Recipe Highlights
Gapao Rice is a type of dishes I flip to after I need one thing quick, flavorful, and deeply satisfying. This Japanese model retains the daring garlic, chilis, and basil whereas utilizing components which are simple to search out in on a regular basis kitchens. Served over Japanese short-grain rice with a fried egg on high, it turns into a comforting weeknight meal that feels each thrilling and acquainted.
- Fast one-pan dish
- Large taste from easy components
- Excellent with a fried egg and scorching rice
In the event you love rice bowl meals, attempt my Soy-Glazed Eggplant Donburi, Oyakodon, and Gyudon recipes subsequent!
What’s Gapao Rice?
Gapao Rice (ガパオライス) is the Japanese identify for the Thai dish pad krapao (phat kaphrao), a basil stir-fry served over steamed rice and topped with a fried egg. In Thai, kaphrao refers to holy basil.
The unique pronunciation contains consonant feels like “kr” that don’t exist in Japanese, and over time kaphrao was simplified to “gapao” when tailored into Japanese.
The identify “Gapao Rice” is used primarily in Japan and displays how this Thai avenue meals was launched and tailored for Japanese dwelling cooking.
Elements for Gapao Rice
- floor pork – You may substitute with different floor meat or tofu crumbles.
- onion
- crimson bell pepper
- hen’s eye chili (Thai chili) – A very good substitute is serrano peppers.
- garlic
- basil leaves – Ideally, holy basil; Italian basil is shut in taste.
- impartial oil
- seasonings – soy sauce, oyster sauce, fish sauce, sugar, and water
- fried eggs
- cooked Japanese short-grain rice
Discover the printable recipe with measurements beneath.
Find out how to Make Gapao Rice
- Prep the components. Combine the sauce components. Cube the onion and crimson bell pepper. Slice the hen’s eye chili and mince the garlic.
- Sauté the aromatics. Preheat a frying pan over medium warmth. Add impartial oil, then sauté the chili and garlic briefly till aromatic.
- Prepare dinner the pork and greens. Add the bottom meat and break it up with a spatula. Prepare dinner till now not pink. Add the onion and prepare dinner till translucent. Then add the bell pepper and prepare dinner till tender.
- Season and simmer. Add soy sauce, oyster sauce, fish sauce, sugar, and water. Stir and simmer till the sauce reduces barely.
- Add basil and serve. Flip off the warmth and add the basil leaves. Divide the rice onto plates and spoon the pork combination on high. Add a fried egg and garnish with basil.
Nami’s Recipe Ideas
These easy ideas will assist you to make Gapao Rice completely each time.
- Sauté briefly. Prepare dinner the chili and garlic simply till aromatic in order that they don’t burn.
- Break up the pork nicely. Small crumbles prepare dinner evenly and soak up the sauce higher.
- Prepare dinner greens in levels. Add the onion first, then the bell pepper. Don’t overcook them as you proceed to stir fry.
- Let the sauce cut back. Simmer till barely thickened so it coats the pork and concentrates the flavour.
- Add basil off the warmth. This retains its contemporary aroma and prevents it from overcooking.
- Serve instantly. A mattress of scorching rice plus a freshly fried egg tastes finest.
Variations and Customizations
Seeking to change issues up? Attempt these simple and attractive concepts!
- Use floor rooster. Swap the pork for floor rooster when you favor a lighter choice. Use tofu crumbles for a plant-based model.
- Substitute serrano peppers. In the event you can’t discover hen’s eye chilis, use serrano peppers. For a milder dish, take away most or all the seeds.
- Serve over a special base. Spoon the holy basil stir-fry over jasmine rice or brown rice as a substitute of Japanese short-grain white rice.
- Make lettuce wraps. Serve the basil pork in crisp lettuce leaves for a lighter, low-carb choice.
- Add additional greens. Enhance the onion or bell pepper for extra texture and coloration.
What to Serve with Gapao Rice
Gapao Rice is an easy meal in itself, however you possibly can add easy sides to create extra steadiness.
Storage and Reheating Ideas
To retailer: Switch the pork and rice into separate hermetic containers and refrigerate for as much as 3 days or freeze for 3–4 weeks.
To reheat: Heat the pork and rice till heated by means of. Fry contemporary eggs earlier than serving.
FAQs
Is Gapao Rice spicy?
Sure. Gapao Rice is often spicy as a result of it makes use of hen’s eye chilis. You may cut back the warmth by utilizing fewer inexperienced chilis or eradicating most or all the seeds, or substituting serrano peppers.
Can I take advantage of common Italian basil as a substitute of holy basil for Gapao Rice?
Sure. Holy basil (tulsi) is conventional, however Italian basil tastes most comparable and works nicely on this recipe. The flavour will probably be barely completely different however nonetheless scrumptious. Thai basil has a sweeter, extra anise-like taste, so for this dish, Italian basil is definitely the closest substitute.
Can I take advantage of floor rooster as a substitute of pork in Thai basil pork?
Sure. You may substitute floor rooster for floor pork. The cooking methodology and seasonings stay the identical.
I’d love to listen to how yours turned out! 💛 Please depart a star score and remark beneath to share your expertise. Your suggestions not solely helps Simply One Cookbook but in addition helps different dwelling cooks uncover recipes they’ll belief.
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To Prep the Elements
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Combine the 1½ Tbsp soy sauce, ½ Tbsp oyster sauce, 2 tsp fish sauce, 1½ tsp sugar, and 2 Tbsp water in a small bowl. Put aside.
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Reduce ½ onion into 1/2-inch slices, then minimize crosswise to cube.
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Reduce ¼ crimson bell pepper into ½-inch strips, then minimize crosswise to cube.
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Slice 1–2 hen’s eye chili (Thai chili) and take away many of the seeds. Mince 3 cloves garlic now, or add it straight into the frying pan later utilizing a garlic press, as I did.
Seeking to change issues up? Attempt these simple and attractive concepts!
- Use floor rooster. Swap the pork for floor rooster when you favor a lighter choice. Use tofu crumbles for a plant-based model.
- Substitute serrano peppers. In the event you can’t discover hen’s eye chilis, use serrano peppers. For a milder dish, take away most or all the seeds.
- Serve over a special base. Spoon the holy basil stir-fry over jasmine rice or brown rice as a substitute of Japanese short-grain rice.
- Make lettuce wraps. Serve the basil pork in crisp lettuce leaves for a lighter, low-carb choice.
- Add additional greens. Enhance the onion or bell pepper for extra texture and coloration.
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