[Photograph: Luk Thys]

Basil is serious business in Thai cooking, so much that there are three different cultivars used in distinct dishes. This Stir-Fried Chicken with Holy Basil from Bangkok Street Food by Tom Vandenberghe and Eva Verplaetse calls for bai krapao (holy basil), a favorite for stir-frying. Holy basil is heartier with a peppery nose that can stand up to the big flavors like the chiles, garlic, and fish sauce in this dish.

And aside from being spicy and fresh in a way that's borderline addictive, this stir-fry is a great way to break into the world of Thai cooking. It's really just a matter of stocking up on the basic pantry ingredients, getting comfortable with with high-heat stir-frying, and discovering the magical powers of fish sauce.

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Stir-Fried Chicken with Holy Basil »

As always with our Cook the Book feature, we have five (5) copies of 'Bangkok Street Food' to give away.