Easy Weeknight Dinner — Thai Style!
This meal takes less than 30 minutes to make and is a delicious way to change up your weeknight dinners.
The Basil chicken is a quick stir fry of ground chicken with vegetables. You can adjust the level of heat to your liking – the traditional Thai version of this dish is quite spicy, but this version while much milder, is just as flavorful. Serve it, as I have on a bed of Lemon Rice for a filling dinner, or over a bed of lettuce or stuffed into beefsteak tomatoes for a lighter meal.
I love this Lemon Rice! I usually make it as a side dish to any Indian, Thai or Malaysian food as I really enjoy the citrusy kick that enhances the spices of those foods. Recently, I also decided to BE BRAVE and serve it alongside Greek kebobs with great success. This recipe really ramps up a plain white rice for any meal.
So, BE BRAVE with me, and take a weeknight trip to Thailand without getting take out.
Basil Chicken (Thai Style) with Lemon Rice
Ingredients
3 tablespoons O&V Basil EVOO *
1 lb ground chicken
2 tablespoons minced garlic (about 6-10 cloves)
1 – 1 ½ teaspoon Sambal Olek *
3 tablespoons lime juice (about 1 lime)
1 ½ teaspoons sugar
¼ teaspoon kosher salt
½ cup clam juice or chicken stock
2 tablespoons low sodium Soy sauce
2 cups matchstick carrots
½ cup coarsely chopped cilantro leaves
¾ cup coarsely chopped basil leaves
½ cup sliced spring onions
Lime wedges to serve
Serve with Lemon Rice *
Preparation
In a bowl, combine lime juice, sugar, salt, clam juice/stock and soy sauce.
Preheat a saucepan on medium high with the Basil olive oil and then add the chicken. Cook stirring and breaking up the pieces into crumbles until no pink remains.
Add the minced garlic, and Sambal Olek and sauté till fragrant and any liquid evaporates.
Add the lime juice and stock mixture. Cook, stirring until liquid is reduced by half. Add the carrots and toss quickly (about one minute).
Remove from heat and add the basil, cilantro, spring onions and toss together.
Serve over Lemon Rice
Serves 4
Total Time: 15 minutes (additional time to make the Lemon Rice)
Notes
* I love the intense flavor and health benefits that our Basil EVOO brings to this dish, but you can substitute with another high antioxidant, low acidity unflavored EVOO.
* Sambal Olek is easily available in most grocery stores, it is an Asian chili paste which has salt and vinegar. Some versions include onions, lemon, or garlic. A substitute to this is Sriracha sauce, Harissa, or any other spicy chili paste.
* My favorite way to serve this chicken is over a bed of Lemon Rice – you can also serve it over wild rice or plain white rice, but the citrus flavor truly enhances this dish.
Categories: Entrées, Snacks & Sides, Poultry, Gluten Free, Dairy Free, Home-Made, Mediterranean Diet, Basil EVOO, Lemon Rice, Lemon EVOO, Sambal Oleak, Soy Sauce, Thai Style, Basil Chicken, Lemon Rice, Thai Food, Easy Dinner, Weeknight Meal, Easy Entertaining,
