So, What's With the Name?

Thai Holy Basil
Photo: kitschow.blogspot.com

So what's with the name Ka-Prow? We get this question quite often. I know when I first heard the name, visions were conjured up of comic book characters with their infamous words used to describe the fights between super heroes and villains. BAM! BOOM! KA PROW! Fortunately, I was wrong, so for all of those inquiring minds out there who want to know, here is the real story.

Ka prow (aka. kra prow or kraphao) is one of two types of basil that is unique to Thailand and is better known as Thai holy basil. This type of basil is differentiated from the other by its stem color, purple or red rather than white, as well as its taste, robust and spicy. With its abundance in Thailand, an ability to enhance the flavor of basic dishes and theoretical, healing properties, this holy basil became integral in Thai cuisine.

Now, you may be thinking to yourself, "basil in asian food?" but this is no regular basil. The basil that most Americans have in the spice cabinet is sweet, Italian basil which is used most heavily in Italian cooking and can be best described as mostly sweet combined with a slight licorice flavor. In contrast, the leaves of the holy basil are considered to be peppery and spicy with a slight hint of lemon. This stronger flavor is important to the Thai because it is used to enhance simple meals of meat and vegetables.

You may be surprised to hear that this basil may already be in some of your favorite meals, and you just didn't know it. Green curry, pad ka prow, red curry, pad ped, and Thai fried rice all utilize holy basil to create their unique flavor. The importance of this component in authentic Thai food is what lead Chef Opart to call upon the power of holy basil when naming his restaurant ... Ka-Prow it is!

Staying true to the tradition of using this component in his dishes, Chef Opart goes through great lengths to deliver this great herb to his customers. For years, he has cultivated an organic garden where he can grow this holy herb because it is very difficult to find fresh basil in Austin.

So the next time you hear the name Ka-Prow, we hope visions of mouth-watering Thai food comes to mind, and not comic book heroes. Ka-Prow, yum!