Sautéed Thai Basil Pork with Chili and Garlic
A fragrant stir-fry featuring minced pork cooked with bold garlic, fiery Thai bird chilies, and fresh holy basil leaves, delivering a spicy and savory meal. This thai-inspired pork ready in about 20 minutes pairs grams minced pork, loosely packed fresh holy basil leaves, chopped Thai bird chilies for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 320 calories and feeds 3, so it slots cleanly into a weekly meal plan and pairs well with a quick salad or grain on the side. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.
Ingredients
- 300 grams minced pork
- 1 cup, loosely packed fresh holy basil leaves
- 5, chopped Thai bird chilies
- 4, finely minced garlic cloves
- 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
- 2 tablespoons soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon fish sauce
- 1 teaspoon palm sugar
- 1/4 teaspoon white pepper
Instructions
- Step 1: Heat 2 tablespoons vegetable oil in a wok over medium-high heat until shimmering. Add 4 finely minced garlic cloves and 5 chopped Thai bird chilies, stir-frying for 30 seconds until fragrant but not burnt.
- Step 2: Add 300 grams minced pork to the wok and stir-fry for 5 minutes, breaking the meat up until it is cooked through and slightly browned.
- Step 3: Stir in 2 tablespoons soy sauce, 1 tablespoon fish sauce, 1 teaspoon palm sugar, and 1/4 teaspoon white pepper. Cook for 2 minutes until the sauce thickens and coats the pork.
- Step 4: Remove from heat and fold in 1 cup loosely packed fresh holy basil leaves. Toss quickly until the basil wilts and releases aroma, about 1 minute. Serve immediately with steamed jasmine rice.
Equipment for this recipe
Top-rated tools to make this recipe successfully.
Frequently asked questions
How long does Sautéed Thai Basil Pork with Chili and Garlic take to make?
Total time is about 20 minutes (10 min prep + 10 min cook). Most home cooks find this fits comfortably into a weeknight; double the batch on Sunday for two dinners.
How do I store leftover Sautéed Thai Basil Pork with Chili and Garlic?
Cool to room temperature within 2 hours, then store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. Reheat covered in a 350°F oven for 10-12 minutes, or microwave at 70% power in 60-second bursts to keep grams minced pork from drying out.
Can I substitute ingredients in Sautéed Thai Basil Pork with Chili and Garlic?
Yes — most ingredients in this recipe have flexible swaps. For oil, use any neutral high-smoke-point oil (avocado, grapeseed, refined coconut). For aromatics, dried herbs at ⅓ the volume of fresh work in a pinch. The full ingredient list is shoppable on Instacart so you can see substitutes in real time.
How do I scale Sautéed Thai Basil Pork with Chili and Garlic for a different number of people?
The recipe is written for 3 servings. Multiply each ingredient by (your serving target / 3). Cook time stays roughly the same up to 2x; for 3-4x batches, switch from a skillet to a sheet pan or stockpot so the food isn't crowded — overcrowding steams instead of browns.
What goes well with Sautéed Thai Basil Pork with Chili and Garlic?
Thai pork like this pair well with a simple grain (rice, couscous, or crusty bread), a quick salad with acid (lemon vinaigrette, pickled onions), and a pan sauce or yogurt-based dip. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" to get specific side suggestions.
