I recently went to visit my hubby at work, being that I am unemployed, and have nothing better to do (oh wait, plus i really wanted to see him =)). Anyways, he works in downtown SF, and everyone that lives here knows how crazy it is to drive around there. (Not to mention, I am a Chinese woman driver, and yes I fit the stereotype exactly!) We decided to go to this Thai restaurant called Siam Kitchen, that happened to be right across the street from a parking lot.

Anyways, we walked in, and of course there was a line since it was 1245. So we patiently waited in line, meanwhile I was busy checking out the decor and the menu. For a place that seemed to have that many customers, I was surprised the decor wasn’t a little nicer. They had the typical purple paint and elephant statues, which apparently is symbolic of the Thai culture, because I’ve seen in in every Thai restaurant I’ve been to. Other than that, it was just a large room filled with tables and uncomfortable chairs. The menu had the typical Thai items, which was a good sign I guess.

My hubby has been there a few times, mostly for take out, since he is a busy computer geek and something or other is always crashing. But he always orders the same thing, roast duck over rice. I look throughly through the menu, and of course, always order the same thing, pad kra praow (otherwise known as ground chicken with basil and peppers). And then the ordeal began.

We waited, and waited, and waited for our food to come. We watched as people who had sat down a long time before us finally get there food. I was starting to think we would never get our meal by the time 25 mins hit. Things started to get blurry, and I was feeling faint (I must eat every hour or so. I don’t have a health condition, I just like to eat). Finally, after 30 mins of ordering, we got our food. Of course, expectations were high at this point.

I looked over at my hubby’s plate, and it was as if he ordered duck skin with lots of fat, and maybe a few pieces of actual meat on the side. Nevertheless, hubby ate it because he was “starving like marvin” as he would say. My plate was also a disappointment. The chicken was dry, the dish had no flavor. And at that point, I would’ve even eaten the crap my sister calls her signature spaghetti (which is just over cooked spaghetti noodles, and ragu tomato sauce that was microwaved), yet I couldn’t get myself to eat more than a third of the plate. Hubby and I left half full, and went over to pick up the car only to find out it cost $11 to park for one hour. What a rip off! That’s when I vowed never to visit hubby again, and to make my own Thai dish at home! (Only kidding, of course I will still visit hubby on his birthday, I’m not that cruel).

Anyways, which brings me to my recipe of Thai chicken with basil and sweet peppers. I didn’t follow any recipes. I just added what I thought would be good in that dish, and surprisingly it turned out really good. Hubby thought I had ordered pick up from a Thai restaurant! I can’t believe how easy it is to make. I will never order this at a Thai restaurant again!

So here is my version of the thai dish pad kra praow, or ground chicken with basil and sweet peppers:

Ingredients:

• 1 lb of ground chicken
• 1 medium sized yellow onion minced
• 3 cloves of garlic minced
• 1 teaspoon oil
• 2 each of the small sweet yellow, red, and orange peppers cut into slices (or one larger red and green pepper)
• one small package of white mushrooms sliced (about 2 handfuls)
• 1 quarter size piece of ginger cut into slices

My Thai chicken with basil and sweet peppers, with a side of cooked cucumbers

Marinade:

• 2 teaspoons garlic salt
• 1 teaspoon white pepper
• 2 tablespoons soy sauce
• 2 teaspoon fish sauce
• 1 teaspoon white sugar
• 1 tablespoon chinese hot sauce
• 2 teaspoons corn starch
• 1 teaspoon dried parsley leaves
• 2 teaspoons basil paste (or 2 fresh basil leaves)

Directions:

1. Add the marinade ingredients to the ground chicken and mix until even (do not overly mix, otherwise the chicken will be tough) and set aside
2. Cut up the garlic, onion, ginger, and peppers and set aside
3. Heat a wok and put in the oil, garlic, onion and ginger until slightly browned
4. Add in the ground chicken and stir fry until browned and evenly cooked
5. Add in the mushrooms and all the peppers and cover with lid for about 5 mins (or until peppers and mushrooms are a little soft but still a little crunchy)