Basil eggplant is a simple dish to make. The basil and chili pepper, however, turn the mundane eggplant into something exciting. It can also be made without peppers for kids.

In Thailand, the eggplants are green and long and unlike the big dark purplish eggplants that you can find in supermarkets here in the US. Purple Japanese eggplant is used in the pictures here, but any eggplant ie. American or Japanese can be used in this recipe.

Chicken Basil, or Gai Pad Gra Pow, is one of the classics of Thai food and is surprising easy to make. You know you’ve made Chicken Basil right when the heat from the chili peppers plays just under the flavor of the gra pow and the fish sauce. Don’t be afraid to use what seems like an excessive amount of gra pow leaves – they make the dish.