Phat kaphrao

Phat kaphrao
A plate of phat kaphrao mu krop with rice
TypeRice dish
Courseentree or main
Place of originThailand
Associated cuisineThai
Serving temperaturehot
Main ingredients

Pad kaphrao (Thai: ผัดกะเพรา, pronounced [pʰàt kà.pʰrāw]; transl. stir-fried holy basil), also spelled pad kaprow, pad kaprao, or pad gaprao, is one of the most popular Thai dishes in Thailand.[1]

History

Phat kaphrao originated around the reign of King Rama VII (r. 1925–1935 CE), as Chinese immigrants in Thailand began selling it at restaurants. Before the invention of phat kaphrao, the most similar dish was phat bai horapha (stir-fried beef and Thai basil).[2] These dishes were likely adaptations of the Chinese dish xiāngcài chǎo niúròu (Chinese: 香菜炒牛肉; lit. 'stir-fried beef and coriander').[3]

Phat kraphao is considered a national dish in Thailand today but it only became popular in the country after 1957.[3] Phat kaphrao was included in cookbooks in the late 1970s but the method of preparation was different. It involved marinating minced meat with liquor first, then seasoning the dish with only fish sauce and palm sugar.[2]

Ingredients

Phat kaphrao mu sap with rice and a fried egg

Phat kaphrao consists of meat such as pork, chicken, beef, or seafood stir fried with holy basil and garlic. It is served with rice and optionally topped with fried eggs. The main seasonings are soy sauce, Thai fish sauce, oyster sauce (optional), cane sugar, and bird's eye chili.

Over time, phat kaphrao has evolved with the addition of other ingredients such as Chinese century eggs and Thai local vegetables, namely asparagus beans, baby corns, onions, carrots, banana peppers, mushrooms, bamboo shoots and coconut shoots. However, adding vegetables in phat kaphrao is also seen as an effort to reduce the cost of meat and increase profit margins on the part of food vendors.[4][5]

Common variants may use chicken, pork, minced pork, pork livers, crispy pork belly, beef, minced beef, meatballs, prawns, squid, meat and seafood, seafood, Chinese century eggs, or mushrooms.

Popularity

Thailand

Phat kaphrao is inexpensive, easy to prepare, nutritious, and fast to eat. It is generally eaten with rice.[6] Phed Mark is a famous restaurant in Bangkok owned by renowned food vlogger Mark Wiens. It specialises exclusively and serves only Phat Kaphrao.[7]

Japan

Phat kaphrao and khao man kai (ข้าวมันไก่) are popular in Japan and is often cooked at home.[8]

Taiwan

In Taiwan, the dish is usually made with pork and referred to as 打拋豬 (Dǎ pāo zhū). The usual recipe includes tomatoes.[9]

See also

References

  1. ^ Thuan, Willy. "Thuan, W. (n.d.). Top 10 Thai Food - Most Popular Thai Foods".
  2. ^ a b "รู้ที่มา "ผัดกะเพรา" เมนูสุดฮิต ซอฟต์พาวเวอร์อาหารไทยที่ทั่วโลกยกนิ้วให้" (in Thai). 2024-05-13. Retrieved 2025-07-24.
  3. ^ a b "คอลัมน์ออนไลน์ - กะเพราแมวอ้วน ผัดกะเพราด้วยการตลาดยุคใหม่". naewna (in Thai). 2019-06-15. Retrieved 2025-07-24.
  4. ^ Rao, Tejal (25 January 2018). "A Garlicky Stir-Fry With Basil Leaves From Bangkok". The New York Times.
  5. ^ "Why Phat Kaphrao needs cowpea". 30 March 2016.
  6. ^ "ตำนาน "ผัดกะเพรา" เฉลยที่มาเมนูสิ้นคิด". 18 December 2020.
  7. ^ "Phat Kaprao". Phed Mark. Retrieved 30 June 2025.
  8. ^ "'ผัดกระเพรา-ข้าวมันไก่' เมนูฮิตแดนอาทิตย์อุทัย". 12 May 2017.
  9. ^ "'ผัดกะเพรามะเขือเทศ' และการเดินทางของกองพล 93". 19 February 2023.
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