Vegan Pad Kra Pao (Thai Basil Tofu)
This Vegan Pad Kra Pao recipe is a Thai basil and tofu stir fry based on a popular dish from Thailand and requires just 10 ingredients. Get the recipe below.
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What is Pad Kra Pao?
Thai cuisine is known for its bold flavours, using aromatic herbs and spices. Pad Kra Pao, a classic Thai dish, is no exception. It’s traditionally made with minced meat (chicken, pork or beef), that is stir fried with Thai basil (also known as holy basil), chilli, garlic, soy sauce, oyster sauce and fish sauce.
It is usually served with rice and sometimes a fried egg.
Veganising Pad Kra Pao
To create a vegan version of Pad Kra Pao, we need to find replacements for the animal based products whilst still remaining true to the heart of the dish. Here are the changes we make:
- Protein substitute: in this recipe we use tofu to replace the minced meat. Tofu can easily be crumbled up to give a mince like texture and is perfect for taking on the flavours of the dish..
- Sauce substitutes: Soy sauce is vegan but fish sauce isn’t. Whether or not oyster sauce is vegan will depend on the brand so simply check the label. To replace the fish sauce, you can look for a special vegan brand or use some seaweed stock or seaweed flakes.
Vegan Pad Kra Pao ingredients
Now we know what substitutes we need we can create a full list of ingredients: For this recipe you will need
- Firm tofu
- Thai basil
- Garlic
- Spring onions
- Thai bird’s eye chillies
- Soy sauce
- Vegan oyster sauce
- Vegan fish sauce
- Caster sugar
If you want to bulk the dish out even more you could also add red pepper, sweetcorn, or even green beans.
What is Thai basil, aka holy basil?
The key ingredient in Pad Kra Pao is bai kra pao, also known as Thai basil or holy basil. It has a distinctive peppery and slightly sweet flavour that sets it apart from other types of basil. The Thai basil is what gives the dish its unique taste and aroma and it just wouldn’t be the same without it.
Tips for the Perfect Vegan Pad Kra Pao
- Adjust the heat: If you prefer a milder dish, reduce the number of chillies or remove the seeds.
- Balance the flavours: Taste and adjust the seasoning as needed. You can add a bit of sugar or lime juice to balance the savoury and spicy elements.
- Use fresh ingredients: Make sure you use fresh basil for the most authentic flavour. Dried basil won’t provide the same aromatic experience.
The recipe
Vegan Pad Kra Pao (Thai Basil Tofu)
Ingredients
- 1 tbsp vegetable oil
- 3 cloves garlic
- 2 Thai bird's eye chillies adjust to your own taste
- 280 g firm tofu
- 3 spring onions
- 2 tbsp soy sauce
- 1 tbsp vegan oyster sauce
- 1 tbsp vegan fish sauce
- 1 tsp caster sugar
- 2 handfuls Thai basil
Instructions
- Press and crumble the tofu .
- Mince the garlic and thinly slice the chillies.
- In a small bowl, mix together the soy sauce, vegan oyster sauce and vegan fish sauce, caster sugar and a bit of water. Adjust to taste.
- Heat a tablespoon of oil in a wok over medium-high heat.
- Add the minced garlic and chillies, stir-frying until fragrant (about 1 minute).
- Add the crumbled tofu to the pan along with the spring onion.
- Stir-fry until the tofu starts to brown slightly and absorb the flavours of the garlic and chillies.
- Pour the sauce mixture over the tofu.
- Stir well to coat everything evenly.
- Add the Thai basil leaves and stir-fry for another minute until they are wilted and fragrant.
- Serve over rice.
Nutrition
More stir fry recipes
Enjoy!