"Gapow rice" is an appetizing dish with its spicy kick and aroma of basil.
This dish, which is popular as a street food in Thailand, has become a staple in Japan as well.
This time, we will use ground beef to make it easy to make at home, but we will also pay particular attention to holy basil, which is the key to the aroma, to create an authentic dish.
In fact, holy basil is rarely sold in regular supermarkets .
So I bought a potted plant and grew it . The aroma that rises when you fry it is exceptional!
There are many recipes that use basil as a substitute, but I would encourage you to try the scent of holy basil at least once.
What kind of dish is gapao rice?
"Gapow rice" is a classic Thai dish, officially called "Pad Gapao."
"Pap" means "stir-fry" and "gapao" means "holy basil." Meat or seafood is stir-fried with holy basil and served on rice.
In Thailand, it is common to use ground chicken , but this time I used some leftover ground beef in the fridge.
The result is a rich, flavorful dish that will have you eating endless amounts of rice.
Ingredients (for 2 people)
・Mixed ground meat: 300g
・Holy basil leaves: 1 handful
・Green chili peppers: 2 (adjust to your liking)
・1/2 red or yellow paprika (for decoration)
・Garlic: 1 clove
・ Fish sauce: 1.5 tablespoons
・Oyster sauce: 1 tablespoon
・Sugar: 1 teaspoon
・Salad oil: 1 tablespoon
・Eggs: 2 (for fried eggs)
・Rice: 2 servings
How to make it
1. Preparation: Coarsely chop the green chilies and garlic. Thinly slice the paprika.
2. Heat salad oil in a frying pan and fry the garlic and green chili peppers to bring out the aroma.
3. Add the minced meat and fry over medium heat. When the meat starts to change color, add the paprika.
4. Add seasoned fish sauce, oyster sauce, and sugar and mix thoroughly.
5. To finish, add the holy basil just before turning off the heat and stir-fry briefly to bring out the aroma.
6. Place the rice on a serving plate, top with the stir-fried ingredients, and a fried egg to complete the dish!
Quick Column: I tried growing holy basil and it was amazing
Holy basil (gapao) has a completely different scent from regular sweet basil.
The spicy and refreshing aroma that rises when heated is the key to making gapao rice.
However, the downside is that it is not widely available in Japan.
I have a potted plant growing in the entrance of my company , and it grows rapidly in the summer. Basil plants are heat-tolerant and relatively easy to grow, so they don't require much care.
And best of all, the great thing about it is that you can harvest it and make it right away whenever you feel like eating it again .
It's great to be able to make gapao rice that's so delicious you'll want seconds whenever you feel like it.
If you can't get it, you can use sweet basil instead.
If you use real holy basil, you'll be amazed at the difference in flavor.
Please try growing it once!
Key points for making it delicious
- Add the holy basil last : To maximize the aroma, add it just before turning off the heat.
- The amount of green chili peppers can be adjusted : if you don't like spicy food, use less, but if you like spicy food, 2-3 peppers is fine!
- If you fry your eggs until they are crispy, they will look like they came from a street stall : use plenty of oil and fry until the edges are fragrant.
summary
The first thing I made after growing and harvesting holy basil was this gapao rice.
This dish is packed with aroma and flavor, and is sure to make you want to eat hearty even on a hot day.
The ingredients are simple, but the end result is something special.
"Cooking food with herbs I've grown" feels like a luxury.
