Ingredients:
1 lb boneless chicken thighs ( coarsely chopped, or cut into small bite-size pieces. Smallest pieces soak up most sauce!)
4 -6 garlic cloves, finely chopped
2 -3 shallots, thinly sliced ( or substitute with 1/2 cup sliced onion)
2 -3 tablespoons peanut oil, for stir-frying
2 teaspoons black soy sauce ( the semi-sweet kind, siew dohm)
1 -2 tablespoon Thai fish sauce, to taste ( nam bplah)
1 cup fresh Thai holy basil ( bai gka-prow (In a pinch, use ANY basil, SEE NOTES ABOVE.)
2 small kaffir lime leaves, very finely slivered ( bai ma-gkrood) (optional)
5 -10 Thai chiles, chopped and pounded with a mortar and pestle (prik kee noo) or 2 -3 fresh jalapenos or 2 -3 fresno bell peppers, cut into large slivers ( these have the least amount of heat)
1 dash white pepper
Directions:
Leave the fresh basil leaves whole; the flowers may also be used. The dried holy basil will soften when soaked in tap water for 10-15 minutes. Pull off and discard the hard stems. Drain.
Heat a wok until the surface is smoking hot.
Swirl in the oil to coat the wok surface.
Wait a few seconds for the oil to heat, then stir in the garlic, followed a few seconds later with shallots.
Stir another few seconds before adding the chicken.
Stir-fry a minute or two, or until most of the chicken has started to change color on the outside and is no longer pink.
Toss in the chillies, slivered kaffir lime leaves and reconstituted dried holy basil (if using).
Sprinkle black soy sauce over the mixture and stir-fry another 15-20 seconds.
Then add fresh basil leaves and fish sauce to taste. Stir and mix well.
Stir-fry another half a minute, or until the basil is wilted and the chicken is cooked through.
Sprinkle with white pepper.
Stir and transfer to a serving dish, or spoon directly over individual plates of plain steamed rice.
Servings: 3-4
Time preparation: 10 min.
Time total: 35 min.