Enjoy Homemade Thai Basil Noodles At Home In Minutes

As a child, I always had a craze for noodles, whether at home or in school. My mother used to make me different types of noodles that tasted hot, tangy, sweet, and creamy. Later, I came to know that my mother used to make Thai Basil Noodles, which are far different from the regular ones. 

In this recipe, basil is the main ingredient that gives it a classic touch and makes it more tasty. Now you may ask me, if basil is used as a topping, then how does it work as the main ingredient? Let’s check the hidden secret in today’s recipe.

Quick Recipe Intro

Recipe	Thai Basil Noodles
Cuisine	Thailand
Prep Time	7 minutes
Cooking Time	10 minutes
Total Time	17 minutes
Difficulty	Easy
Calories	450
Serving	4

What Is The Secret Of Thai Basil Noodles?

Before we switch on the stove, a sec, let’s just talk about the star ingredient, basil, ok.

• Holy Basil (Bai Krapow): this one is the traditional choice. It has this peppery, clove- like bite that kind of stands out. If you have an Asian grocery store near you, go grab it there!

• Thai Sweet Basil (Bai Horapa): really solid and honestly a lot easier to find. It gives off a clear anise, or like licorice sort of note.

• Italian Sweet Basil: if you can’t locate the other two, then regular grocery store basil will still get you a great noodle bowl. Just expect the flavor character to shift a bit; no big problem.

Ingredients You’ll Need

The sauce

• 2tbsp Oyster sauce
• 1.5tbsp light soya sauce
• 1tbsp dark soya sauce
• 1tsp fish sauce
• 1tbsp brown sugar
• 2tbsp water

The Stir Fry

• Wide noodles (regular or 225g flat rice based on serving)
• 3tbsp neutral oil
• 3-4 garlic cloves, minced
• 1-3 Thai bird’s eye chillies, chopped finely
• ½ medium onion, sliced
• 1 bell pepper (any colour), sliced
• Chicken Breast, shrimps, tofu (optional)

The Secret Instruction

Part 1: Prepare the sauce and noodles 

First, take a boiler and add water, a pinch of salt, and a little bit of oil (to avoid stickiness), and put it on the heat. Once the water comes to a boil, add the rice noodles into it and cook for 2-3 minutes. Remember, do not soften the noodles, or they will become sticky. They will cook when it is tossed with the veggies. 

While the noodles are cooking, take a small bowl and whisk the oyster sauce, light soya sauce, brown sugar, fish sauce, and water together. Save the mixture for later use.

Part 2: Sauté The Aromats

Take a large hot skillet and put it on. Add a little oil and heat. Now, add the minced garlic and chopped chillies into the pan. Stir-fry for about 30 seconds until the raw flavour of the cloves fades.

Part 3: Cook The Veggies And Protein

Add your favourite veggies, onions, bell pepper, and protein (optional) into the pan and toss them for about 3-4 minutes. Do not overcook the bell pepper; let it be crunchy.

Part 4: Toss And Finish

Lower the heat and add the cooked noodles and sauce over the noodles and toss well so that it spreads evenly. Make sure the whole noodles and veggies are absorbed evenly. 

Part 5: Serve It Fast

Now, turn off the heat and add handfuls of basil into the pan. Toss the whole thing evenly for 30 seconds before serving. It will help the noodles to absorb the flavour. 

Pro Tips for success

💡 Get everything ready first: stir-frying goes really fast. So mix your sauce already, chop the veggies, and cook the noodles before you even turn on the stove. This is that mise en place thing, and it’ll totally keep you from accidentally burning your garlic, or you know, getting distracted for a second.

🥢 Don’t crowd the pan: if you’re doubling this recipe, cook it in two separate batches. When the pan is too packed, the ingredients start steaming instead of getting that sear, and then you end up with kinda soggy noodles, not the nice texture you want.

Flavor Adjustments & Substitutions 

If you want it…, make this adjustment. 

• More Spicy 🌶️: “Smash the Thai chilies first, before chopping, to release those seeds. Or just add a teaspoon of chili flakes,” and keep going. 

• Vegetarian 🌿:  Swap the oyster sauce for a vegetarian stir-fry sauce (mushroom-based) and use a vegan fish sauce or extra soy sauce. Use tofu or mushrooms for protein. 

• Gluten-Free 🌾: Make sure your soy sauces and oyster sauce are certified gluten-free; tamari works great! Rice noodles are naturally gluten-free.

Serving suggestion

These tangy, sweet, spicy noodles own many hearts globally, and the fragrance of basil leaves makes people more engaging towards it. If you want to make it a little creamy and delicious, you can add some mozzarella cheese for a creamy texture or protein like chicken or mushroom slices. You can also have some pickles or cucumber, baby tomatoes glazed with a dash of olive oil to enhance the taste.

Additional Note: In an authentic Thai recipe, there is no use of cheese or any dairy product. Adding them into the dish is completely optional, or your choice.

Nutrition Breakdown

• Protein-28g
• Carbohydrate-55g
• Fat-12g
• Fibre-2.5g
• sugar-6g

Natural Blunders To Avoid

• Avoid fully softening the noodles
• Avoid cooking the basil leaves
• Avoid adding extra sugar
• Do not overcook the garlic
• Do not overcrowd the pan
• Avoid skipping the fresh chillis

Conclusion

A healthy and tasty dish is a secret of happiness. It becomes more classic and special when you follow a recipe that is popular and easy to make in your kitchen. These Thai Basil Noodles can be a great change for every noodles lover, and they will taste something new. The fresh basil fragrance and the aroma of chili and fish oil combine to make a brilliant taste buster, so try this authentic Thai recipe today!

FAQs