You can tell it’s summer when you see fresh Thai basil sneaking into asian cuisine. Grab it when it’s plentiful. It won’t last all summer. Here’s a quick easy recipe for classic Thai chicken with basil for 4. Traditionally you should use Thai cayenne peppers, but if you can’t find them serrano peppers will do. (Habeñeros may be TOO hot and change the flavor a bit)

Thai Chicken & Basil

4 large chicken breasts
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
4 cloves minced garlic
1 cup chopped scallions
1 1/2 cup Thai basil leaves
3-4 cayenne chili peppers or serranos
1 tablespoon Asian fish sauce
2 tablespoons soy sauce
2 tablespoons sugar

Chop chicken breasts into small 1″ pieces or 1/2 ” strips.

Sauté in 2 tablespoons of oil until chicken is cooked through.

Add garlic and chili peppers. Sauté for two minutes. Then add fish sauce, soy sauce and sugar. While this cooks, blending all the wonderful flavors together, cut the basil leaves off the stems.

Add the basil leaves and scallions. Turn off the burner and stir in the herbs.

Now take a deep inhale. Ahh, that smell of fresh basil and garlic. Serve with white rice and big mango or pineapple slices to have a classic Thai sweet ‘n sour flavor.