This eggplant and chicken recipe is inspired by Thai basil eggplant which typically uses Thai basil or holy basil. In this dish, I’m using sweet basil which you can find in most grocery stores. If you haveThai basil, definitely use it! However, the one ingredient in this recipe I would not recommend substituting is fish sauce because fish sauce gives that salty and nutty signature taste of Thai cuisine, and it is exactly the flavor I’m recreating here. If you like Thai basil eggplants and want to make it at home, now is the time. Enjoy!
Chicken and Eggplant Stir-fry Recipe
Ingredients:
- 1 pound boneless chicken thighs, sliced
- 2 tablespoon oil, divided
- 1 cup chopped onions
- 3 cloves chopped garlic
- 1/2 cup Italian long peppers or chili peppers, sliced
- 1 pound eggplant, cut into 3/4-inch cubes
- 1 cup water
- 1.5 tablespoon fish sauce
- 1 tablespoon oyster sauce
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- A handful of basil or Thai basil, sliced
- 1 teaspoon Sriracha sauce, optional
For marinating the chicken:
- 1/8 teaspoon sea salt
- 1/4 teaspoon white pepper or black pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon corn starch
Method:
- Marinate the chicken with sea salt, white pepper, and corn starch for 20 minutes.
- Heat up 1 tablespoon of oil in a large pan. Add the chicken to the pan and spread the chicken around the pan. Cook for 2 minutes undisturbed so the chicken has time to get a light sear.
- Sauté the chicken for 7 to 9 minutes or until the moisture from the chicken has evaporated. Remove the chicken from the pan and set aside.
- In the same pan, add 1 tablespoon oil and onions. Sauté for a minute. Add the garlic and chili peppers and sauté until the onions and peppers are softened, about 2 minutes.
- Add the eggplant and 1 cup of water for deglazing. Add oyster sauce, fish sauce and sugar. Combine well and cover. Cook at medium-low heat until eggplants are cooked through, about 10 minutes.
- Add the basil and sriracha if desired to the pan and combine well. Serve on its own or with steamed rice.
If you want to see more recipes that use fish sauce, you may be interested in this Lemongrass Chicken Skewers recipe or Turmeric Chicken Noodle Soup recipe.