<\/p>\n

Best of all, this is a quick recipe made in one skillet, with practically no prep to speak of; the hardest part is pulling out the Asian condiments, then putting them back! (Hint: I keep mine grouped together in both the fridge for those that need it as well as in the pantry.)<\/p>\n

Your Pad Kra Pao comes together in less than 30 minutes and is infinitely customizable to you and your family\u2019s tastes! Ya gotta love that!<\/p>\n

Serve\u00a0Easy Pad Kra Pao With:<\/h2>\n

Traditionally Easy Pad Kra Pao is always served with rice, and Jasmine rice is the way to go. If not an option, use what you have. Start the rice about the same time as you start getting out the ingredients for your Pad Kra Pao.<\/p>\n

Double down on the experience by topping with a fried egg; you\u2019ll want it cooked with the yolk still runny to drip down into the luscious pork below. Admittedly, not my thing, and my photos reflect that.<\/p>\n

The Basil:<\/h3>\n

Holy Basil can be tricky to find in most of the country. Good old garden (Italian) basil\u00a0<\/a><\/em><\/strong><\/span> works beautifully. No need to stress over it; the goal, after all, is to get dinner on the table!<\/p>\n

Don\u2019t grow basil? Grab one of those little pots from the produce area, but check carefully, avoiding any with dark spots. Even if your chosen one looks healthy, it can still harbor fungus, so use ASAP (it\u2019s a good idea to have another recipe and the ingredients for the remainder). If there is any fungus, it can take the whole plant in a day or two.<\/p>\n

Not wild about basil? It\u2019s a key flavor of the dish, but if it\u2019s a bit much for you, just use less. Taste as you ad it in. Easy fix!<\/p>\n

\"Easy<\/a><\/p>\n

Easy Pad Kra Pao<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

The Spice Level & Chiles:<\/h3>\n

This calls for bird chiles, and I\u2019ve found them in my grocery. They\u2019re hot! If not available, try jalapenos or serranos. I do like to use a milder chile, like a Fresno or mini sweet peppers, for garnish.<\/p>\n

To lower the heat level, try using the lesser amount of bird chilis along with the milder Fresno or mini sweet peppers in the dish.<\/p>\n

The Sauces for\u00a0Easy Pad Kra Pao:<\/h3>\n

Follow the tags at the bottom of the recipe for other posts that use these ingredients.<\/p>\n