Thai Basil Prawn Stir-Fry

Craving authentic Thai flavors? This Thai Basil Shrimp (Pad Krapow Kung) stir-fry is your answer! Ready in just 30 minutes, it’s the perfect, flavorful meal for busy weeknights.

During my unforgettable trip to Thailand, I was completely captivated by the incredible Thai cuisine. I had the best Pad Thai in Bangkok!

Another dish that stole my heart was Pad Krapow. It’s a wildly popular street food staple throughout Thailand. Bangkok held a special place in my culinary exploration, and I was inspired to recreate a delectable seafood stir-fry version in my own kitchen.

This Thai Basil Shrimp, also known as Pad Krapow Kung, is a guaranteed success. “Kung” simply translates to shrimp in Thai. With fresh shrimp, fragrant Thai basil, a zesty touch of lime juice, and vibrant, fresh vegetables, this recipe is easy to follow and comes together in less than 30 minutes. It’s the perfect solution for a quick and satisfying weeknight dinner.

🌟 Why You’ll Love This Thai Basil Shrimp

This recipe captures the essence of popular Thai street food, and I’m confident you’ll fall in love with it!

• Easy to Find Ingredients: Most, if not all, of the ingredients can be easily sourced at your local grocery store. No need for a specialty market run!
• Customizable with Vegetables: Feel free to load up on your favorite veggies! This recipe is very flexible and can easily accommodate additions.
• Ready in 30 Minutes: From start to finish, this dish comes together in under 30 minutes, making it an ideal choice for busy weeknights.
• Flavor-Packed Sauce: The sauce is where the magic happens! You can easily customize the heat level to your liking, from mild to fiery.

Looking for more tempting Thai recipes? Be sure to try my Beef Pad Thai, Thai Peanut Curry, or Thai Coconut Chicken recipes.

🛒 Key Ingredient Notes for Thai Basil Shrimp

• Shrimp: Opt for large or jumbo shrimp for the best results. If using frozen shrimp, ensure it’s fully thawed before cooking. Patting the shrimp dry before stir-frying helps achieve a nice sear.
• Vegetables: This recipe features red bell pepper, green bell pepper, and onions. For a kick of heat, consider adding some finely chopped Thai chili peppers, also known as Bird’s Eye chilies. You can also experiment with other vegetables like bok choy, broccoli florets, sugar snap peas, green beans, or even bean sprouts.
• Thai Basil: The star of the show! Thai basil delivers the distinctive flavor that defines this dish. Its unique sweet, anise-like aroma and flavor are difficult to replicate with other herbs (see the FAQ section below for possible substitution suggestions). Compared to Italian basil, Thai basil boasts a stronger, slightly spiced flavor and aroma. Check your local grocery store’s produce section or visit your nearest Asian market.
• Sauce Essentials: To create the flavorful sauce, you’ll need minced garlic, minced ginger, soy sauce, oyster sauce, vegetable oil (can substitute canola oil or olive oil), fish sauce, and brown sugar. Dark soy sauce adds a depth of color and flavor, but light soy sauce can be used with a touch more dark brown sugar to compensate.
• Coconut Milk: Coconut milk lends a touch of richness to the dish. It also helps balance the heat if you choose to add Thai chilies. Full-fat coconut milk provides the most luxurious texture, but light coconut milk can also be used to reduce the fat content.

✅ How to Make Thai Basil Shrimp: Step-by-Step

The complete list of ingredients and detailed instructions are in the recipe card below. Here’s a quick visual guide to making this delicious Thai Basil Shrimp stir-fry:

1. Make the Sauce: Add all sauce ingredients to a food processor. Blend until smooth, forming a vibrant sauce or thin chili paste. Set aside in a bowl.

2. Sauté the Vegetables: In a wok or large skillet, heat the oil over medium-high heat. Add the sliced onions, red bell peppers, and green bell peppers. Sauté for about 2 minutes, until the vegetables are slightly softened.
3. Deglaze: Pour in the white wine and cook for about 1 minute, allowing the alcohol to evaporate. This adds depth and flavor.

4. Add the Shrimp: Add the shrimp to the wok and stir continuously until they turn pink and opaque. Be careful not to overcook the shrimp.
5. Add the Sauce: Pour the prepared sauce mixture over the shrimp and vegetables. Stir well to coat everything evenly.

6. Coconut Milk and Basil: Pour in the coconut milk and stir well.
7. Add Thai Basil: Add the fresh Thai basil leaves. Stir until the basil is wilted and everything is well combined. The aroma will be incredible!

Serve immediately and enjoy!

👩🏻‍🍳 Frequently Asked Questions About This Recipe

🍽 Delicious Serving Suggestions for Thai Basil Shrimp

This Thai Basil Shrimp is a fantastic, flavorful option for a quick weeknight dinner. Serve it over a bed of fluffy white rice, or healthy brown rice. Add a side of refreshing Asian Carrot Cucumber Salad.

🍷🥂 Wine Pairings for Thai Basil Shrimp

Complement this Thai Basil Shrimp with an Austrian, German, or Alsatian white wine, such as a Grüner Veltliner, Riesling, or Gewürztraminer. The slight sweetness and acidity of these wines beautifully balance the savory and spicy notes of the dish. This dish also pairs wonderfully with a crisp Chenin Blanc or Sauvignon Blanc wine.

🍳 Essential Kitchen Tools and Equipment

Ready to make this recipe? Here are the essential kitchen tools and equipment you’ll need:

• Food Processor: A food processor or a blender is essential for creating the smooth and flavorful sauce.
• Wok or Skillet: Use a wok or a large skillet for the best stir-frying results. A wok’s sloped sides allow for easy tossing and even cooking.
• Wooden Spoon: A reliable wooden spoon is needed to stir the ingredients together without scratching your pan.

More Delicious Thai Recipes to Try

• Thai Peanut Curry
• Asian Carrot Cucumber Salad
• Thai-Inspired Red Curry Pasta
• Beef Pad Thai

Did you make this recipe? Don’t forget to leave a 5-Star rating in the recipe card below, and if you really loved it, please leave a comment further down on the page. Thank you!

Thai Basil Shrimp Recipe

Ingredients:

Sauce:

• 6 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 inch piece of ginger, peeled and minced
• 2 Tablespoons green onions, sliced
• 2 Tablespoons oyster sauce
• 2 Tablespoons soy sauce
• 2 Tablespoons fish sauce
• 2 Tablespoons lime juice
• 1 Tablespoon vegetable oil
• 1 teaspoon light brown sugar

Shrimp:

• 2 Tablespoons vegetable oil
• 1 red bell pepper, thinly sliced
• 1 green bell pepper, thinly sliced
• 1 small yellow onion, thinly sliced
• 2 Tablespoons dry white wine
• 15-20 medium shrimp, shelled and deveined
• 1 cup Thai basil leaves
• ½ cup coconut milk
• Optional: 2 eggs, for serving

Instructions:

1. In a food processor, combine all sauce ingredients and pulse until smooth.
2. Heat 2 tablespoons of vegetable oil in a large wok or skillet over medium heat. Add peppers and onions, sauté for 2 minutes.
3. Pour in white wine and cook for 1 minute.
4. Add shrimp and sauté until cooked, about 3 minutes.
5. Pour in sauce mixture, stir in coconut milk, add Thai basil leaves. Turn off heat and stir until combined.
6. Serve immediately over rice, with a fried egg if desired.

Notes:

• Serves 2-4. This recipe makes two large, hearty dinner servings, or three to four average dinner portions. Serve over rice.
• For a thicker sauce, omit the vegetable oil in the sauce, and feel free to add a little more oyster sauce.
• If you can’t find Thai basil you can use regular basil leaves, but I suggest giving regular basil leaves a rough chop before adding.
• Optional: top each serving with a fried egg, and serve with a lime wedge.
• Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to three days.

Nutrition (Approximate):

• Calories: 238kcal
• Carbohydrates: 12g
• Protein: 11g
• Fat: 17g
• Saturated Fat: 7g
• Polyunsaturated Fat: 6g
• Monounsaturated Fat: 3g
• Trans Fat: 0.1g
• Cholesterol: 60mg
• Sodium: 1509mg
• Potassium: 433mg
• Fiber: 2g
• Sugar: 5g
• Vitamin A: 1394IU
• Vitamin C: 70mg
• Calcium: 73mg
• Iron: 2mg