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Last Updated on April 16, 2024

Vegan Thai Basil Stir Fry (Pad Kra Pao) is one of the most popular Thai street food, Spicy, Tangy with the intense aroma of Thai basil and lime. So appetizing! Best meal for lunch or dinner in a hot summer!!

Don’t know what to cook tonight? This is the one for you!

What’s Pad Kra Pao?

Pad Kra Pao, one of the most popular Thai dishes, in English, means ” Thai Holy Basil stir-fry.” Also known as Phat Kaphroa, Pad Krapow, Kaprao, and Thai Holy Basil Stir-Fry.

No matter how you spell it, they all point to this same delicious, aromatic stir-fry dish. Here is another well-known Thai Stir-fry, check it out here Vegan Pad See Ew (Thai Stir-Fry Rice Noodles)

This dish goes perfectly with Easy coconut rice

Super Tasty Thai Street Food, whip up in 20 minutes!

Don’t feel intimidated, this Thai stir fry vegetables might look a bit “complicated.” But trust me, It’s incredibly quick and easy to cook – I usually knock this one up in around 20 minutes! Just let me show you how to cook step by step…

Thai stir fry ingredients

Ingredients for Vegan Thai Basil Stir Fry

This dish traditionally uses Holy basil, due to where I live, it’s very hard to find holy basil. So instead, I use Thai basil, which is more common to find in western countries. Thai basil is not as spicy as Holy basil, which is good for people who are not quite good with spicy food. (Like my hubby)

The ingredients for my vegan Thai Basil Stir fry

Traditionally, there are no vegetables in this dish, but I found out it’s surprisingly good with tomatoes in it. Some people put long beans( snake beans,) snow peas even broccoli. Well, there is no right or wrong as long as you like it. Hey, It’s home cooking…alright?

Red chilis are essential for this dish, skipping red chilis is kinda non-negotiable. If you like it hot, you can go for Birdseye chili. If you’re not very good at hot food, put half of Red Cayenne chili won’t hurt you.

You can check this article see my recommended brands for sauces: The magic ingredients in my vegan cooking

How to Prepare

Firstly, we choose firm tofu as the main protein in this dish, because its texture is most similar to ground meat after shallow fried. And it holds its shape during cooking, unlike soft tofu.

We add chopped pearl oyster mushroom, it has a slightly chewy and meaty texture. When cooked, they have a mild and nutty, seafood-like flavor.

Firm tofu scrumble

1.2. Prepare a cotton cloth and a bowl

3.4. Break firm tofu into crumbles by rubbing fingers

5.6. Squeeze out as much water and you can

Dice up the brown onion and finely chop ginger, then,

  1. Chopping pearl mushroom
  2. Slice red chili
  3. Dice up deseed tomatoes
  4. Pick Thai basil leave off the stem

How to deseed tomatoes easily?

  1. Cut tomatoes into quaters
  2. 3.4. Run the knife between seeds and flesh throughly.
Ingredients_for_Vegan_Thai_Basil_Stir_Fry_11zon
Diced onion, finely chopped ginger, sliced red chili, chopped pearl oyster mushroom and tomatoes, crumbled firm tofu and basil leave.
All the prep done, let’s start cooking!

First, add your tofu crumble into a hot pan with oil and shallow fry it until it has a golden crust outside.

How to make Vegan Pad Gra Pao

Ingredients_for_Vegan_Thai_Basil_Stir_Fry_11zon
  1. Sauté diced onion, minced ginger and red chili until the aroma comes out.
  2. Add diced tomatoes.
  3. Add chopped pearl oyster mushroom
  4. Add fried tofu crumbles
  1. Add light dark soy sauce, vegan oyster sauce and coconut sugar.
  2. Add water
  3. Simmering the sauce till reduced by half.
  4. Squeeze half lime juice.
  5. Add Thai basil.
  6. After basil wilt, it’s ready to serve!

If you like it salty, you can add some Vegan fish sauce.

Yum!
Vegan Pad Kra Pao
Thai basil stir fry on a bed of jasmine rice, so satisfying!!
Ingredients_for_Vegan_Thai_Basil_Stir_Fry_11zon

Hope you enjoy this Thai Basil Tofu recipe!

More Vegan Thai Recipes

Other Dinner recipes you may like:

Vegan_Thai_Basil_Stir-fry_Pad_Kra_Pao

Vegan Thai Basil Stir Fry

Vegan Thai Basil Stir Fry( Vegan Pad Kra Pao.), Spicy, Tangy with the intense aroma of Thai basil and lime. So appetizing!
5 from 8 votes
Print Rate
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 35 minutes
Servings: 4 people
Calories: 159kcal
Author: SHU-CHUN

Ingredients

  • 11 oz Firm tofu
  • 2 tbsp oil high-smoking point
  • ¼ cup Yellow onion finely diced
  • 7 oz Pearl oyster mushroom Note 1
  • 1 pc Red chili sliced, Note 2
  • 1 tbsp Minced ginger
  • 2 pc Tomato
  • 200 ml Water
  • 1 bunch Thai Basil or Holy basil
  • 1 tbsp Lime juice

Cooking sauce

Serve with

  • cooked rice