Vegetarian Pad Krapow, Thai Basil Tofu Stir Fry
Vegetarian pad krapow — aka Thai basil tofu stir fry — is my favourite “in-a-hurry” recipe. It’s protein-packed, loaded with umami, and ready in less than 10 minutes. That’s even faster than my 15-minute tofu satay curry! It’s also sometimes called tofu pad kaprao.
It’s a speedy recipe, but there’s no compromise on flavour. The crumbled tofu is unimaginably meaty, with slightly crispy edges and a touch of chewiness. It’s coated in a rich, salty, spicy, and intensely aromatic sauce punctured with fresh Thai basil leaves that delivers all the soul of Southeast Asia to your plate.
If, like me, you love Thai takeout a little too much, this vegetarian pad krapow with tofu will be your new go-to. Dare I say … it’s less effort AND faster than ordering takeout, which has saved me a shocking amount of money! Unsurprisingly, Thai basil tofu has made my collection of better-than-takeout recipes alongside my easy tofu pad Thai and tofu tom yum.
Serve it over a bed of gently steamed jasmine rice for the full meal experience, and top it off with a crispy fried egg if you like — the rich yolk melds into the sauce beautifully, but the recipe is vegan as written otherwise.
Want all the juicy details on transforming tofu into a mouth-watering dish? (I mean LOOK at those vegan pad krapow pictures!) Read on!
🍛 Vegetarian Pad Krapow Ingredients
Considering the depth of flavour in Thai basil tofu stir fry, there are surprisingly few ingredients — 10, to be exact (and that includes oil)!
You’ll need a few specialist components to make the dish shine. For example, vegetarian oyster sauce (which is vegan, but just branded as vegetarian) and vegan fish sauce might require a trip to a large Asian market or online ordering. But it’s worth it, trust me!
All the other ingredients you’ll need are easy to find at a grocery store or Asian market. If you cook my Asian recipes regularly, you might already have them in your pantry.
- Holy basil is the HEART of this dish. After all, it is in the name (kaprao)! You’ll need holy basil for this vegan stir fry, which has a peppery and subtly sweet taste. However, there are some substitutes… keep reading for more info.
- Extra firm tofu provides the protein and meaty bite. You can make homemade tofu or buy tofu. Press it for the most textural results when grating.
- Green beans add a lovely fresh snap and crunch. Traditionally asparagus beans are used, but this is a great accessible alternative.
- Garlic adds a buttery element I can’t do without.
- Thai red chilli adds spiceeeee. I’ve kept this recipe quite reserved on the heat factor, so how much you use is adaptable. Don’t switch this out for green chilis though.
- Vegetarian oyster sauce adds more meaty overtones. It’s usually made from shiitake mushrooms, adding earthy nuances.
- Soy sauce adds complex notes of umami-rich saltiness. Use light and dark soy sauce for the best flavour — light soy sauce is salty, while dark soy sauce is more mature in taste.
- Vegan fish sauce is pungent and salty, just like the original fish sauce (but without the cruelty).
- Sugar balances all the complex flavours perfectly and accentuates the caramel notes of soy sauce.
- Oil is essential for stir-frying the tofu and spices.
🔄 Allergens and Ingredient Substitutions
This Thai basil tofu stir fry is vegan, vegetarian, and nut free. Can you believe it?! It’s an amazing alternative for people with religious or lifestyle dietary restrictions.
With this recipe, you can enjoy all the incredible flavours of traditional pad kaprao without compromise.
However, unfortunately, my recipe isn’t soy free or gluten free. You can make the dish soy free by using crumbled seitan instead of tofu and replacing the soy products, but it likely won’t taste as it’s hard to replace vegan oyster and fish sauce specifically.
To make vegan pad kaprao gluten free, you’ll need to use tamari, a variety of gluten free soy sauce — and check the vegetarian oyster sauce, too.
You can also play around with the vegetables and change green beans for baby corn, bell peppers, banana peppers, bamboo shoots, or mushrooms.
🌿 Thai Holy Basil vs. Basil — What’s the Difference?
So, it turns out there are over 15 types of basil plants! The variety you’ll need for pad krapow is holy basil. But how different it is from the standard Italian basil — or Thai basil, for that matter (Yes, Thai basil isn’t the same thing as holy basil!)
- Italian basil, also known as Genovese basil, is what you use in pasta recipes, homemade pesto, and so much more. It’s the most common type of pesto sold in grocery stores. It boasts a citrusy, minty taste, and bright green slightly serrated leaves. This is NOT what you want to be using in vegan pad krapow with tofu … but it can work in a pinch!
- Thai basil, as the name suggests, originates in Thailand. It’s the variety you see in my photos! The leaves are narrow and long, with mostly flat edges and slightly purple stems. The scent and taste are licorice-like. It’s used for garnishing dishes like pho or in summer rolls.
- Holy basil (sometimes mislabelled Thai basil) is known as “krapow” in Thai, hence the name vegan pad krapow! It has distinctive hairy stems, jagged leaves, and a peppery flavour.
If you can secure Thai holy basil, this is the best and most authentic choice. However, my local Asian stores don’t stock holy basil, so I use the less traditional (yet still delicious) Thai basil.
🧑🍳 How to Make Pad Krapow (Thai Basil Tofu Stir Fry)
Grab your wok, because we’re about to get busy. The full recipe with detailed steps and ingredient quantities is down below, but I recommend familiarizing yourself with these steps first — this is a proper stir fry (quick and hot)!
- Crumble or grate the tofu into small pieces.
- Stir-fry the garlic and red chilli in oil over high heat for a few seconds, then add the crumbled tofu and green beans.
- Once the tofu is dry and slightly browned, add the sauce: vegetarian oyster sauce, dark and light soy sauce, vegan fish sauce, and sugar. Toss well.
- Finish with fresh Thai holy basil and stir fry until wilted.
Yes … It really is that straightforward! It’s easy to see why Thai basil tofu only takes 10 minutes to cook.
✨ This Vegetarian Pad Krapow Recipe Is:
Let me just tell you — I’m OBSESSED with the aroma and flavour the Thai basil brings to the plate. It’s mouth-wateringly moreish. And the Thai basil stir fry sauce just rounds it all off.
Vegetarian Pad Krapow, Thai Basil Tofu Stir Fry
Vegetarian pad krapow is a tasty traditional Thai dish made with holy basil and tofu. It's protein-packed and takes just 10 minutes to cook.
Ingredients
- 2 tbsp Oil
- 3 Garlic Cloves, minced
- 1 Thai Red Chili, minced
- 300g Extra Firm Tofu
- 100g Green Beans, trimmed
- 1.5 tsp Vegetarian Oyster Sauce
- 1 tsp Dark Soy Sauce
- 2 tsp Light Soy Sauce
- 1/2 tsp Vegan Fish Sauce
- 1/2 tsp Sugar
- 1 Handful Thai Holy Basil (About 6 stems)
Instructions
- Crumble or grate the tofu into small pieces.
- Start to stir fry. Heat your wok over high heat and add oil. Turn to coat the whole wok. Add the minced garlic and red chili, and toss for a few seconds, then add the crumbled tofu and green beans. Cook until the tofu is dry and turning slightly golden.
- Add the sauce. To the wok, add the vegetarian oyster sauce, dark and light soy sauce, vegan fish sauce, and sugar. Toss everything well to coat.
- Let the vegetarian pad krapow cook for around 30 seconds, tossing regularly.
- Add the fresh Thai holy basil. Roughly tear the basil and stir fry until wilted. Serve with hot steamed rice.
Notes
While it's best to cook the Thai tofu stir fry in a wok, you can also use a large non-stick pan.
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