Phat kaphrao facts for kids
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A plate of Phat kaphrao mu krop with rice.
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| Place of origin | Thailand |
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| Serving temperature | Hot |
| Main ingredients | Thai holy basil, meat or seafood, garlic, Thai fish sauce, and sugar |
Phat kaphrao (Thai: ผัดกะเพรา, pronounced [pʰàt kā.pʰrāw]) is a super popular dish from Thailand. Its name means "stir-fried holy basil". You might also see it spelled pad krapow or kaprao. It's one of the most common "à la carte" meals you can order in Thailand.
The Story Behind Phat Kaphrao
Phat kaphrao has an interesting history! Some people say it became popular during World War II. The Prime Minister of Thailand at the time, Field Marshal Plaek Phibunsongkhram, wanted to promote Thai culture. He encouraged people to eat traditional Thai dishes like Phat kaphrao and pad thai. These dishes were even part of local food contests!
The idea for Phat kaphrao came from a cooking style called stir frying. This way of cooking is very common in Chinese cooking.
You might remember the amazing story of the Tham Luang cave rescue in 2018. After being trapped for two weeks, some of the first boys rescued asked for Phat kaphrao as their first proper meal. That shows how much people love this dish!
What's in Phat Kaphrao?
Phat kaphrao is usually made by stir-frying meat or seafood with Thai holy basil and garlic. Common choices for meat include pork, chicken, or beef. You can also find it with seafood.
It's always served with rice. Many people also like to add a fried egg on top. This egg is called khai dao (Thai: ไข่ดาว).
The main flavors come from special sauces and spices. These include soy sauce, Thai fish sauce, and sometimes oyster sauce. A little bit of sugar and spicy bird's eye chili are also added to give it that unique taste.
Over time, cooks have added other ingredients to Phat kaphrao. You might find it with Chinese century eggs or different vegetables. Some vegetables that can be added are asparagus beans, baby corns, onions, carrots, and mushrooms.
Different Kinds of Phat Kaphrao
There are many yummy versions of Phat kaphrao, depending on what meat or main ingredient you choose:
- Phat kaphrao kai (ผัดกะเพราไก่) – This one is made with chicken.
- Phat kaphrao mu (ผัดกะเพราหมู) – This version uses pork.
- Phat kaphrao mu sap (ผัดกะเพราหมูสับ) – This is made with minced (ground) pork.
- Phat kaphrao mu krop (ผัดกะเพราหมูกรอบ) – This has crispy pork belly, which is super crunchy!
- Phat kaphrao nuea (ผัดกะเพราเนื้อ) – This version uses beef.
- Phat kaphrao nuea sap (ผัดกะเพราเนื้อสับ) – This is made with minced (ground) beef.
- Phat kaphrao kung (ผัดกะเพรากุ้ง) – This one has prawns (shrimp).
- Phat kaphrao pla muek (ผัดกะเพราปลาหมึก) – This version uses squid.
- Phat kaphrao ruam mit (ผัดกะเพรารวมมิตร) – This means "mixed," so it has both meat and seafood.
- Phat kaphrao het (ผัดกaphraoเห็ด) – This is a vegetarian option made with mushrooms.
