The market · Herbs and aromatics · Southeast Asia, South Asia

Holy basil

Kaphrao: a hairy-leaved basil that tastes peppery and clove-like, stronger once cooked — the basil in pad kaphrao.

peppery · clove-like · warm

What to do with it

Classics built on it
ThaiPad kaphraoMinced pork or chicken stir-fried hard with garlic, bird's eye chilli and holy basil, over rice with a crisp fried egg.No one here has made it yet

If you can't find it

Thai grocers, as bai krapow — the dish is named after it.

  1. 1Thai basil
    The same
    You lose the peppery, clove-like heat — pad krapow is about holy basil.
    Gets some back a little more black pepper.

Goes with

bird's eye chilligarlicminced porkfish sauce

Knowing it

Where to buy
Thai grocers, sometimes frozen. Thai basil is the usual stand-in, though it's sweeter and more aniseed.
A little history
In India the same plant is tulsi, grown for worship more than for the pot.
Worth knowing
Fry it with the chilli and garlic, not just at the end — heat brings it out.

More herbs and aromatics, in season with it

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