Thai Basil Shrimp

🌟 Why this recipe works

This is a popular Thai street food recipe that I think you’re gonna love!

• You can find most if not all of the ingredients at your local grocery store.
• It’s easy to add even more vegetables to this dish if you want.
• You can make this dish from start to finish in under 30 minutes, making it a great weeknight dinner.
• The sauce is packed with flavor and you can make this dish as mild or as spicy as you want.

Want more Thai food recipes? Try my Beef Pad Thai, Thai Peanut Curry, or Thai Coconut Chicken recipes.

🛒 Ingredient notes

Shrimp – Use large or jumbo shrimp. If using frozen shrimp, allow the shrimp to thaw before using in this recipe.

Vegetables – This recipe calls for red bell pepper, green bell pepper, and onions. If you want to add some spice and heat to this shrimp recipe, add some Thai chili peppers, also known as Bird’s Eye chili. You can also add different vegetables like bok choy, broccoli, sugar snap peas, green beans, or bean sprouts.

Thai basil – Thai basil is the key to the flavor of this dish! It has a distinct sweet, anise aroma and flavor that is difficult to replicate using any other herbs (see FAQ section for substitution suggestions). It has a stronger, slightly spiced flavor and aroma compared to the more common Italian basil. I usually buy Thai basil at my local grocery store, but you can also find it at your local Asian market.

Sauce ingredients – To make the sauce, you’ll need minced garlic, minced ginger, soy sauce, oyster sauce, vegetable oil (can sub canola oil or olive oil), fish sauce, and brown sugar. This dish tastes better with dark soy sauce, but you can also use light soy sauce with a little extra dark brown sugar added.

Coconut milk – This adds some richness to the dish. It also helps temper the heat if you decide to add some Thai chilis.

✅ Step-by-step instructions

Full ingredients and detailed instructions are in the recipe card below. But here’s a quick visual step-by-step of how to make Thai Basil Shrimp stir fry.

1. Add all of the sauce ingredients to a food processor and blender. Process until the mixture forms a sauce or thin chili paste. Set aside (can place into a medium bowl if you want).

2. In a wok or large skillet, add the oil over medium-high heat. Add the sliced onions, red bell peppers, and green bell peppers and sauté just until the vegetables are slightly softened, about 2 minutes.

3. Pour in the white wine and cook for about 1 minute.

4. Add the shrimp and stir.

5. Add the sauce mixture and stir.

7. Pour in the coconut milk and give it a good stir.

8. Add the fresh Thai basil leaves. Stir all of the shrimp, vegetables, coconut milk mixture, and basil until well combined.

Serve immediately.

👩🏻‍🍳 Recipe FAQs

🍽 Serving ideas

This is a great, flavorful weeknight dinner. Serve it over white rice, like our Instant Pot Garlic Rice, or brown rice. And add a side of crunchy, satisfying Asian Carrot Cucumber Salad.

🍷 🥂 Wine pairings

Pair this Thai basil shrimp with an Austrian, German, or Alsatian white wine, such as a Grüner Veltliner, Riesling, or Gewürztraminer. This dish also pairs beautifully with a Chenin Blanc or Sauvignon Blanc wine.

More Thai recipes

Did you make this recipe? Don’t forget to leave a 5-Star 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 rating in the recipe card, and if you really loved it, please leave a comment further down on the page. Thank you!